Evening star., 1950-04-01
The Political Mil
The Political Mil
Leaders Ripping so. P.
Aport in Pennsylvania
Democrats 6Ieeful Over Row,
See Election Advantage
By Sould Lincoln

Republican leaders in Pennsylvania.
judging only from the epithets and
charges hurled in the present preprimary
campaign. are tearing the COP apart in
the Keystone State. Naturally the DEM
ocratS are chortling. hoping that this
family row will work to their benefit in
the November general election for Gov
ernor. Senate and the big PENNSYLVANIA
delegation in the House. Pennsylvania
Republicans. however. have had terrific
factional rows in the past, only TO close
ranks and slap the Democrats down.
The clashing elements Gov. James II.
Duff on the one hand. and former Sena-
tor Joe" Grundy. Republican National
Committeeman Mason Owlett and Sena-
tor Martin on the other, are pulling no
punches. Gov. Duff is candidate for
the senatorial nomination. His candidate
for Governor is former Judge John S.
Fine. The Grundy- y-Owlett ticket has
Representative Kunkel as its candidate
for the senatorial nomination and Jay
Cooke for the gubernatorial nomination.
Duff Advantage Seen.
The canniest politicians give Gov. Duff
the advantage over Mr.. Kunkel. Indeed.
they insist that the Governor will win in
the primary on May by a considerable
margin. They add that Judge Fine will
win. too though perhaps by lesser vote.
Gov Duff's strength lies in his ability TO
make a slaShing campaign. the fact he
has given the State good administra-
tion, that while the State government
costs more (due to increased costs all
along the line). there is still no State
income tax and no sales tax-although
the next Governor may have to go to
new taxes-and that he has the backing
of the Melons in Pittsburgh. and prob
ably Of the Pews in Philadelphia. Fur
ther, As Of the 81 county Republican
leaders have declared for Gov. DUH, and
SO of the 50 ward leaders in Philadelphia
are out for him. too.
Gov. Duff met defeat at the hands OF
the Grundy- y-Owlett-Martin forces at the
time of the Republican National Conven-
ton in Philadelphia in l948. Gov. Duff
was strongly opposed to the nomination
Of Gov. Dewey for President and wanted
to hold the big Pennsylvania delegation
in the convention away from the New
Yorker. Mr.. Grundy and Senator Martin.
however were for Gov. Dewey. and at
psychological moment took majority OF
the PENNSYLVANIA delegates into the
Dewey camp In measure. the present
fight is a continuation OF the old strife
between the two factions-although
Gov. Dewey does not figure at all in this
new struggle.
In a recent speech, Gov. Duff poured
it on his opposition. saying:
"Grundy- -Owlettism is the top issue IN
the Republican primaries this spring $50
In my opinion, Grundy- -Owlettism means
government by few, for the benent OF
few, at the expense OF the public" He
added it was clear the Grundy- -Owlett
faction was out to rule or ruin" the Re-
publican Party in Pennsylvania.
Brickbats Tossed.
The Grundy-Owle candidates. with
Representative Kunkel as their princi-
pal hatchet man. have not hesitated to
toss brickbats at Gov. Duff and his ad-
ministration. to such degree that Gov.
Duff has charged they are doing every
thing in their power to undermine the
confidence of the people In the present
Republican administration IN Harrisburg
The Democratic ticket will be Senator
Myers, the party whip in the Senate. for
Senator, and Richardson Dilworth. city
treasurer of Philadelphia. for Governor.
Senator Myers, running in 1914. was
elected with a lead Of $4,000 votes. Mr..
Dilworth was elected city treasurer last
year, in a cleanup campaign. when he
had the support of the Philadelphia In
quirer and the Philadelphia Bulletin. He
was elected for a four-year term--and
now he is candidate for Governor. which
leaves some of his former supporters cold.
Mr.. Dilworth. however. is spellbinder
as a speaker and veteran Of the war. in
which he served in the United States
Marine Corps.
Pennsylvania has been rather steady
in it's Republicanism in recent years. 1t
gave it's electoral vote to Gov. Dewey in
1948. The Republicans have elected a
series of Governors and members Of Con-
gress. Gov. Duff, If nominated for the
Senate, may be expected to win by some
100000 votes; and Judge Fine, as
gubernatorial candidate. lead somewhat
smaller. The Republicans are counting
on picking up from four to seven House
seats now held by the Democrats. At
present the house delegation is made up
of 18 Republicans and IS Democrats.