The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-16
OBJECT TO ROBERT WRIGHT
Democrats Are Chatting Under King
Harrity's Edict.
AN OPEN REVOLT is PROBABLE
Conference at the Executive Mansion.
The Appropriations Considered-Not
Cent for Charity if All Other
Demands Are ellAeeded.
Special to the Scranton Tribune

the state committee. Personally. they
have no objections to Mr.. Wright, but
they do not like the methods used by
the Philadelphia leader to make him
chairman. An informal caucus of
about twenty Democrats. all that were
in the city, was held this morning at
the capitol before the opening of the
legislative session. 1t was unanimous
ly agreed to ask Hon James Kerr, chief
clerk Of the national house of represen-
tatives to be u candidate. He has the
matter under consideration and will an
nounce his decision early in the coming
week.
Mr. Kerr attended the meeting and is
delighted with the threatened revolt
against the present party management.
a statement signed by every Democrat
in the house. with the probable excep-
rion of two. deploring the condition of
the party in the state and repudiating
the Harrity leadership. will be issued
next week.
Harrity has written a letter to the
Democrats in the senate and house and
the county chairmen through the state
asking their support OF his candidate.
Up to date he has not received a single
TSSpOuSe lTOUl lHe DeIIlOCTdlS III the
house and it is thought that not more
than two of the senator's, one of whom
lives at Mr.. Wrights home. has replied.
The letter practically amounts to or
ders to turn in for Wright. A copy fol-
lows:
Hon. Robert Z. Wright. of Allentown,
Pa, WILL II elected, accept the chairman
ship OF the Democratic state central
committee. His position in the Demo-
cratic party and his eminent fitness for the
place will not / think, be questioned. n
the proposed election of Mr.. Wright meet
With the approval of your judgment will
you not do what you can and help make It
unanimous or as nearly so as practicable? =?
The present chairman. Hon. James A
Stranahan. declines a reelection.
The annual meeting of the state Demo-
cratic central committee will be held in
Harrisburg, Pa, April H. 1896, at which
place and time the chairman will be
elected
will feel obliged if you will kindly let
rle hear from you upon this subject and /
hope you will see your way clear to give
your support to Mr.. Wright. In my judg-
ment the party will be very fortunate in
having the services of so able and repre-
sentative cnairman OF the state
Committee. Sincerely, W. F. Harrty.
Cleveland Disgustcd.
After the election in Pennsylvania
last fall the administration at Wash
ington expressed extreme dissatisfac-
ton with the party management
President Cleveland was disgusted and
amazed at the overwhelming defeat
Of Mr.. Singerly and indicated a desire
to do something to restore harmony in
the party. He was prevailed upon by
certain friends of Harrity to go slow
until after the February elections.
They promised to show to the president
that the party was all right and would
poll its normal vote. But its disastrous
rout all over the state was another
eye-opener for Cleveland, and he is so
thoroughly disgusted with the utter
unreliability and worthlessness of the
Aarrity rule that he will demand that
the next chairman be a man who Will
not be under control of Harrity or any
other individual.
1t is believed that President Cleve-
land will soon order the removal of
Mint Inspector Townsend, of Philadel-
phia, against whom serious charges
have been preferred. Townsend is a
Harrity appointee and the national
chairman has succeeded in keeping him
In his place. 1t was the intention of the
president to fire Townsend last Decem-
ber. Harrity got wind of this and hur-
ried to Washington and pleaded with
the president to retain him. 1t Is un-
derstood the Philadelphia boss used
the argument that Pattison would be
nominated for mayor and that he
would be elected. He told Cleveland
that IL Townsend was remove. this
would dishearten and disorganlze the
party and mean certain defeat for the
party.
There Is talk here of merging the col
lection districts Of the state with a
view Of giving better service to the in
fernal revenue department and with the
idea of destroying faction politics,
The anti-Harrity people have not yet
agreed upon a candidate for chairman.
MIR. Kerr Is their first choice, but he
may decline for business reasons The
names OF ex-senator Dunlap, of Bea-
yer; ex-County Chairman Brenner, of
Allegheny, and John l.. Mckinney, of
Titusville, are under advisement and
II IL probable that one of them will be
agreed upon at conference to be held
next week.
Cabinet Conference.
A conference was held at the execu-
tive mansion last night between Cover
nor Hastings, his cabinet, State Treas
urer Jackson, Auditor General Gregg
and Chairmen Fruit and Marshall, of the
senate and house appropriations COM
mittee, to discuss the state revenues
and try to get an idea how far they will
reach. John Fow, the Democratic lead
er In the house, was present by invita-
tion.
Chairmen Fruit and Marshall know
exactly what will be required to pay
the general expenses and the school
appropriations for the next two years.
The amount asked for schools will be
Sn,0O0,00O. To meet this and the ex-
pense Of running the state 1928, 900
will be required. The National Guard
wants 100000. The maintenance of the
INDECENT insane and asylums will cost
u 100000. The semi-state institutions.
such as the homes for feeble minded
and the schools for the deaf, blind and
dumb, will require 81, 100000. The penal
Institutions must also be looked after.
1t was found that those amounts would
eat up The $l9.O0O,oOO income of the state
for the next two Years. This leaves
not cent for charity.
The governor was greatly surprised
when he found 1t would take the entire
income Of the state and that charities
had not yet been considered. He and