The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-10
BAILEY AS A DEMOCRAT
How He Fought Randolph Grippe
Three Years Ago.
EXHIBITION or INGRATlrUDE
MIR. Crippcu Very Frankly Tells Ills
Democratic Friends Why llo Has No
Use for Their Present Muni.
cipal STANDARD. .Bcarcr.

Use IOT fICSeut
cipal STANDARD. Bearer.
Democrats. by the supporters of James
G. Bailey. the Democratic candidate
for mayor, is that he has always been
a straight party man. and that there
fore he is entitled to the undivided sup
port of his party. This plea is being
made especially with view to int'u-
encing Democrats who do not know
Bailey. because of his recent residence
In the citv. not to vote for Colonel
Ripple. whom they do know because of
his lifelong prominence in the city and
also because of his invariable readiness
to extend the hand of friendship. II
therefore becomes legitimate to inquire
If Bailey's record as Democrat is as
undertaking as II is represented to be.
Probably no Democrat Is better au-
thority on such subject than Ran
dolph Crippen. the Democratic candi-
date for mayor OF Scranton three years
ago. Testimony from him will un-
doubtedly be of interest to his thou
sands of personal friends and former
supporters throughout the city.
Mr.. Crippen was found Sa aturday at
his present home in Dalton by Tri-
bune reporter. When questioned re-
gartling his candidacy for mayor OF
Scranton three years ago he said:
II was the unanimous choice OF the
convention and for this reason, II for
no other, expected unanimous support
by Democratic leaders during the cam
paign. I certainly was warranted In
believing that any who did not approve
of me would not work against me. 1t
seems, however. l was to find out that
men who had rrofessed to be Demo-
crats-prominent men in their party
were against me. Among these was
James G. Bailey, the present Demo-
cratic candidate for mayor of Scran-
ton.
Bailey's Gross Ingratitude.
"When this was made known to me
it was u great surprise as three years
earlier, when he was Il candidate for
prothonotary. travelled over the whole
county in the interest of the Democratic
ticket. On these trips Mr.. Bailey
was never along, but he was not once
forgotten. As much was done for him
as for the others. John p. * ely. John
j. Fahey and other Democratic leaders
or candidates were with me on those
trips and know the truth of my state
ment that when / was alone or with
others, as much was done for James
G. Bailey as for any other candidate.
This mans (Bailey's) ingratitudew was
shown three years later, when he did
his utmost to encompass my defeat.
He did not always work openly but
busied himself against me in quiet
and determined manner
"Mr. Bailey probably had very sub
stantial reasons for such a course, but
this point do not care to discuss fur
ther at this time; may have some
thing more explicit to say If occasion
demands It,"
An Object Lesson for Democrats.
Mr.. Crippen spoke as follows Of an
other candidate on the present Demo-
cratic ticket who knew of Bailey's
treachery at the time. MIR. Crippen
stipulated that for the present this
third party's name be withheld, ard for
this reason he will be designated as
Mr.. ". Mr. Crippen said:
zone day during my campaign for
mayor ! was waiting for Mr.. " in his
office. When he entered and found me
there he became greatly excited and
exclaimed:
Bailey and Andy Bedford are
working against you on the street.
What does ii all mean?'"
IL told him I did not know why
Bailey was working against me. Mr.
" then suggested that l go to Bailey
and ascertain what the trouble was
and. If possible, induce him to stop his
efforts to defeat me. ] replied that If
Bailey was knitting me in that manner
after the hard work l had done in try
ing to elect him prothonotary three
years before, I would not solicit his
support. think ! Indicated that one
who displayed such poor return for
what had been done for him could not
be depended upon, and l preferred to
let him alone.
Before X-found me in his Office
that day he said he had seen and
talked with Bailey and had reproved
him (Bailey) for working against the
Democratic ticket.
"N-- told me that Bailey said: oh.
that's all right-we are for you. Y, but
we are dead against the head of the
ticket"
Now" continued aIr. Crippen to the
reporter that's the kind of an indi-
vidual the Democrats of Scranton have
nominated for mayor. l wonder what
would be thought of some leading
Democrat who would go quietly about
knitting Bailey as Bailey KNITTED me?
I'm Democrat. but what I have said
is the truth and Is what / am willing
to say openly at any time. a $ it seems to
me DrOper that the Domncra e. pf Scrap