The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-20
PROTEST FROM LEACH.
The Defeated Candidate for State Chair.
man Of Republican COMMITTEE o.
iects to Manner Of Elkin's Election.

Philadelphia, July 19-Frank Will
ing Leach. former chairman of the Re-
publican state executive committee,
and recently a candidate against Dep
uty Attorney General John p. Elkin to
succeed Senator Quay for the chairman
of the general state committee, has
written to his successor, eX-Speaker
Henry X Boyer. protesting against the
manner of Mr. Elkin's election as state
chairman and asking Mr. Boyer to Ga II
a meeting Of the state committee to
elect Mr.. Elkin. In conclusion Mr..
Leach says: Permit me to add. in con-
clusion. that | am not q candidate for
the position i'll question, ana that |
would not accept "A unanimous election.
Although two-thirdS of the delegates to
the late state convention were opposed
To the election OF Mir, lIlkin to the
chairmanship, hay" no doubt the state
committee win be happy to give him a
unanimous vote if called together for
this purpose. | certainly shall be
pleased To vote for him. | am not OBJ
jecting to the selection recently made,
but to the manner of it."
Mr.. Leach submits with his letter an
opinion by John q. Johnson, the emil
neDt lawyer of this city, that the state
chairman should be selected by the state
committee Mr.. Johnson's opinion fol-
lows: II am advised that the RepubH-
can party i'uie applicable IT, the election
of chairman Of the Republican state
committee reads AZ follows, and that
there is no context affecting the mat
ter: The chairman of the state conf
mittce shall be elected by the candi-
dates nominated at the state conven-
tiun and the permanent chairman there
oi as soon as practical after the adj
tournament OF the state convention, and
shall hold his oiice until his successor
is elected
Il am advised that at the state con-
vention held ON the I'D instant the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That the rule which provides
that the chairman Of the state committee
shall he chosen by the nominees Oh the
state ticket in conjunction with the per-
mancnt chairman Of the convention hr
Sustained. and that the state chairman b:
! elected by this convention.
"non. NJ. s. Quay was chosen by the
state convention chairman of the state
committee. | am asked now, in ease of
Mr.. Quays resignation at any time
prior IL the meeting of the next state
convention, the vacancy in the chair
manship of the state committee Will
he flied.
III is very evident that the party
rule cCntenpla ties an election of d chair
man almost Immediately after the ad-
jJuTnmCnt of the convention of a qauSi
tfansitury body, candidates who may
soon cease to be such and Il permanent
chairman Of the convention, whose
functions would ordinarily have ceased
with the life q. the convention itself.
In my Judgment there has been no pro-
vision for the contingency of a vacan-
cy. | cannot think ii was intended that
in case OF same. persons who may have
ceased to be candidates should ill 1t. In
my opinion. the power vested in the
| candidates and in The permanent chair
man unless legally restricted
| is the ruWer to elect its own
officers. including chairman. In my
opinion, therefore. the state committee
itself. in case OF aIr. Quay's resigna-
tion, viii have power to I'LL the vacancy
,mtil the meeting of the next cunven-
| ton