Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-09

carrying WlJn Un6m many BOOu WISHES.
q. II. Armour, Eminent Commander
of DeMolay Commandery, Reading,
was also among the guests
cOMBINATION NOT BROKEN.
The Attempt of Eiremen to shatter 1t
Failure.
An effort was made Monday night to
break tho combination of fire COM
panies which has for several years con.
rroled the election of officers of the
department, but the attempt was not
crowned with success. 1t has, however,
stirred up fight in the ranks of the
Liberty Fire Co. and has produced
more or less feeling in the department.
The combination, as it was formed
several years ago, comprises the Wash
ington, Friendship, Liberty, Phoenix
and Weccacoe companies, and the re-
naming companies are known as the
anti combination element.
At the meeting of the Liberty com
pany Monday eight members formu-
lated ticket, with M. r. Cannon of
tho Liberty as candidate for chief and
Charles Scull of tho Delaware as first
assistant, and it was the intention to
accord the Water Witch the privilege
Of naming the second assistant. A
motion was mado the object OF which
was to have the members as a company
endorse this ticket, but they refused
to do it, the vote standing Is for the
old combination ticket and for the
now plan and ticket. Consequently, the
majority of the members voted in favor
of tho original combination and the
following Judges of the coming election
were chosen Joshua Pyle, Peter WEIGH
and Hugh Wallace. A member stated
on Tuesday that all of these men are
solid for the original combination.
After the meeting conflicting reports
were circulated. One was to the
effect that the old combination had
been broken and majority of the
members had decided 10 support the
new ticket. The true story was also in
circulation, and outsiders we're at a
loss to know which TO believe.
Accordingly reporter of The Gazette
on Tuesday morning called on John
May, combination member OF the
company, at his home on Lobdell street.
He made the following statement 1.-The
old combination has not been broken
and the alleged new ticket will not be
recognized by the Liberty company.
There are eight men of the 81 members
in the company who have been dissat-
siied for some time. They are John
Doordan, NJ. F. Cannon. j. e. Curren,
o. j. Palmer, J. A. Bunting, John
Biggins, II. G. Roller and John Flynn.
| have been informed that secret meet
ings have been hold with the object in
view of trying to get the Liberty com
pany to support new ticket So last
night they came to the meeting and
Ia 70,
the now slate they were asked to show
cause why such action should be taken.
They not only failed to show any cause,
but did not give any reasonable excuse.
The matter was put to a vote and was
defeated, the vote being 10 to s. The
majority of the members of the com
pany desire it understood that they will
stand by the old flag, and there is not
the least probability that tho old ticket
will not receive a majority of the votes
at the election next month.
1t was learned from another member
that II. @. Roller was put in nomina-
| tion for the Office of judge of the cleo
tion, but he was defeated. 1t was also
stated that MIR. Cannon had consented
to allow his name to be used.
1t 10 believed that a further effort
will be made to break the slate, and
that the vote OF the Liberty company
will decide the matter. Should the
anti denomination men succeed in secur-
ing majority of the votes at the cleo
tion they will accomplish their purpose,
but this is considered highly improba-
ble
One member of the Liberty company
stated that he knew of members having
been offered money to remain away
from tho meeting
bera Of other companies, who We're
spoken to, were Of the opinion that the
anti-combination movement will not
have sufficient weight to carry the
election.