The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-23
HIGGINS
DEFEATED.
Results of the Democratic County Con-
ventI6n at POttsville.
LITTLE JACK TOOLE FOR SHERIFF
Received the Nomination on the Second
Ballot-The Financial flank Made
Trouble in Committee -walbcrne,
Of West Brunswick, Nomin-
ated For Director of
the Poor.
Special to EvENIsa HrnALp.

The Democatlc braves assembled in con-
vention here this morning for the purpose Of
nominating candidates for Judge, Sheriff,
Poor Director and Jury Commissioner. And
their task was no easy one, by any means.
The exceptionally strong ticket placed in the
field by the Republicans last week, caused
the leaders Of the "unterrifed" many sleep
less nights in their endeavor to put forward
ticket that can successfully cope with their
opponents.
The primaries held on Saturday, in the
Democratic strohgholds, were attended with
little interest. specially was this the case at
Tamaqua. For the first time within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant," there
was no election held in the South ward of
Tamaqua. This is accounted r, as stated
by delegate frpm that place this morning
because big John Ulrich was away from
home This apparent indifference and lack
Of interest on the part of the Democratic
voters cannot be justified on the plea that
there were not sufficient candidates for the
three offices to be filled Many take the
view held by great many Democrats, that
this being an oii-year the voters take little
interest in the contest. If Chairman Mari
fails to inject more interest and enthusiasm
in the rank and file of his party than is now
manifested, the Democratic candidates will
be defeated by large majorities.
In many districts there were no contests,
the delegates arriving here unpledged and at
liberty to cast their vote for the candidate
of their individual choice or the imam that
saw them last" For this reason the political
prophets could not venture a prediction
previous to the assembling of the conven-
tion what names would grace the ticket.
Chairman Mari and his secretaries were
kept busy last evening and this morning en-
rolling the delegates as they put in an appear
ance. They had everything in apple pie order,
however, when the convention convened.
The chairman has held consultations with the
party leaders quite often within the past
week. The pretty mix-up in which they
found the judicial nomination and the plat
| form, has been the cause of these astute
leaders comforting one with the other.
The Democrats found themselves between
two fires in considering the monetary plank
of their platform. 1t is true that the seleG-
tion of Chairman MARI was looked upon as a
victory for the rabid free silverites ard a
notice to the gold wing that the latter
were not wanted in the councils of the
party, and it is equally true that among the
braves" directing the business of the con-
vention this morning those who supported
| Palmer and Buckner last fall were conspicuous
1 by their absence. But Chairman Marr and
others wanted harmony, and they were will
| ing to secure It by making a deceptive plat
form in other words, a clean straddle,
Others favored the elimination Of all ma
tional questions, and making the fight on
state and local issues. This was the condi-
tton of affairs which confronted the leaders at
an early hour this morning and it was
sometime later when the question was finally
decided and the draft of the platform sub
sequently presented to the convention agreed
upon.
Judge BeChtels nomination by the Repub-
licans was another nut our friends the enemy
were called upon to crack. The members Of
the Democratic Standing Committee came in
for great deal of censure, for their failure
to call the convention at an earlier date than
that of the Republicans, and thus avoid this
perplexing dilemma. One of the ablest
attorneys at the Bar has given it as his opin.
ion that Bechtel's name cannot appear on
more than one ticket, but notwithstanding
this the Democratic managers profess to
believe the law in question is unconstitu.
tional and will demand an opinion on the
question from state authorities. They recOg,
nize that the nomination of Bechtel will
strengthen the entire Republican ticket, and
that to refuse tho nomination rendered him
by the Republicans would place Bechtel in an
unfavoable light and would stamp him as
partisan. 1t was position that required the
use of his best diplomacy and much persuasion
on the part Of his friends to keep many of the
workers in line, many Of whom demanded
that he decline the Republican nomination
II he failed to do this it was openly declared
: by many that Republican would be placed
at the head Of the Democratic ticket Cooler
and wiser heads, in the wee sma' hours o.
the morning finally decided upon a plan
which was to nominate Bechtel, and then
leave to his own discretion which nomination
he shall accept He must decline one, and il
was generally understood that, being a life
J long Democrat, he would naturally accep
t he latter nomination.
With the rising Of the sun this morning
no definite plan had been decided upon by
the leaders and candidates, for the reasor
that everybody was at sea as to which of tn,
three candidates for Sheriff would be nomi
uated. Both higgins and Toole gave it ou
!. that they weuld be nominated, while DR.
Sallada was like the coon and the 'possum
} and awaited developments. He depend
upon location and nationality to pull hin
through. At an early hour this morning i
looked like ToOle, He apparently has tn
workers with him. and that cuts a big fgur
in political convention, especially one Of tn
character Of this one, which appears to be Gu
of the control Of the managers. The friend
of Scanlan, Shenandoah's candidate for Poo
l Director, early realized that their onl,
chance for success depended upon securin
the nomination of German for Sheriff
hence they naturally desired the Shrievalt
b plum TO 20 to Sallada.
] The shrewd manipulators and wire puller
' who desired party success even at the sacrihc
II 4