Evening star., 1942-05-17
Pennsylvania 6. 0. P.
Fight Reaches Climax
In Primary tuesday
Davis and Martin Wage
Mud-SIineine Bottle
Over Governorship
By GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
PHILADELPHIA, May 16-The
Old Guard struggle to dominate
Republican politics in Penn
sylvania, principally to control
the State government, now
reaching vast proportions, will
be decided In Tuesdays primary.
The Republican State organiza-
ton is backing Gen. Edward
Martin for the gubernatorial
nomination. Back of the State
organization stand Joe" Pew
and Joe" Grundy, with wide
spread financial support.
Challenging the Old Guard is
Senator James j. Davis, who insisted
upon putting himself forward for
the gubernatorial nomination, al
though at one time Gen. Martin and
his hackers offered to withdraw the
Martin candidacy provided the
Senator would also take himself out
of the race. Senator Davis would
have none of the proposed compro-
mise in favor of a third candidate.
Senator Davis, 'Puddler JIM" is
no novice in this political game. He
has locked horns with Grundy and
Pew and the regular organizatio in
the paSt-and come out on top. He
did four years ago, when he trimmed
G.. Mason OWlett, Republican ma
tional committeeman, for the sena-
torial nomination. When he first
ran for the Senate in 1890, Senator
Davis had as his opponent Grundy,
himself, Who had been serving as
Senator under appointment. Davis
won hands down.
Davis Voting Record Hit.
The issue in the present primary
contest for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation is complicated this year
by the war and the feeling of
many Pennsylvania Republicans
that Senator Davis has been too
strongly an isolationist in the past
They bring up against him his votes
in the Senate-before Pearl Harbor
against the Selective Service Act,
against the Lease-Lend Act, against
the Extension of the Military Service
Act, and against arming American
merchant ships.
To this kind of criticism, Senator
Davis replies that he has voted for
every appropria ton for national de-
fense for use both in this country
and abroad.
Gen. Martin has not been an iso-
1ationist. He was, until compare
lively recently, major general in
command of the 28th Division What
he would have done had he been a
Republican Senator during the pre-
war period it is idle to speculate
about. He is put forward as an all
out supporter of the war effort.
He has the backing of the pow
erful influences in Republican State
politics which succeeded in nomi-
mating Gov. James four years ago
over former Gov. Pinchot, who for
years was principal thorn in the
flesh of Old Guard Republicans
They named their candidate for
Governor then, and they insist they
will name Gen. Martin now.
Davis Called Labor's Friend.
Senator Davis, however, has been
a great vote getter. The Welsh
man, who as young man worked
in the iron mills in Pittsburgh, has
always been rated strong with Ia
Dor. In addition as an organizer
for the Order of the Moose. and as
q member of innumerable other fra
ternal organiza tions. he has a wide
circle of friends throughout the
State. In other words, he has had
q big personal following, as well as
the reputation Of having been a
warm friend of organized labor.
He was Secretary of Labor from
1921 to 1880.
, Senator Davis opponents bring
up against him, in addition to the
Charge that he was anti-war and
tsolationist, the criticism that he
has done nothing constructive dur
ing his long service in the Senate;
that he has been the author of no
important legislative measures, that
he has, in fact, been a colorless
Senator.
The amount Of mud which Sena-
tor Davis has slung at Gen. Martin
and Gen. Martin has plastered on
the Senator during the last few
weeks is not likely to do either of
them any good once he has been
nominated. The principal charges
Senator Davis has made against
his opponent are that he should still
be serving in the Army and not
running for Governor; that he was
a bankrupt during the depression
and paid off his debts with only a
fraction on the dollar, and that if
he becomes Governor, he will be
dominated entirely by the big finan-
cial interests, represented by Joe"
Pew of Sun Oil fame and Joe"
Grundy of the Manufacturers As
sociation.
Indictment Story Dug Up.
Gen, Martin has not heSitated to
retaliate, bringing up the old story
of Senator Davis having been in
dicted for conducting a lottery in
connection with his promotional ac-
tivities for the Moose.
He has charged the Senator, too,
with all kinds of political favorit-
ism-some of it not too good. Gen.
Martins supporters insist that Sem
ator Davis has the backing of the