Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-29
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

'''A'' " .+n''a.''''-t ''''i' - AN-'A'
EDITOR THlBuNE.-Haying but very
recently sought the suffrage Of my fell
low citizens and knowing that my name
has been freely used in public and pri-
yate, claim the right to be heard to
thank my friends and pay my respects
to my enemies. Some six weeks ago | |
entered the lists as candidate for the
Democratic nomination of tax collector.
In the very inception of my campaign
found myself handicapped considerably
from the fact that many men prominent
in local affairs promised their support
elsewhere, and in some instances two
years in advance. But nothing daunted,
l believed that the people had, and
would Gf properly reasoned with insist
on the right to choose their own officers
the promises of individuals and self
constituted leaders to the contrary.
Animated by the motives and desires
rs stated ! started out to interview the
Democrats of the township and place
delegates. 1 placed delegates in Upper
Lehigh, South Heberton, North Wood
side and Sandy Run, My friends in
Drifton insisted on the right to place
them for me, and | bowed to their
wishes, because l had no desire to die
tate. ! sought to be as courteous as pos
sible and placed no opposition in Mr..
kennedy's home district although in
vited by influential Democrats of the
district to do SO. Neither did l place
any opposition in Mr. O'Donnell's home
districts, Eckley and Halle Brook.
But notwithstanding all this | propose
to prove the mercenary alliance, the
farcial consummation of which was wit
messed by many in Woodside school
house last Tuesday afternoon, was en-
tered into at the very commencement by
both of my opponents. In South Wood
side Mr.. Kennedy placed two men for
delegates who were in reality as much
for O'Donnell as for himself and were
outspoken in his favor, while in Halle
Brook Mr.. O'DonnelI reciprocated by
placing kennedy's cousin as his dele
gate. This fact was pointed out to both
gentlemen and they, or one of them at
least, had ample time to make a change
if they so desired. The same pooling of
issues would obtain at other polls, but
conditions would not permit it.
The result of the primaries might be |
summed up as follows: O'Donnell won
one and one-half votes in contested dis |
tricts, while Kennedy won three. Seven
and one-haIf votes stood to my credit in
contested districts, Notwithstanding the |
fact that some Of my delegates were
coerced and intimidated, and threats
were openly made both before and
after the so-called convention, that they
would be deprived of the means of earn
ing livelihood. This brief summary
OF facts may appear supertluous to many
OF your readers who are acquainted with .
such already, but it is nevertheless
necessary. We're there no interests in.
volved but my personal candidacy I could
afford to be silent. But when the bread
and butter of the friends who have
stood by me is threatened, silence on
my part would simply Indicate moral
cowardice, and cowardice, thank God,
IS not characteristic Of my family.
Threats have been freely made both
before and after the Democratic urinary
election that certain young men holding
responsible positions in the township
would lose the same, or in other words
because they dared to have any convic-
tions of their own, in conflict with cor
uptpoiticalregime whose very existence
presents a sad commentary on popular
intelligence and the manhood Of our
citizens. Previous to the conyen-
ton | took this to be an idle threat
on the part Of somebody's over-zealous
friends, but any doubt that may haye
existed is dispelled by the action of the
convention itself. Every interest has
been sacrificed and every friend betrav-
ed, and for what purpose? This cues
tion is not for me to answer-it is for the .
Democrats of the township, and for
one have belief in their ability to do 50
1t has been customary and a recoo-
nized code of political ethics to let the
vanquished fall easy This empty
courtesy has been denied to me. Tba .
only aspirant for Office at the recent con-
vention which the delegates who were
elected for me were asked to support