Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-30
Politics at Large
By C.. Could Lincoln.

Pennsylvania these days. In recent
years the leadership in the State has
been divided, with the Wares on the top
of the heap in Philadelphia and the
MELONS dominating in the western part
of the State, particularly in Pittsburgh.
William S. Ware, who succeeded his
brother as boss of the Republican ma
chine in Philadelphia. made bold bid
two years ago for United States SELL
atorship. He defeated his opponents,
but got himself into a mess with the
Senate sluSh fund committee, headed by
Senator Reed of Missouri. In cOnse-
quence, Mr.. Ware, although Senator
elect for the last two years, has never
been permitted to take his seat in the
Senate. A stroke of paralysis last Sum-
mer further incapacitated the Senator
elect. He is reported to be in an i'm
proved condition, but whether he will
ever be in physical condition to sit in
the Senate, even if he be permitted co
do so, is matter of conjecture.
y X X X
The upshot of the matter Is that
things political in the City of Brotherly
Love are in chaotic condition. The
Ware machine continues to function,
largely because no one has shown him
self strong enough to grasp the relnS OIL
control Mayor Mackey, 1t is reported,
has ambitions in that direction, but
there are signs of a real fight coming
in Philadelphia. Out in Pittsburgh, it
is now rumored, the MELONS are weary
ing of the political control. w. l.. Mel
lon, nephew of Secretary Andrew W..
Mellon, has been State chairman. Sec
rotary Mellon continues, and is likely
so to continue, as large figure in
national politics. But, just as in Phila-
delphia, there is a row brewing for
control of the political machine in Pitts
burgh.
Joseph r. Grundy, head of the Penn
sylvania Manufacturers Association, has
been power in the political scheme of
things in the keystone State. Unless
all signs fail, Mr.. Grundy is likely to
continue in position of power, even
though he holds no public office. He
has always been able to raise campaign
funds when they were needed. Whether
Mr.. Grundy will ever seek political place
and public office is not quite clear, it is
said, although it has been suggested
that he might eventually seek seat in
the United States Senate. Gov. Fisher.
who was elected in 1926, largely with
the backing of Mr.. Grundy, is another
factor in the Pennsylvania political
equation. Some day Pennsylvania will
surely be represented by two sitting
Senators of the United States. For two
years now Senator David A. Reed, one
of the most active of the younger Re-
publican Senators, has been the sole
representative of the State in the Sem
ate. If reports are correct, Senator
Reed has no desire to become the politi-
cal boss of the State if he could do so.
X x X
The Pennsylvania Legislature has been
in the throeS of q struggle over the
State tax on anthracite coal, which 1t
is proposed to repeal. The coal opera
tors insist they must have relief from
this tax if they are to continue in BUSH
ness. This tax, however, brings in each
year millions of revenue. The queS-
ton Is where that revenue is to be made
up, if the coal industry is relieved of
it. Pennsylvania manufacturers and
corporations are wondering If they will
have to assume the burden. Take 1t
all in all, the political situation in
Pennsylvania today is decidedly I'M
settled.
II x X X
Political leaders in New York City
are considering the advisability of unit
ing on a candidate to beat Tammany."
They have a real JOB on their hands any
time they undertake to down that
powerful organization. There has been
a suggestion that former Mayor John
F. Hylan, who has already announced
his candidacy, be the selection of the
fuEionistS. But this does not alto
gether please the Republicans in the
city. They argue that to go to Hylan
1No or
find a candidate. In the meantime,
there has been talk of the possibility
of nominating and electing former Gov.
Alfred E. Smith to have charge of the
management of the greatest city in the
country, or the greatest city in the
world, as the New Workers estimate it.
Gov. Smith has given no indication
that he would accept such a position.
He has been chief executive of the
State, and more recently he was a
candidate for President of the United
States. However, the job of running
the municipality of New York Is no
small one, a place of great power and
dignity If he is to remain in public
life and in the public eye, what better
opening could be offered the former
governor? He made a great record as
governor of the State, his enemies
to the contrary Notwithstanding. New
York needs a strong hand. and Gov.
Smith has been the idol of millions Of
New Workers. He backed the candidacy
of Jimmy Walker for mayor four
years ago, when Mayor Hylan was
seeking to succeed himself, with the
backing of william Randolph Hearst.
u u X X
Dwight w. Morrow, American AmbaS-
sador to Mexico, has gone back to his
post in Mexico City. In some quarters
it Is argued that this takes Mr.. Morrow
out Of the picture as a possible Secre-
tary of State in the Hoover cabinet.
There are Republican leaders here In
Washington, however, who are by no
means so sure that such is the case.
Why, they ask, was Mr.. Morrow in such
hurry to get back to Mexico? And
they answer the question by saying that
perhaps the sooner he is in Mexico the
sooner he will be able to arrange the
affairs of the American embassy there
and return to Washington. 1t has been
urged that Mr.. Morrow'S services in
Mexico City are too valuable to permit
his transfer to the post of Secretary of
State. Those who support the claim
that Mr. Morrow iS the NrODpr selection