The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-28

spectators remained until the votes were
counted and the return announced: that
every ballot was numbered: but that in
each of four or five instances. two or three
ballots were folded inside the ballot which
was numbered. and these were rejected
that there were not more than eleven, in
all, of these Illegal ballots. divided be-
tween the two sides; and that there was
no question at any time during the cast
ing or the counting of the ballots concern
ing the fairness of the vigiiances work. by
either side: brt that Frank Jones after
ii was all over said in my hearing that the
primary could not have been fairer.
David NJ. Jones.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this
21th day Of January. 1896.
W. S. Milar, Alderman.
Scranton. Pa. Jan. -. lS9d.
State of Pennsylvania. County of l.acka-
wanna SS..
I. John r. Lewis. being duly sworn. do
hereby state that the above facts are true
in every particular; and that personally
heard the said Frank Jones make the
statement at the close of the primary that
Il, had been conducted with perfect fair
ness. John T.. Lewis.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this
eth day of January, 1885,
W. $. Millar. Alderman.
a third charge Is made concerning
Mr.. William Connell and the Asbury
Methodist Episcopal church, of Green
Ridge. which is equally false, and even
more malicious. The facts in this case
are that early last year. long before
the present campaign had been thought
of. MIR. Conncll agreed to help lift
load of Indebtedness from that church.
When the report was circulated prior
to the recent primaries, that majority
of the voting Republican members of
this congregation We're favorable to
Captain Moir, some of Colonel Ripple's
Green Ridge friends made inquiries as
to it's truth; and from this arose the
falsehoOd that Mr.. Connell had asked
for votes because of his contribution
to the relief of the church debt Any
body who knows Mr.. Connell knows
that he Is infinitely above such course
of conduct; and those who don't know
him certainly ought not to swallow
slanders about him without first trying
to ascertain the truth.
We have followed the Scranton Re-
publicans latest half-column of mis-
representations, exaggerations and de-
liberate falsehoods to this extent, mere
ly to show to any who may be in doubt
on the subject that the Republicans
purpose is not to purify politics nor to
further any disintsrested public aim,
but instead simply to SOW dissension
within the party that has for more than
twenty years kept It's editor in fat Of
fees, and turned into its counting room
thousands of dollars of revenue. Its
remembrance of this generosity is de-
liberate plot to try to ruin the party
preparatory to new regime of private
dickers and deals with the local De-
mocracy, like to that which prevailed
during Mr.. Scranton's first reign as the
local Republican autocrat. We think
that the animus of his present course
is pretty generally understood by the
people of Scranton; but in recognition
of the fact that lie can travel faster
than q dozen denials, we ask, in fair
ness. that Republicans, before believing
Mr.. Scrantons fictions, will first con-
slider the character that he bears and
has borne for veracity and political
rectitude. If that tends to add weight
to his accusations, let them be believed;
If not, let them be viewed with sus-
picion or brushed aside as the last
gasps of baiIled jealousy and malice.
There seems to be some question as