Evening star., 1938-07-21
The Political Mill
Gov. Earle Seeking to Prevent Grand Jury Inquiry
Into Charges by Legislature.

that is what he calls grand jury
investigation, although grand jury in
vestigations are at the bottom Of
indictments all over the country. So
he will have the Earle controlled Legis-
lature take look at the charges made
against the Earle administration.
The political reaction to these efforts
on the part Of the Governor to prevent
a grand jury investigation may be far
reaching. OF course, the Republicans
hope It will be. The Earle Democrats
are making all kinds Of charges against
the courts and "usurpation Of power"
by them. But the deadly fact remains
that the public seems to be convinced
that Earle has something to cover up
and that he is going to cover up If it
can be done.
The charges against Earle and his
administration started with his own
former attorney general, Margiotti. II
any one should know, voters say, the
attorney general should. Margiotti
said that David L. Lawrence, secre-
tary Of the Commonwealth and also
Democratic State chairman, and Mat
thew H. McCloskey, Philadelphia con-
tractor and Democratic finance chair
man, had demanded architects on the
General State Authority's building pro-
gram "kick back" half of their COM
missions, amounting to $l,200,O00. He
charged, too, that representatives OF
the brewery industry had paid Law
renee and McCloskey $4,000 to get
favorable legislation; that repre-
sentatives of the industry had handed
Secretary Of Labor and Industry
Bashore $4,000 also.
Earle Admits Making Loan.
Mayor Wilson muddied the waters
still further by charging that McClos-
key, the contractor who had obtained
0,000, 900 or more Government con-
tracts, had loaned Gov. Earle 100000.
Earle admitted borrowing $26 500, but
denied that the contracts given Nc
Closkey were rewards"
The charges against Earle and his
administration run to lot of other
officials also, including Harry Kalod-
ner, former Governors secretary and
secretary OF revenue and recently
appointed Federal judge; Carl L. Dean,
resident secretary of Democratic State
Committee; Edward w. PTendergast,
secretary to Arthur w. Colegrove,
secretary Of property and supplies;
Secretary of Highways BroWnmiller,
Leo A. CroSSen, chairman of Liquor
Control Board; ]. living Brooks, mem
ber Of Liquor Control Board; Carroll
McShane. chief of Bureau Of 1nspec-
ton; Meade Mulvihill OF Pennsylva-
mia Brewers Association. and others.
Any way you look at it, the Penn
sylvania situation seems to be a mess
from the Democratic point of view
However, Senator Guffey, who has
buried the hatchet with Earle and
Lawrence and has been named cam
paign manager" insists that the DEM
ocratic ticket will win next November
by q good margin. Guf1ey may be out
of the country during the special
session OF the Legislature, but he will
return the middle of September to
take over the running Of the cam
paign.
Count on House Gain.
Republicans in Pennsylvania insist
that Guffey is "all wet" that their
candidate. Judge Graham Of the Supe-
rior Court, will win and also Senator
Davis will be reelected They are
counting on picking up a number Of
seats in the House now held by DEM
ocrats.
Realistic Democrats in Pennsylvania
take down their back hair and say
that the issue will be: do you want
to eat, or don't you want to eat?"
They figure that the eaters" will be
in the great majority when it comes
time to vote. 1t is expected that a
great many millions of dollars will be
rushed into Pennsylvania, either for