The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-09
FRANKLIN TROUBLE
REACHES A CRISIS
John II. Reynolds Dismissed. Other
Members Win Go with Him.
"SNAP" TACTICS IN MEETING
Rules Suspended and New Members
Elected TO support the Successful
FactiOn..An Insignificant Charge
Was Made Against ReynOlds..The
ssOld'' Faction New in Control.

The crisis Of the Franklin Engine
company muddle was reached last
night when eight new members were
snapped" into the company and John
II. Reynolds was summarily deprived
of his membership. The situation now
sees James Beavers and his followers
masters of the situation.
1t was all done at n meeting Of the
company when sixteen Of the seven
teen members assembled to do battle,
faction VS.. faction.
Since the recent investigation OF the
trouble by the city officials charges
have been made against John II. Rey-
nolds who was one of the younger ele-
ment of the company and last night
was scheduled by the majority for
| ousting him. And he went.
When President Frank Hutchinson
called the meeting to order the follow
ing was the way the sides lined up:
Old faction-Hutchinson, Allen, Grit
fin, the three Kimes. Beavers,
Coslett and Hall; young faction
Snyder, Warnke, Reynolds, Daniels,
Chase and Steinback. Score, 10 to q.
After the regular routine business-a
calm before the storm-the charges
against Mr.. Reynolds were brought up.
He was accused of countermanding an
order of his chiefs at the flremen's day
celebration in this city about one year
ago. In substance the charge was
that he told Proprietor Fairchild, Of
Fairchild's Hotel. not to prepare for
the Hallstead company, which was the
Franklin's guest, as arrangements had
been made for q spread at st. David's
Hall.
RETAINS HIS KEYS.
This was contrary to the orders of the
Franklin executive committee in charge
Of the entertainment. 1t was claimed
The committee consisted Of: Allen
Kline, Beavers, Costlett and Warnke
all "old" members except the last
named. So Mr.. Reynolds, being in the
way of harmony" was discharged
He was given no chance to defend him
self last night. but by a vote of 10 to
he was expelled from the company. HI
departed from the meeting, but he tool
along with him his key and still hold.
the company uniform. These he re-
fuses to give up to the company. HI
was followed from the meeting by Fred
Warnke. a member of the young" fac
ton. This left the vote 10 to 4.
Then 1t was that the SNAP worl
was done. The president listened t
eight propositions for membership IL
the company. The new names pro
posed were: John Lowry. David Mich
OILS, Ben Allen (son Of Fireman Thoma.
Allen), John Brown, Zeno Derby, Rich
ard Davis. Bert Green and Simon
Thomas. All Of these men are supposed
to be friendly toward the older faction
who so skillfully engineered then
through.
Under the Franklin constitution on
black ball against a proposed membe
prevents his election. John Costlet
moved that the usual rule for ballotinl
on new names be temporarily suspend
ed. And the motion was carried by {
vote of 10 to 4. This left a clear patl
for the eight new members and the!
were elected then and there. Thus tn
younger faction are completely swamp
ed They claim that the action In sus
pending the rules at the same meetin,
in which the motion is made is con
trary to a clause in the company's by
laws. AS the vote now stands tn
"old'' faction stands against the younl
with majority of twelve members.