Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04
SCULL'S FRIENDS HOPEFUL.
THEY BELIEVE THAT He WILL BE HIS
OWN SUCCESSOR
Washington View of the Heated Congress.
sionaI Coptest-Quny is Not Interfering
With the Fighr-The Sudden Resurrec.

A Washington View of the Heated Congress.
{ sionaI Contest-Quny IL Not Interfering
With the Fight-The Sudden Resurrec.
tion of Cessna.
lFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, May 3.-A very lively
fight is now on for the representation in
Congress from the Somerset-Blair-B Bedford
district, and as Representative Scull has
made host of friends during his several
sessions in Congress, the contest excites
considerable interest here. Mr.. Hicks, a
young attorney of hollidaysburg, has just
been nominated as the candidate of Blair
county after a heated contest with Hon.
Benjamin L. Hewitt, formerly Speaker of
the House of Representatives at Harrisburg.
Hon. John Cessna, who has not held
Office for a number of years and was almost
forgotten outside of his county, bobs up as
the leading candidate in Bedford county,
for the purpose, it is said, of securing q
vindication. He was defeated sdisastrously
year or two ago in his candidacy for a
county jUdgship, and wants to prove that
the people will vet stand by him.
1t was announced some time ago that
Representative Scull would not be a candi-
GATE for denomination, as he had keen
elected president of a bank in Somerset.
and was expected to settle down into the
condition of an elderly gentleman retired
with honor from successful politics, with
honorable and lucrative business associa-
tions occupying just enough of his attention
to amuse him.
PLENTY OF AsPIRANTs.
Other ambitious aspirants came into the
field for Congress, among whom was General
Koontz, and none of those in the field SEEM
ing quite to fit the situation, Mr. Scull's old
friends demanded that he submit to their
judgment Mr.. Scull could not refuse and
so he is in the field, and from all accounts
will easily get the nomination in his own
county, and then play lively three-handed
rubber with Hicks and Cessna, if the last
named makes the landing in Bedford.
With two such old war horses as SculI and
Cessna in the field, it is the opinion that
Hicks will easily be driven to cover, and
then the shrewdest political manager will
capture the Blair county delegates. The
only argument, apparently, used against
Scull is that he has had enough honors and
should now step aside and give the young
ones chance-young ones like the ,vener-
able John Cessna, for instance.
OF course, Senator Quay is reported to be
taking a hand in the fight, but that is not
Sflucuk w any Out tue gossip uOngers. II
will be remembered that the Senator was
said to be using his influence in support of
Reeds candidacy for Speaker of the House,
and that he was displeased at Scull's sup
port of Mckinley, which support was said
to have been given on account of Scuil's
friendship and possibly his business asso-
Citations with brother of McKinley, who
is citizen of Somerset county.
NO EyrDENcE OF TT
After the episode Scull was placed in the
very short catalogue OF i-Quay Congress
men from Pennsylvania, and it has been as
sumed by those who are always ready with
assumptions upon the slightest
basis that Senator Quay would oppose the
and election of Sculi. This
NAV be true, but no evidence OF it has come
to light at this end of the line, and SculPs
friends claim that Somerset is absolutely |
sure ior him, and profess to believe that he,
on account of his personal and political in
huence at home and record for faithfulness |
and good judgment in Congress, will as be- |
lore, score victory in the district. One |
thing that conplicates the situation for |
both Messrs. Scull and Cessna is that at the |
primaries which will nominate for Congress,
delegates will also be elected to the State !
and nomination will be made to |
county offices to the number OF a dozen or |
SO. This will give great chance for trading,
and there is remote possibility that it may |
affect the result. Mr.. ScuIl seems |
very confident of success in his county, SO |
confident that be does not deem it necessary |
10 go home to look after the condition of his |
fences.