The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
SCRANTON OF YESTERDAY
A Glimpse at Some Things That
PrOphesied Her Greatness.
A FEN RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS
Interesting Episodes Of Long AgO-FOr.
cigucrs Then and Now Frank Bea.
mish and His Marvellous Ability as
q Political Leader.
Written for The Tribune.

Written for The Tribune.
The Scranton of a quarter Of CEN
tury or more ago gave sign and promise
of the greater Scranton of today. IL
was a hustling. bustling baliwtck then
with every citizen a true blue shouter
for the town. The problem of the city's
progress was involved in the intense
local loyalty that manifested itself.
Though litigants We're forced to go 10
Wilkes Barre with their cases, the
dream Of new county with its needful
accommodations. inspired the hearts
of the wideawake men Of the early 7Os,
who only bided their time to break away
from old Luzerne and there We're giants
in those days-wonderful workers In
the field of politics. There was the late
Frank Beamish, for instance. And Mike
Philbin, Of WilkesBarre. and Mike Reap
of Pittston. and Doc. Trimmer.Of White
Haven, and a host of others, for 1t
should be remembered that Luzerne In
those days rolled up Democratic majori-
ties amounting anywhere to from 5000
to 1900. The fights We're in the conven-
tions and there are those In this city
today who will recall that hey were
frequently of q sanguinary hue, as a
nomination meant an election. The
Scranton end of campaigns was always
left in the hands of Mr.. Beamish. and
he never betrayed his trusts. Tricky?
Well, what of It? Did you ever know
of a first-class political fighter who
wasn't? A trick in politics IL only an
other name for good generalship. You
certainly will subscribe to that. you
who are pulling the wires today and who
When q man tells me that q politician
is as straight as a de-" begin to sus-
pect that political general. don't
mean that it implies that he Is dis
honest, but / think you will agree with
me when I say that conscience in poll
tics IL as conditions now stand, an un-
promising factor. But digress.
Frank Beamish in his palmy days was
a marvellous man. He never lost his
temper and vet he could whip his
weight in wild cats. He had the faculty
Of winning men to him by the force Of
his powerful magnetism. On one oc-
casion at Archibald, or somewhere up
that way-Phil Coyne will remember
when 5000 Democratic voters stood lis
tening to- the eloquence of Democratic
orators who spoke from thet high bal
cony Of a "hotel," Beamish noted the
presence of a disturbing element Ex-
Judge Stanton, who had met misfortune
in the convention, was out on an inde-
pendent ticket. He was q warm favor
ite in the section invaded that night by
the "straights." AS the speakers sue
ceeded each other with their ardent ap-
peals to stand by the men named by
the convention, and before the last one
had been called UP, in the distance were
heard the echoes Of horses feet flying
fast toward the little town, and soon
out Of the shadows and into the NOON
light that frightened the black SUR
roundings Of the hotel. rolled a buggy
containing two men, Phil Coyne and
"Billy" Stanton Then there were signs
of agitation. Brawny miners pulled out
of the crowd which stood listening to
the regular speakers on the balcony. to
make another around the vehicle that
had brought the two newcomers to the
scene. For time there was a deep