The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-30
A finish FIGHT PROMISED
Will Be No Compromise Between the
Democratic Warriors.
JOHN j. FAHEY'S ULTIMATUM
Fight Was Forced on Him and Ho Is Not
Going to Rum Away Statement
Made by County Chairman
John l.. Roche.

An unexpected interest has been de-
veloped in the result OF tomorrow 5
Democratic county convention on ac-
count of the fight launched for the
office of permanent chairman OF the
convention. Sheriff John j. Fahey
and Editor Il. ]. Lynett of the Free
Press, are the candidates. and both are
determined to fight to a finish. There
were many rumors yesterday of Il COM
PROMISE but none of them We're true.
The fight between Fahey and Lynett Isl
somewhat of u surprise inasmuch as
xhey have always been very close
friends. politically and socially. They
now represent different elements OF the
party, and hence the clash.
Saturdays primaries were. In the
main, tame and uninteresting. The
Craftsmanship fight was sprung Mt so
late day that there was no time
to set up candidates for delegates In
the various election districts, and the
candidates had to content themselves
with enleavoring to win to their cause
those elected.
The craftsmanship of the county con-
ven.ion seems a profitless thing to bat
tie for, but There is bigger game be-
hind. This is a preliminary step to an
effort NO secure control of the state
organization. Mr.. Fahey is being
backed in his fight by John J. OBoyle,
ex-p.strict Attorney John p. Kelly,
Attorney Joseph O'Brien. NJ. p. Flynn.
John Gaffney, Editor W. II. Bell,
County Treasurer Schadit and Others.
while Mr. LynGtt's supporters are John
Il; Roche, chairman of the Democratic
county committee. POSTMASTER +. M,
Vandling, tt al.
with an Eye on the State Fight.
The Fahey people assert that the op-
position is making fight Tor Mr.
Lynett that he may have charge of the
convention and Insure the reelection of
Mr.. Roche as county chairman thereby
exterling their lease of power as the
dominant faction in Lackawanna pol
tiles. Just why they are so anxious to
wrest the organization from the Roche
corj.ingent the Faheyites refuse to say.
The secret OF the matter Is that the
fight Is being made as one OF the pre-
l5miLary steps towards wrestling the
control of the Democratic party or the
State out of the hands of W. F. Harrity
and again making James Kerr, OF
Cl.artield, the state leader. He Is an
ex-charlman of the state committee,
an eX-congressman and eX-chief clerk
of the national house of representa-
tives. For some time Mr. Kerr mas
been getting his fences in shape. pre-
para tory to making an effort to again
seize the reins of power.
The new county committee, IN the
making up of which the chairman of
Tuesdays convention will play an i'm
portant part will elect delegates to the
state convention who in turn will elect
delegates to the next national conven-
ton and really decide on the leader of
this states delegation. The Fahey
men, it Is said, want Kerr as the gen.
eral. while the Roche adherents believe
in keeping Harrity at the helm
Much bitterness Displayed.
Much bitterness was displayed Satur-
day night and yesterday and no mat
ter what the result is, the rent i'm the
county organization of the party Will
be increased. In the fight for chair
man the contest for the nomination Tor
coroner has been almost lost sight or.
Last night neither DR.. j. "A. Kelley nor
DR.. p. II. McAndrew had been able 10
secure a complete list of the delegates
elected. but both expressed themselves
as confident that they would be nomi-
mated and have several votes to spare
MIR. Fahey, when seen by Tribune
reporter yesterday afternoon, ana
asked as to his prospects for the chair
manship of the convention, was enjoy
ing q cigar i'm the reading room or the
st. Charles hotel.
AS I view the situation now, ! will
be elected chairman he said, as he
shot the ashes from the end of his cigar
towards a splttoon. Il may take 100
hopeful a view Of 1t, but that's the way
1t appears to me. 1T has been SAID that
| am a candidate for chairman of the
next county committee, but 1t is not
true. am not and would not take the
position If it was rendered to me. | do
want to be chairman of the convention
and am lighting for that honor. MY
reasCn--wtrl, | do not think II neces-
sary to state IL at this time. ] am after
the position. u fight has been forced on
men and I'm not running away. l
never did and ! don't propose to begin
now. As to the chairmanship OF the
county committee ! ann not particular
ly interested. If the candidates nOni-
mated by Tuesdays convention want
Mr.. Roche as chairman again l Would
not oppose their choice
What Chairman Roche Has to Say.
County Chairman John E. Roche
when seen was not disposed to talk
about the fight and intimated that he
had not sought the position of county
chairman, but was willing to take II
II he could thereby be of any service
TO the party. "The prominent mention
of my name In connection with the
Democratic county organization is not
deserved" continued Mr.. Roche, "and
Is intended to hide the real issue, which
is shall the friends of Judge Smith or
his enemies have control of the county
committee that will have charge of his
canvass. 1t is n notorious fact that
Mr.. Fahey ds his bitter enemy. At Will
Transport Mr.. Fahey told me that his
sole purpose In attending the conven-
ton was to down Judge Smith. After
showing him how it would react to his
personal disadvantage and appealing
to any friendship he entertained for
myself. he agreed to vote for and do
nothing against the judge, believing he
would not be nominated. Disappoint-
ed i'm this. he returned to engage in an
active fight for the control of the coun-
ty organization with the same avOwed
purpose. The friends of Judge Smith
thinkthat 1t Is due him that the county
committee should not be set up against
him and that Mr.. Fahey should not ask
the Democracy to follow him in his
hatred OF the judge.
This sort of politics has worked
great injury to the party In the past
and ought to be effectively condemned
by the county convention. Between Mr..
Fahey and myself there is no quarrel
that I know of. although his friends
say they are going to drive me out of
politics. They ought to remember that
they begged me to enter and that from
the start to the finish my best efforts
were devoted to their interests as well
as TO the interests of the party"
Robinson wns Not In II.
Ex-Sheriff Charles Robinson took no
hand In Saturdays fight. one way or
the other, sticking to the statement
he made some time ago that he is out
of pClttics