The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-11-14
THE BUTLER nsTATEsMEN.
The Politicians of That Township Now
Considered HUOdoOs.

.
Considered Huodoos.
A correspondent writing to the Ashland
Local, thinks all nominees championed by
the Butler Township statesmen are sure Of
defeat and gives the following as his reasons
prior to SO the Homcsvillc- Rap gang
were but wing to Hon. D. d. Phillips kite,
and did not amount to enough to impress
their personality ON any party. Since that
time, however, they have had a marked
influence on Democratic affairs in the county.
These gentlemen are wise enough to conine
their own candidates. to Butler township,
where everything goes. They wisely refrain
from aspirations to county offices. They
/ know their record is before the people. They
do however, attach themselves to other
persons whose popularity might secure their
success, and whose pliability might ensure an
/ easy berth for one or more Of the gang. In
all these efforts, though, they have only de.
fcatcd those whom they tried to elect.
'rhe first victim of the Butler hoC-doo was
Tom Tracey, of shenandoah. Tracy was
elected Director Of the Poor before the voters
at large knew he was connected with 'the
gang He appointed Ed. Kenney Aims
house clerk, aud the Identification was com
plete. Though personally popular, Tracy
thereafter lost strength and when his term
ycrcnce.' lie has been unknown in county
politics since.
THE next one was George Wadhnger, Esq.
whom they helped to nominate, and who was
finally slaughtered at the polls. Then came
Hon John Byon, defeated iu the nomination,
but who ran as an independent candidate.
lie pollcd only 2OOO vote, in the county, and
received ~ of these at East Butler the home
of the gang.
THE fourth to whom these barnaccs at
tached themselves was Honest John
, kcnney, Of GiraIdvile. To such extremes
did they 90 in the convention for his nomina-
tion that John Bcrgan would not abide by its
decision. The result is known. Keruey was
defeated and knows he was defeated through
his connection with the Butler crowd. He
has since kept clear of them.
} Following these came Jack Toole, the
strongest man personally in Schuylkill. But
. he got himself mixed up some how with
the gang and that was enough. With all
his political skill and strength, the hoodoo
was too much for him. He was whipped "a
votes He lost enough Democratic votes in
Butler alone to defeat him.
after Toole, Hon. Charles Kings turn
came. King did not want to run for the
f Senate; but, it is said, Mike Carey fairly
, dragged him into it. King did not need the
+ honor, nor did he need the salary. In fact
it is said he consented to iii the place only
that his mantle might fall on Carey at the
expiration of his term, and that PATSY
Carlcy would be appointed Srrgeant-at-Arms
! in Harrisburg The convention that nomi-
+ mated him at Girardvillc wa, "A decided sue
L cess from a Butler point OF view. But the
r followers Of Franey and Watson did not en-
, dor-e the Butler style. They would enjoy
abuse and riGiculc better ir directed against
, sume ..hcr persons than their own. They
strucH back, aud the Butler hUodoo was
again uiumphaut They performed the
same Offices, the same year, for your towns
J man, John Dcncc. Dencc and King enjoyed
p the trip together and got so used to salt
3 water that they have had no desire for
, straight Democratic whiskey since.
Next came the forced nomination of Tom
Higgins All the Butler delegation but the
Rap, wanted to vote for Frank Laugton, but
Tom Nulan wanted to be Sheriff and they
D had to turn in for Higgins. Higgins was
nominated, hut the deal killed Him. Some
e of Nolans friends let the secret out in their
S zeal to make votes, and that settled it. The
, hoodoo was again on top, aud neither Higgins
nor Nolan got job.
"Thon came the convention that called
forth the last rebuke This year the Demo.
c ats at large had no show in the construction
c Of their ticket. A few choice spirits adopted
IS the Butler method of choosing candidates
c Led by the Rap megacep phalon they met in a
t room in Pottsville, made slate, aud backed
D.. itup by a large fund then and there levied
d. for the purpose. Butler had no candidate Of
IT,, own, and owen McNally was hartercd fol
ID the chief clerkship for the Commissioner
G Office, and a deputyship under the Prothono
20 ny. The county slate was supplemented by
n Harry Becker's nomination for the Assembly
Is Harry had no office TO award but he had 8
e large pocket book and was willing to empty
it. The hoodoo however, attached to al
y, and now Bradigan, Ferguson and Becker ar,
~ sorry that the Butler township brand wal
% eyer part of their outfit. who will be tn,
II next TO court the favor Of the Butle
C hoodoo p"