Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-07
CONTROL Of STATE
|SPENNSYLV LVAN|A'S
SENATE RACE ISSUE
Pepper Pinchot. Ware Contest
Hottest in Years, Has Real
Wet-Dry Flavor.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
STAFF Cnrresnondent Of The Star

PHILADELPHIA. May In its
primary ca ampaiGn and election for Re
publican nomination for the Senate
Pennsylvania is staging the first big
contest at the polls over the wet and
dry issue since the launching of the
1925 offensive of the anti-prohibition-
lists. The vets are banking tre-
mendously on the outcome of the cleo
ton. If they can put William s. Ware
across for the senatorial nomination
they figure they can chalk up a real
victory which will make the country
sit up and take notice.
But underlying the wet and dry is
sue there is another which has far
greater significance to the political
leaders, the office holders. the con
tractors and other interests, II is the
political control of the State of Penn
sylvia MIA. This is the great stake for
which the game Is being played TO-
day. Involved in this issue is the race
for the gubernatorial nomination.
even to a greater extent than the SEN
atorial contest.
State Control Split.
Since the death of Senator Boise
Penrose no one has yet been able to
fill the role of political boss of the
State Control has been divided An
drew W. Mellon. Secretary of the
Treasury during the last five years.
with his huge interests in the State,
has been a big figure. He halls from
Pittsburgh. Had he been a Philadel-
phian the situation today might be
vastly different. This City of Broth
erly Love doesn't take kindly TO being
wagged by any tail. no matter how
large. In Philadelphia today the big
boss is Representative William s.
Ware He inherited his leadership from
his brothers before him, built up
through long years of steady and
careful organization work.
At the head Of The State Republican
organization is Harry Baker. State
chairman Mr., Baker Is a good or
ganizer. He put through the election
of an entire Republican State delega
ton to Congress, thereby strengthen
ing the Republican hold upon the
House. But he has not filled the shoes
of Penrose.
When the time rolled round for the
seleCtion of a Republican State ticket,
and. incidentally. the nominee for the
Senate, the MELONS. Secretary Mellon
and his nephew. w L. Mellon. bega n
figuring on slate Of their own. Their
goal was the election of a governor.
with the entire domination of State
politics. They were friendly to Sen
ator George Wharton Pepper and will
ing to nominate him. But they want
ed the governor. too Right there they
locked horns with the boss of Phila
delphia. Mr., Ware. who also had sena-
torial aspirations.
Saw Lean Years Ahead.
The Republican machine of Phila-
delphia and Mr.. Ware saw the hand
writing on the wall. With the MELONS
in power in the Statehouse at Harris.
burg on the one hand and Senator
Pepper. who happens to be a Phila- l.
delphian, reelected to the Senate and
gaining power. they visioned lean
years ahead for the Philadelphia or
ganization as it now exists. Next year
there is a municipal election here.
with a mayor to be chosen and a
myriad of offices to fill. The time had
arrived for a stubborn fight. And the
fight IS now on.
Owing to the division of control in
the State, very largely. Gov. Pinchot
was elected in 1922 The hand of the
organization has been against the gov
ernor in Philadelphia and in Pitts
burgh and elsewhere. He was elected
in spite of the organization and in a
contest which made the gang" an
issue. He has been a crusader in Har-
risburE and throughout the State. He
might have built up an organization
| himself had be been so inclined But
the governor went into Office to clean
up the gang" and his tactics have
not been conducive to the erection of
machine. He has no candidate 10
succeed himself as governor. He is
out this year for just one thing-the
! II
of the United States. He relies for his
support on the people outside of the
! organization.
| There Is one thing that the governor
| has done. however, while in office
| which has enhanced the value of the
gocernorship to the organization. He
! brought about the enactment of a new
code which gives the governor almost
unlimited power over all State EN-
ployes. and even enables the governor
to deal with appropriations much as
he desires. The election of a governor
| therefore, has become even more de
sirable to the faction which seeks
| State control than it was in the past
Four Seeking Place.
| There are four candidates for the
| Republican nomination for governor
| One of these bears the Mellon hall
the backing of Joseph r. Grundy, OF
the Manufacturers Association Of
| PENNSYLVANIA. Former Lieut.. Gov
e. f. Beidleman has the support OF
State Chairman Baker, and is hooked
up with the Ware candidacy for the
Senate. Beidleman is a warm per
| sonal friend of Baker, friend OF
many years standing. and Baker,
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