Evening star., 1938-10-12
G.O.P.TRENDSEEN
IN PHILADELPHIA
Survey Shows Grounds
for Confidence of
Republicans.
This Is the fourth of a series OF
articles analyzing the Republican
driDe to tDin House seats.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,
Star Staff Correspondent.

members; today it has solid Demo-
cratic delegation. Republican leaders
say emphatically that this Democratic
neutrality-suspicious. Leon Sacks,
James P. McGranery, Michael J. Brad
ley. J. Burrwood DAILY. Frank j. G.
Dorsey, Michael j. Stack and Ira w.
Drew-will all be retired. and an inde-
pendent survey shows that there are
good grounds for such confidence.
Just to name the old Republican
stalwarts who held these seats for
many years shows how times have
changed during the New Deal'-Wil-
liam S. Ware. George S. Graham, Har-
ry c. Ransley. George w. Edmonds,
James j. Connolly. George A. Welsh
and George P. Darrow.
This last-named former member
Darrow-is coming back, most certain
ly of any. anchor man for the other
six Republican candidates. who are all
novices Mr. Darrow served % years
in Congress before he was defeated two
years ago by Dr. Drew by the narrow
margain of 81 per cent, and Dr. Drew's
victory came through Royal Oak
(Father Coughlinites) support. which
he doesn't have this time and the
strength of which is greatly dissipated
Campaign Hard Fought.
This City of Brotherly Love" is ex-
periencing one of its most bitterly
fought congressional campaigns. with
aggressive work by the opposing can
didates in each Of the seven districts.
The wise guy" on the side lines will
tell you that this is because in the old
days the Republican bosses passed
along the word and the police were
used to see that the big majority of
votes were cast for the party ticket.
Since 1888, when John B. Kelly took
charge as Democratic city chairman,
a strong party organization has been
built up. The present Mayor. although
elected as Republican, is in sympathy
with the Democrats, and the police are
restrained from interference.
In the elder days considerable in
dustrial pressure was brought to bear,
and certain foreign groups especially
had fear of the Republican machine.
Under the open registration system
they have been enabled to dodge this
by still continuing to register as Re-
publicans, but going to the polls and
voting the straight Democratic ticket.
BY the same token. with mandates on
voting issued to all those who have
benefited under the New Deal, the
result is the same-they will go into
the booth and vote untrammelled, and
there is strong and growing senti-
ment against the golden flood" which
has been making taxes oppressive.
The Democrats say in reply to this.
and it sounds like an admission of
weakness-"There are some districts
that are just as pro-Roosevelt as
ever"
Labor Aids Democrats.
So with the Democrats organized
in this city as never before, and with
Democrats entrench in office, the Re-
publicans had to be "up on their toes
IN this campaign. The result is a
battle all up and down the line. But
the Democrats claim big help from
organized labor-both A. F. of L. and
the c. I. O.-all sworn in for support
OF the Democratic ticket, both in
Philadelphia and throughout the State.
Also, they whisper about a break in
the Republican ranks-six or seven
ward leaders who supported Mr.. Pin
chot in the primary were put beyond
the pale, disciplined, removed from
the city committee. All of them have
some strength with the voters and
there are no indications yet that peace
has been restored
In Bill Wares old district Repre-
sentative Leon Sacks is seeking re-
election. He is Jew, and the racial
issue has been raised. 1t is a strong
Italian district, and John Alessan-
droni, brother of an able and highly
regarded Common Pleas judge, is
the Republican candidate There is
no doubt that if the Italians stick to-
gether he will be elected. The Demo-
cratic strategy has been to create fac
tions. A strong group of Italians
has been organized to cooperate with
New Dealers in rallying around Mr..
Sacks. While all other Democratic
candidates in Philadelphia have been
given the full Endorsement of labor,
Mr.. Sacks was placed on the neutral
list. The Republican candidate in the
first district is a friend of Charles
Margiotti. who was attorney general
and started all the scandal in Harris
burg and whom Gov Earle threw out
of office. Mr.. Margiotti has always
been Republican, but was picked up
by the Democrats four years ago. Mr..
Sacks won the election two years ago
in field of five candidates with 67,276
votes to 34,813 for Harry c. Ransley,
Racial Issue in Second.
The incumbent in the second dis
trict is Representative James P. Nc
a World War flyer, whom
Gov. Earle appointed chairman of
the Registration Commission in 1885.
He is young, able, active and aggres-
sive Pitted against him as the Re-
publican candidate, in a preponderant-
ly Negro district, is Edward w. Henry,
a colored magistrate. The Negro vote
has been going Democratic, and the
are making strong bid
to win it back. Magistrate Henry
has considerable ability. is good
campaigner and is working. To offset
this, Mr.. McGranery's campaign man.
agement has organized Negro COM
mittee and a colored women's cam
paign unit. The Negroes have a big
campaign headquarters of their own.
Mr.. McGranery won two years ago
with 65,779 to 41,267 for William H
Wilson, Republican.
Representative Michael J. Bradley is
seeking reelection in what has been
in recent years the strongest Demo-
cratic district. It is also a strong
labor district, with labor supposed to