Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-14
Melons Back Grundy.

The Mellon influence has been def
nitely and publicly placed back of Sen
ator Grundy in his campaign for the
Republican senatorial nomination. AS
a matter Of fact, this is not news. It
has been understood for long time
that the Melons, the Secretary Of the
Treasury and his nephew, w. L. Mel
Ion, former Republican State chairman,
would support Mr.. Grundy against Sec
rotary James j. Davis of the De-
partment of Labor in this fight. The
feature of the Mellon announcement
which attracts great attention is that
the MELONS are backing Grundy and
at the same time Francis Skunk Brown,
candidate for governor on the ticket
with Secretary Davis. It is an obvious
attempt to divide the support of Mr.
Davis. Whether such a move will be
successful the primary election will
show on May 20.
There has been talk of political deals
in Pennsylvania in the last month or
two. Much of it ran to the adjustment
Of the troubles between the Ware or
ganization in Philadelphia and the Mel
Ions, who were known to be backing
Grundy for the Senate. When
Grundy's handpicked running mate,
Lewis, was withdrawn from the guber-
material contest, Immediately there
arose rumors Of a deal between the
factions. Mr.. Davis was to be sold
out" by the Ware organization so that
the Ware candidate for governor, Brown,
could be nominated with little difficulty.
But as time progressed and it became
evident that Mr.. Davis was to have the
support Of the Republican machine in
Allegheny County as well as of the Phil
adelphia organization, it seemed that
the Ware faction stood to win both the
governor and the Senator. Why, it was
asked, should Ware and his followers in
Pennsylvania politics be willing to re-
linquish the senatorial nomination to
the Melons under such conditions?
And the same question is pertinent to-
day. Mr.. Ware has proved himself in
the past quicker thinker and more
politically able than have the Melons.
4,4I. S.4t.2.... i. 4u,..4~, .4l..--
'oor sttus!i II il recent days. The
organized Republicans in both the east
and west sections of the State have
been aligned against him. In primary
fights, organization is big factor. The
attacks which Mr.. Grundy has leveled
against the Ware machine and against
Gen. Atterbury, Republican national
committeeman and president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, have not caused
a furore among the voters. Mr.. Grundy's
own record as collector of huge cam
paign funds has been published many
times. There has been an inclination
to stick the tongue in the cheek and
smile when the Grundy attacks have
been made on his opponents therefore.
The Melons have had in the back OF
their heads the future political fate Of
Senator David A. Reed, the senior Sen
ator from Pennsylvania, even to great
er extent than they have had the
Grundy cause in their minds, accord
ing to reports. Senator Reed halls
from the west end of the State. So
does Secretary Davis. The election Of
the latter might in the future jeopar-
die the reelection Of Mr.. Reed, who
is the particular protege of the MELONS.
IT. is true that Mr.. Davis is running
for the unexpired Ware term, which ends
two years before Mr.. Reed has to come
up again. This means that Davis in
1882 must stand for denomination while
Reed will not have to meet this situa-
ton until 1884. But that does not al
together satisfy the Melons. They feel,
perhaps. that Mr.. Davis might be sue
cessful again in 1882, and then the
drive against Reed by the eastern wing
of the Pennsylvania Republicans would
materialize.