Evening star., 1922-05-07
C. 0.P. TESTS OUT
j. PRIMARY SYSTEM
Battle in Pennsylvania Over
!: GubernatoriaI Nomination
Brings Issue to Fore.
aDecial Dispatch to TIE Star.

Special Dispatch to TIE Star.
HARRISBURG, Pa, May 6.-Not
only have Pennsylvania republicans
become engaged In the greatest test
Of the statewide primary known In
the Keystone state in their battle
over the gubernatorial nomination
this month, but retention Of the d.
rect primary system itself has been
injected as one Of the numerous is
sues being discussed before and
among the voters. The rivalry be-
tween Attorney General George e.
Alter, backed by Gov. William z.
Sproul and various groups allied with
Pinchot, who resigned as forestry
e commissioner and has drawn to him.
self the old Roosevelt element and
various others, including those at
odds with the governor. has dwarfed
everything else. The former torester
have given the Alter managers grave
concern and led to a concentration OF
effort in the two large cities IN croer
to have something to fall back upon
II the Pinchot vote piles up IN the
interior.
Pinehot Pushing the Fight.
A series of moves OF doubtful ex-
pediency, including q visit to wash
ington by the attorney general, Gre
ated a condition favorable to Pinchot
just when his strength was commenc.
ing to wane, and, throwing hlmsen
into the campaign with characterls-
tic energy, the forester invaded coun-
legheny, Fayette and Dauphin. and
got out the crowd. Fayette Is the
home Of Senator William E. Crow
and Dauphin the county where the
state capitol is located. Both are
superorganized counties. even from
point. Pinchot unquestionably made
an impression here because OF the dec
laration that there would be no po'
1aStell assessments or political re-
novals II elected. statements which
appealed to the hundreds Of folks
connected with the state government:
Various charges by Pinchot and
some disclosures following an audit
OF the state treasury some years BACK
also operated to the advantage or
progress toward organising Psiia-
delphia, Pittsburgh and other cttfes
has been made in the interest OF
Alter, on the old Keystone principle
that it is votes and not speeches that
count The attorney general has the
his corner, and in the next week or
ganization and efforts by the state
administration will commence to show
in the interior.
Unusual Campaign Feature.
One Of the unusual features Of the
campaign is that both candidates
went into coal counties right in the
old Quay dictum. grown to be almost
a rule in Pennsylvania republicanism,
to keep out Of counties where there
are strikes. Chances are the contest
will grow bitter during the coming
week, as the candidates are planning
to cross trails, and each will have
orators to do the following up"
BY contrast to this strenuous can
vass for gubernatorial honors Is the
senatorial campaign among republl-
cans There aTs no sens enar and
Maj. David A. Reed will not be nom1-
mated. Congressman William J.
Burke, although travelling and speak
ing extensively, is not making head
way against Pepper. All OF the sena-
fact they are not mixed In the guber-
material fight ~
Democratie Campaign LffeIess.
The democratic campaign IL lifeless.
a rivalry over second place not even
stirring up the party which has here
tofore furnished most OF the excite
ment at primary times. The demo-
pick up their ammunition for the
campaign from the charges and coun-
ter charges Of the republicans and
hoping for such a division that some
one will run Independent. although
Pincfiot has been quoted as saying he
will not. and Alter Is too regular to
think about It
Congressional fights are being
waged on the Sidelines, most OF the
candidates being careful to avoid get
ting mixed IN the big scrimmage.