Primaries

In Philadelphia, great was the to-do over the nomination of a Register of Wills, a City Treasurer, a Coroner-great was the to-do because the primary was the acknowledged battle for political supremacy between Boss William Scott Vare (three years elect, but not yet seated as a U. S. Senator) and Mayor Harry A. Mackay, once Vare's campaign manager, last week his rival. On the eve of the primary Miss Beatrice Vare coming from the Senator's sickbed broadcast over the city:

"My father needs your help, and as he is unable to come here from Atlantic City and lead the way himself, he has asked me to deliver his message to Philadelphia, that the regular organization ticket must be nominated tomorrow if our city is to have the high place in the sun she deserves."

Great was the surprise of politicians next day. So eager was Philadelphia for its high place in the sun that when the vote was counted the Vare candidates won not by the majority of 75,000 (which they predicted) but by more than 160,000.

In Buffalo a freak primary brought about the following result: Frank X. Schwab, present Republican mayor, was renominated for his office on the Democratic ticket, defeating the regular Democratic designee, 2 to 1, but was defeated for renomination on the Republican ticket by another Republican, 2 1/2 to 1.

In New York City, Congressman Fiorello ("Little Flower") H. La Guardia, flamboyant campaigner, Wet, contested for the Republican nomination for Mayor with William M. Bennett, Dry. In the count there were nearly four La Guardia votes for every Bennett vote. Yet the total vote cast was not much over 80,000 compared to 714.000 votes cast for Herbert Hoover last November. Democrats used the figure to show how hopeless would be Mr. La Guardia's chances of performing the miracle of defeating silk-hatted Mayor James John Walker. Undaunted, little Mr. La Guardia made answer that he had not tried to get out the vote-Mr. Bennett had not been a serious contender. Expected result: lively campaign, Walker reelection. reelection.