The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-25


Sheriff Of Lackawanna County.
Of Withdrawals, deals and unreasonable
promises, Mr. Oksll stands above his
castor in the political arena with the
simple statement that he is working
for the Republican nomination for
sheriff and that he expacts to win. He
IL man Of the people and at present
occupies q position OF trust with the
LackAwanna Iron and Steel company
than which there is no company in the
United States which pays more strict
attention to the quality of men it
selects for responsible positions. A
brief pen picture OF such one seems
particularly appropos at this time.
SKETCH OF MR.. OKELL.
George Washington Okell was born
in Scranton Nov. 81, 1916. on Mill
street, and today lives hut few doors
from the scene of his birth. Like the
great MACS of American boys he began
his career ameng the laboring class
and from the poorly paid breaker boy
has risen to one of the most RESPONSE
BILE positions in the gift of large cor
poration solely through honesty and
ability. Such climb without the use
of modern ''pulls" or wealth is typical
of an American in the full sense of the
word, and is particularly typical Of the
progressivensss Of the subject of this
sketch
Mr.. Okells stock in trade was COM
mon school education received in
Scran ton whom he began his first work
as II breaker boy at the old Diamond
mines, He next sought employment
as furnace door tender in the old roll
ing mill of tho Lackawsnna Iron and
Steel company. BY strict attention to
duty he so merited the confidence of
the company that he rapidly gradu-
ated from one position to another until
eighteen years ago he was appointed
superintendent of the timber lands of
the company. That is his present po-
sition.
There is nothing to chronicle con-
cerning the political offices held by Mr..
Okell from the fact that he never held
any; his political experience has, until
now, been confined to the lines Of the
Republican party where he has always
been found as the man who would labor
indefatigably to promote any proper line
of work which would rebound to the
benefit of his party. 1t is for these past
services that he now looks to the
party for reward, and Mr.. Okell makes
no concealment Of his position in this
respect.
STEPPED ASIDE THREE YEARS AGO.
There are not many candidates who
could be induced to relinquish nomi.
nation canvass as Mr.. Okell did, under
the circumstances which surround ID
his shriovalty nomination canvass in
1891. During that contest he had for
an opponent John s. LsTouche, and ut
the request of party leaders retired in
favor OF Mr.. LaTouche for the sake of
harmony. At that time men high IN
the councils of the Republican party
promised their support to Mr.. Okell
during this campaigns and it is source
OF qualification 10 him that these men
have kept their word
1t is the boast Of Mr.. Okell's friends
that many Of the prominent Repubi-
cans, among them Judge Archibald and
Senator Wntres, who were elected to
nigh offices, owed their victories in a
measure to the efforts OF the subject of
this article. These are but casual in
stances Of the work done by Mr.. Okell
and for which he feels secure in the
bsliaf that he will be rewarded.
Another fact which promises to cut a
very favorable figure in Mr. Okell's
candidacy is that he is man of the
people, represents the healthful growth
OF poor but eventually sturdy and sue
cessful American manhood and will
without doubt receive the almost un-