Evening star., 1934-08-09
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

from q sick bed last June to journey
TO Chicago 70 be present at = meeting
of the Republican National Commit
tee and to help direct its reorganiza-
tion it was apparent that the Penn
sylvania Senator had determined to
play a major part from then on in
the politics Of his State. The death
Of William S. Ware. who for so many
years was the Republican boss IN
Philadelphia. brings Reed stin further
into the limelight. For Ware was the
Republican national committeeman
for Pennsylvania, an Office now which
which was held for years by the late
Boise Penrose. when he was Senator
from Pennsylvania and dominated
politics there. Penrose was from
Philadelphia. Reed is from the west
ern end OF the State, Pittsburgh. Reed
Is up for reelection this year. Despite
the efforts of the Democrats and OF
Gov. Pinchot. il is likely that Reed
will win. And II he does. II seems
clear that he viii become an even
more powerful figure in the Republic
an party. He has always been rated
q conservative. and his influence win
be to keep the @. o. p. conservative
and away from the isms of the pro-
RressiveS. His victory against Gov.
Pinchot in the Republican senatorial
primaries last May was hailed as a
defeat for the progressive element and
the Roosevelt new deal, most of the
principles and performances Of which
Pinchot had espoused.
E%
Gov. Pinchot has no use for SEN
ator Reed. The feeling. however,
seems to be mutual. There has been
q great deal of speculation as to what
part Pinchot viii play in the coming
senatorial campaign. The suggestion
has been made that he. run as inde-
pendent and also that he throw his
support to Joe Guffey. the Demo-
cratic nominee for the Upper House.
There Is great question, however,
whether Pinchot's candidacy as an
independent would not be more Of a
blow to- the chances OF Guffey than
to those of Reed. In all probability
Pinchot would divide the opposition
to Reed, which undoubtedly exists in
the State. If Pinchot came out and
campaigned for Guffey, there is a Sc
rious doubt II he could throw many
votes to the Democrat Furthermore,
Guffey is not q lily-white progressive,
but is regarded as very practical
politician. Some OF Pinchot's follow
ers brought forward pleasant little
plan. It called for the retirement of
Guffey from the senatorial race in
favor Of Pinchot, on the understand
ing that the Pinchot people would
throw their strength to George Earle,
the Democratic nominee for Cover
nor.
1t Is Pinchot's move apparently,
and II he does not soon make up his
mind to run as an independent, 1t
win be too late for him TO file. OF
course, he could throw his support to
Guffey at any time during the cam
paign If he desired to do SO. Mr.
Pinchot campaigning for Guffey
would have its amusing aspects.
The death Of Mr.. Ware came after
he had been shorn Of his leadership
in Philadelphia. Had he lived, how
ever. there is no telling whether he
would not have staged comeback in
the political arena. He. was resource
full in theNextzep1e How he forced
the hand of the powerful Pennsyl-
vania delegation at the Republican,
national convention in Kansas City
in 1928 is matter of history. The
delegation came to Kansas City. ac-
companied BY andrew w. Mellon,
then Secretary of the Treasury, who
was supposed to give the, word
whether Pea9sylvanis's, suppoft was
to go to Herbert Hoover. or was to be
reserved. possibly with the idea that
the late President Calvin Coolidge
might be drafted Mr.. }w4re, then
delphiR.busssf fdldsngt Walt for Mr..
Mellon to coIifer with the other lead
ers, including William M. Butler Of
Massachusetts,, chairman of the Ma
tioanl Committee and Coolidge's par
ticular friend. Mr.. Ware gave out a
statement Endorsing Mr.. Hoover for
the nomination and plainly stating
that the big slice Of the State dele
CATION which he controlled would vote
for Hoover on the first ballot. There
was nothing left for Mr.. Mellon to do
but go along with Ware or else lead a
minority of the State delegation in
opposition to Hoover. Wares ma
neuver gave the convention city a
hearty laugh at the time.
- **
Pennsylvania has, too, this year the
Craftsmanship Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. Henry Fletcher,
who is working hard to rebuild the
party organization in all parts of the
country, was selected to head the
committee at the Chicago meeting to
which Senator Reed went last June.
Reed and Fletcher have very similar
ideas of government and policies to
be followed. Reed conducted his
campaign for denomination with the
Roosevelt new deal as an issue, and
Reed constantly condemning it.
Fletcher, since his election as chair
man, has clearly indicated time and
again that he, too. is violently opposed
to much of the new deal.
The Republicans of Massachusetts,,
not to be outdone by the Democrats
of the Bay State, are having lively
fight. Prank A. Goodwin, who has
been candidate for the gubernatorial
nomination in other years, is threat
ening now 10 run as an independent
candidate for Governor II Lieut.. Gov
Bacon. brother Of Representative Ba-
con OF New York, is nominated by the
Republicans for that Office in the Sep
tennher primary. Goodwin has had
very stable following in the State.
II he should carry out his threat the