Evening star., 1896-10-27
PHILADELPHIA'S CAMPAIGN
James Rankin Young Making the Fight for
Congress.
A Bitter Fight Going on In the City
of BrotherIy Love Over Local
Good Government.
Special Corre spondence Of The Evening Star.

PHILADELHHlA OCTOBER ~, 1876.
In the city Of brotherly love in most
everything but politics. where the republic
cans had a plurality last year Of upward of
10000 votes, most Interesting fight is go
ing on which Is almost at times putting in
the shade the presidential issue. The fight
here is over the sheriff, the candidates be-
ing Samuel H. Ashbridge and Alexander
Crow. jr. both Of whom are republicans of
the first rank. Besides z sheriff. there will
be elected in the city five Congressman and
members of both branches Of the legisla-
ture. The five Congressman are expected
to be republicans by the observing ones;
but who will be the sheriff .and how some
of the local legislative fights will terminate
are matters Of great doubt. Philadelphia
has for its local administration machinery
a republican force which is so well organ
lied by divisions, and the office holders and
police force have become so thoroughly III
accord. either by accident or for a purpose,
that the administration leaders. led by
David Martin. the late national committee
man for Pennsylvania, can do about any
thlnY they desire.
A large number Of the residents Of Phila-
delphia who do not believe in the goodness
of the local administration machinery set
out this fall to choose business man for
sheriff. and the opposition centered upon
Alexander Crow, Jr., wealthy manurac-
turer, a sound money man and high pro-
tectionist. He has in times gone by been
high In the councils of the party. but of
late years his advice has not been sought
At the same time the anti-administration
people wanted to get clear of Congress-
man John E. Reyburn of the fourth dis
trict and put up to contest for the place
James Rankin Young. whom almost every
reader of The Evening Star knows a
brilliant journalist and correspondent in
Washington. and for many years the ex-
ecutive clerk of the Senate. When the
night of the primaries came about Young
knocked Reyburn out by securing the most
of the delegates. but the combine as the
administration people are called secured
a large majority of delegates to the sheriff 9
convention. The combine had not selected
any man. or, at least, had not made his
name public, for the reason, the Crowites
claim. that If his personnel had been
known Crow would have secured a ma
tority of the delegates.
At midnight. after the primaries had
ended. the leaders got together and set
tied upon James L: Miles, president of the
select branch Of the city council. On the
following day the conventions took place.
and Miles was named with a l1urrah al
though the Crow men claimed that their
delegates had been turned out of the hall
and regularly elected Crow delegates not
admitted to the convention On the same
day these candidates were named for Con-
gress: First district Gen. Henry H. Bine-
nam nam: second district, Robert Adams. 1r.:
district. Alfred G.. Harmer. All were re-
nominees, excepting Young. The third dis
tr1ct failed to renominate Frederick Halter
man that day, but adjourned without ac-
ton, not expecting to come together again.
1t was charged that a deal had been
entered into by the combine to leave Hal
terman at home and send ex-Congressman
William McAleer as sound money demo-
crat in the old district so long represented
by the late Samuel J. Randall.
Following these conventions an immense
town meeting was held in the Academy of
Music. and the people there named unani-
mously Alexander Crow, jr., for sheriff
Later the democrats held their conven-
tion and named Police Magistrate Eisen-
brown for sheriff, and a set of Congress.
men. one OF whom was McAleer. He had
on the same day made public a letter say
Ing he was for sound money. but 1t did
not prevent him from getting a unanimous
nomir alton at the hands of the Bryan
democrats
Mr. Eisenbrown refused to accept the
nomination for sheriff and In letter said
1t was the duty of the hour to support Mr..
Crow. and the city committee put him on
their ticket. Then 1t became so hot for
Mr.. Miles that he got out, and the admin
1stration convention reassembled when
Coroner Samuel H. Ashbridge who held
once continuously Tor many years. was
put on for the fight, and he will stay until
election is over.
In the meantime the business men made
such howl for the denomination of Hal
terman that the leaders rectifiad their
mistake. recalled the third district con-
vention and renominated Halterman. Short
ly after this the sincere silver men repudi-
ated McAleer and nominated Samuel 8.
Hudson. another Washington correspond
ent. Hudstn thinks he will win, but no.
body else believes he will. His coming
into the fight will give the doubtful third
district to Halterman. Both sides claim a
victory on sheriff. but it really looks like
Crow. who Is on ticket with set of
Mckinley and Hobart electors