Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-09
PennSVlVania Politics.

| WlHldHI -. ware, fLSpuDIlCan DOSS OF
Philadelphia, has again demonstrated
his political sagacity. The veteran
was never slow to see an opening His
announcement, made Immediately after
his rejection by the Senate and upon
his return to Philadelphia, that he
would make another fight for the
Senate, has backed the Mellon Fisher
Grundy organization up against the
| ropes momentarily, it appears. Gov.
Fisher of Pennsylvania must realise
/ that whomever he appoints to fill the
vacancy in the Senate caused by the
refusal of the Senate to seat Ware must
face a real fight in the primary next
May if Mr.. Ware goes through with his
threat. With Clifford Pinchot, former
governor. reported to be ready to go
into q three-cornered senatorial pri-
mary, with Ware and the. selection of
the Mellon Fisher Grundy organization
as his opponents, the situation becomes
all the more serious.
Many of the reports from Harrisburg
assert that. Joseph r. Grundy is to be
named by Gov. Fisher to the vacant
Senate seat. Mr.. Grundy, president Of
the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Asso-
citation, is dominant figure in the
States politics and has been for years.
He has been a power behind the throne.
He has raised millions of dollars to be
used in political campaigns over long
period of years. How good vote getter
Mr.. Grundy will prove to be remains to
be seen. If the organization backs him
tory. But a three -cornered race is not
pleasant to contemplate, with Pinchot,
militant dry, in one corner and "Bill'
Ware, as militantIy wet, with the Phila-
delphia organization back of him and
friends even in Pittsburgh, the Mellon
stronghold, in another.
Had Mr.. Ware let the days roll by
without any announcement that he pro-
posed to enter the lists again he would
have gradually disappeared from tho
picture. 1t would have been taken for
granted that the appointee of the gov
ernor would have clear sailing in the
Republican senatorial primary next year
His immediate declaration, however, has
inspired his own organization with
fighting spirit and has served to force
him prominently into the limelight
again. If he does not intend to go
through with his plan to seek renomina-
ton and reelection at the hands of
the voters next Spring he Is nevertheless
left in a position where he may trade
to advantage with the other Pennsyl-
vania leaders and may have a voice in
the selection of the candidates, includ-
ing the candidate for governor to sue
! coed Fisher. The gubernatorial cleo
ton is far more important in Pennsyl-
vania eyes than the senatorial.
Mr.. Ware won the senatorial NOM
ination in 1925, with the Mellon
Fisher organization aligned
against him and in favor of former
Senator Pepper. Pinchot was candi-
y date then, as he may be next year,
making it three-cornered race. Since
! that time Mr.. Ware has suffered a
I stroke of paralysis and has so far re-
covered as to be able to appear in the
| Senate in his own defense. Mr..
Grundy. If he is to be Wares opponent,
has been largely in the limelight be-
cause of the Senate lobby investigation
While his statements to the Senate
committee doubtless may make friends
| for him with the manufacturers, it is
/ doubtful that the political philosophy
enunciated by Mr.. Grundy will make
him any support among the independ-
ently-minded voters in Pennsylvania
of whom there are considerable num-
Der. All of which demonstrates that the
Mellon Fisher Grundy organization must
rise early in the morning If they are to
outplay the Philadelphia boss at the
game Of politics.