Evening star., 1928-03-18
MELLON INCREASES
DELEGATE CONTROL
Agreeable to the Barring Of
StrasSburger'S Name
From Ballots.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch 10 The star.
HARRISBURG. Pa, March 17-Tbs
major Republican development Of the
week In Pennsylvania has been an IN
crease In control Of the Republican
delegates at large by Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon.
This came when courts upheld rhe
State Elections Bureau in barring tho
name of Ralph Beaver Strassburpnr.
Norristown publisher. from primary
ballots as candidate for delegate at
large. Strassburger was barred because
he had not personally signed the candi-
dates affidavit swearing obedience To
primary laws and the corrupt practices
act; and courts refused TO accent n
telephoto copy Of his signature by radio
as the equivalent of the original
Although Strassburger was in the
Cleveland convention as delegate a.
large, and was on the Mellon slate for
election again this year. the Melons
were not even slightly enthusiastic for
him and are relieved that he is no.
on the slate now. He had been slated
only as a concession to the Ware or
ganization and to make the campaign
of Senator David a. Reed for renon-
ination less difficult. The Mellon or
aanization did not feel certain II could
trust StrassbuOer to aid 1t at the
convention.
Ainey is Substitute.
His substitute on the slate is william
D. B. Ainey. chairman Of the Pennsyl-
vania Public Service Commission.
Ainey will be in accord with the Mellon
program at Kansas City. In fact. his
physical condition may make 1t i'm
possible for him to sit in the conven-
ton: and in that case. an alternate
who will follow the Mellon lead, will
vote for him.
The only opponent of the Mellon
slate for delegate at large is Franklin
p. Booth. Pittsburgh engineer, who Is
pledged to Hoover. Booth now faces
a court test of his petitions. the charge
being that the number of valid sigma
lures on his petitions is less than the
number required By law to have his
name printed on the ballot Should
Booth also be barred, the Mellon or
ganization will have no contests in
electing its Statewide delegate ticket.
II Booths name goes on the ballot.
however, his Hoover pledge will not be
noted. under a decision by the elections
bureau that the law permits notation
OF whether the candidate has pledged
to the popular choice. but docs not
grant authority for noting any varia-
ton OF that pledge.
Contests for Democratic delegates
are gradually taking the form Of dea-
mite line-ups.
Pennsylvania will have rs votes in
the Democratic convention Gov. Smith
is certain of IS uncontested votes, and
virtually certain OF eight others. The
anti-Smith forces arc certain of four
votes and virtually certain
of two others.
There are 36 votes in doubt in con-
tested districts Smith appears to have
the lead now for at least IL Of these
The auti-Smith group seems 20 have
the best chance of winning IL others.
The remaining IA votes are in districts
where neither group is justified in
Claiming election OF delegates at tire
present stage
Smith Has IS Votes.
According to this calculation. il ap-
pears Smith will have at least - Penn
sylvania votes: and the anti-Snlith
group Will have a minimum of IL
In 1924 at Madison Square Garden.
the Smith maximum was SSie and the
McAdoo maximum 23is. with IL scat
tered votes.
National Committeeman Joseph =.
Guffey has claimed so votes for Smith
from Pennsylvania this year.
The anti-Snlith votes 90 not repre-
sent solid strength for anv of the New
York Governors opponents. II is a
case. thus far. OF Smith against the
field in Pennsylvania, OF the 50 anti
Smith candidates for delegate at least
six favor Senator Reed OF Missouri: az
least two favor Gov. Douahev Of Ohio,
and at least one favcrs Huston Thomp-
son. former chairman of th> Federal
Trade Commission. Thus far. no cam
didates have announced for Senator
Walsh OF Montana.
Most of The so remaining ani-Smith
candidates have no definite choice nov.
but will support ANY Cify progressive
candidate for the Presidency. although
II Newton n. Rake Of Ohio figures in
the halloting, IL wsy get tn mr'or
portion OF 'hs dry votNS from TeuNSyl-
NanIa in the convention
WALTER u ROOS.