Evening star., 1928-04-15
CAMPAIGN DRAGS
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Republican Ballots Carry No
Contests of Real Pro.
portions.
Special Dispatch 10 Tn. star.

SoNc'ai blsratch "a The Star.
HARRISBURG. Pa. April i4.--with
Pennsylvaniat presidential primary
only 10 days distant, the campaign is
IN its most apathetic stage.
The Republican ballots contain no
contests of genuine proportions to keep
interest buoyed. Only In several dis
triets where there are hard-fought con-
tests for Congress State Senate or Leg
iSlsture has political interest remained
nigh. PENNSYLVANIA, after experience
Ing several spirited primaries in re-
cent years, when campaign funds were
plentiful, is not excited. Senator David
A. Reed. although he has two oppo-
nents on tn. ballot, has only tech
nlcal contest and has been making very
few speeches,
Last ck campaign developments.
however, are expected to overcome the
passive attitude during the next seven
days. Some attention will be directed
to the Is congressional districts in
which there are Republican contests for
convention delegates.
AT Melons Disposal.
While the Pennsylvania delegation
will be uninstructed. there will prob
ably be several members who have
definitely pledged to voters TO be for
Hoover. The remainder of the 20
Pennsylvania convention votes will be
at the disposal OF Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon II Hoover appears
the inevitable choice of the convention
the votes will so to Hoover. If. as re-
ported in New York. Coolidge will agree
20 accept nomination to break dead
lock. there is little doubt here that
Mellon will hold out for Coolidge. al
though who would get the votes on
earlier ballots does not seem so clear.
The Republican primary is being
taken SO much as matter Of course
that arrangements for poSt-primary de-
VelopmentS are already holding public
attention. May l2 has tentatively been
liked for the reorganization conven-
ton delegation. This date may have
TO be changed il court contests. which
have been common after primaries,
prevent certiflcation of Official votes
In time TO compile official records OF
committeeman and delegates by May IL.
w. L. Mellon, nephew of the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. and at present
Republican State chairman, is being
mentioned as q probable choice of the
State committee for Pennsylvania Re-
publican national committeeman. Mrs. |
Barclay II. Warburton. Pennsylvania |
woman member OF the national COM
niittee. is said to be eager TO relinquish |
her position.
Policy May BE Revealed.
The meeting. however. Is expected to !
be politically interesting. chiefly because |
OF the probability that the first inkling |
Of the Mellon attitude on Pennsyl- |
varlia's convention policy may be di-j
fulged in the caucus OF delegates. The |
delegation is expected TO arrange to /
arrive in Kansas City Monday. June |
IL. travelling in four trains already |
chartered and scheduled to leave Phila- |
delphia early on Sunday. June 10.
In the Democratic contest for dele |
gates. the only development of the week |
ha5 been the disclosure that three votes !
previously clsSsed as probable for Gov.
Smith are now certain to be for the |
New York governor. The change. how
ever. does not increase Smiths min |
irnurn above the previous estimate OF |
Is Pennsylvania Votes.
Il is virtually certain that among the I
votes which VIII be for Smith viii be
all IL from Philadelphia County, all
10 from Allegheny County. which in
cludeS Pittsburgh; two each from Lack
awanna. LuzeTne and Schuylkili, the
principal anthracite counties: two from
Cambria County in the bituminous
fields. and two from the Bucks-Mo
gomery district, adjoining Philadelphia.
He is almost certain Of single votes in
several ether districts and viii contest
with anti-Smish delegates for IA other
votes II appears the Smith strength |
viii be between IS and SO votes. Ma
tional Committeeman Joseph r. Guffey. /
directing the Smith campaign in Penn |
kylvania. predicts so Smith votes in the I
delegation.
Anti Smithites Active.
The anti-smith campaign. which has ,
been somewhat quiet in the past few /
weeks. Is expected to show renewed /
yiaor during the last week Of the cam i
paign. The snti-Smith men feel con- |
fdert Of winning II votes. Among the |
IA doubtful votes, they hope TO corral |
enough to reach the McAdoo minimum |
of 25iz in the 1924 convention. The
snti-Emith strength this year Is not /
similar 70 the McAdoo votes of four /
years ago, however, In that it will con- |
tain some wet votes Some viii support /
Senator Reed Missouri
The combined opponents OF Smith |
have taken up a different line OF cam |
pzign recently They have insisted that
enough anti-Smith delegates are assured |
tn other States 70 make 1t impossible |
for Smith 10 be nominated under the /
two-thtrds rule. Prior 20 that, oppoSi- |
tion 10 the prohibition issue and later |
a demand that Teapot Dome De the /
issue had formed the backbone Of their |
cOnpasgn. WALTER d. RoOS.
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