The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-28
ATTORNEY M'GINLEY
CITY SOLICITOR
Result Of Last Nights Joiut Session Of
Councils.
ELECTED ON THE TENTH BALLOT
Ex-senator Mcdonald Withdrew His
Candidacy--Thc Election Fraught
with Unheard of Freedom by the
Outsiders on the Floors of Council
Chambers--- McAndrew Did Not
Take Kindly to His Party's Choice.

Attorney NJ. A. mckinley, Democrat,
was last night elected city solicitor to
succeed James II. Torrey, the present
Republican incumbent. The Republi-
can members did not attend the joint
session of councils which was the sew
enth called within three months for the
purpose of an election. McGinley's
election was made possible by the
withdrawal of the condidacy of ex-
Senator NJ. II. Mcdonald, who had all
along been the regular Democratic
nominee.
on the tenth ballot Mckinley receiv-
ed % votes, the total Democratic
strength and only the exact number
necessary to an election. Despite Mr..
McDonalds Withdrawal publically
made after the fifth ballot on the floor
of councils Mr.. McAndrew, select coun-
Gilman from the Twenty ward,
continued until the tenth ballot to vote
for Mcdonald against the 81 votes of
his colleagues for Mckinley.
Never in recent years has coun
cilmanic election been fraught with
such irregularities as those which at
tended the election last night. Many
of the fifty or more interested specta-
tors edged their way into both cham
bers through the members entrances
and went at will among the members.
Smoking and covered heads was the
order of things and at no time was the
meeting free from q pulling, hauling
and tton-holing among members and
outsiders to an extent that is seldom
outdone at a spirited ward caucus.
GO-AS-YOU-PLfAS
About Mr.. McAndrew's desk there
was always group of from five to q
dozen persons, many of them nom
members, talking in a loud voice. Mr..
McAndrews and Mr.. Mckinley were
electioneering for the latter at will
among the desks, and it was not until
after the ninth ballot that Selectman
Roche, who was presiding, requested
| that the members take their seats, that
non-members leave the room and that
| care be exercised that no Irregularities
| accompany the proceedings. This ad-
monition was practically unheeded.
Before the session was called to or
| der the presence of Selectman Robin
| son, the Democratic member who had
| all along been voting for Mr.. Torrey,
| suggested the probability that there
| was SL udTh IOTSe III the lGlu, lnlS
suspicion was heightened when Presi-
dent Nealis, of the common branch,
Mr.. Mcdonald and Mr.. Mckinley disap-
peared into the lower corridor. They
| returned in a few moments and the
joint session was called to order by
Assistant City Clerk Morris at $50
o'clock and without an introductory
| secret caucus.
John E. Roche, selectman from the
| Seventh, was, on motion of Mr.. Neels
chosen for chairman.
Mr.. Grier nominated Mr. Mckinley
but Mr.. Roche ruled that a nomination
was unnecessary. He was not clear or
the point but believed that the mem
berS could vote for whoever they
| pleased.
On the first ballot the vote was: Fol
Mcdonald, 10; for Mckinley, 3. The
three votes for the latter were by Mr.
Kearney and Mr.. Robinson, of the Sc
lect branch, and Mr.. Grier, of the lower
body. On the second ballot Mcdonald
received but seven votes, Messrs
Clarke, Roche, Frable, McAndrew
zeidler, Sheridan and Norton. The re
suit was the same on the third ballot
SOME TEST VOTING.
On the fourth ballot Messrs. Mccain
and Frable voted for Z. C. Newcoml
and Mr. Regan for Mr.. Torrey. On tn
fifth ballot Mcdonald held but four o
his votes, Mr. Clarke voting for Colone
F. ]. Fitzsimmons and Mr. Manfey join
ing with Messrs. Mccain and Frable /,
voting for Newcomb.
Before the fifth ballot had been take
|
be given the privilege of the floor
There being no objections, Mr.. Roch
said Mr.. Mcdonald could be heard, bu
he did not respond to the privilege a
that time.
Mr.. Robinson moved an adjournmen
to Thursday night; Mr.. Clarke that
recess of half-hour be taken, and MI
Regan that the balloting proceed
There was no seconder to any of thes
motions.
At this point Mr.. Mcdonald appeare
on the chairman's platform. He re
marked that he appeared at the re
} quest Of friends who had been loyal {
him. Putting aside his personal wish
es OF the past few months, he wishe
, his friends to understand that part
success was more to him than thing
, | pcISOlldl' lie DtlleNGu SdCIlHC
should be made. and he would there
, fore release his friends in council
from all obligations to him. If an
other candidate could be elected hi
. (Mr. McDonald's) supporters had hi
, consent to use their best judgment.
> Mr.. Mcdonald then left the platforl
and the balloting proceeded.
: M'ANDREW HOLDS OTTT.
On the sixth ballot Mr.. McAndre
was the only one of the twenty-tW
members to withhold his vote frol
Mckinley He voted for McDonal,
= and was surrounded by eight or te
members and non-members before IL
count was officially announces
y Among the counselors were ex-Pos
: master ID. ]. Campbell. ex-School Cor
troller OMalley, Mr.. Mcdonald, Scho
, Controller John Gibbons, Thomas Ke
: ley, of the South Side, Mr.. Robinson
and others.
d The seventh and eighth ballots wei
e attended with the same results. M
J. McAndrew alone voting for McDonal
!. against the twenty-one votes of h
:, colleagues for Mckinley. He was su
rounded meanwhile by as varied an a.
sortment of recognized ward and eli
Democratic leaders, councilmen ar
e ragtail of ward heelers as ever il
r truded upon the councilmanic delibe
= ations of a city of over 100000 populi
Q tion.
}, Mr.. Robinson made for the thil
3 time during the evening a motion
a. journ, but found no seconder.