The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-24
Gossip ait
the Capital


Speciai Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, June %.
From present indications Representa-
tive E. E. Robbins of the Twenty-tirst
Pennsylvania district is not going to have
a walkover for a denomination. He will
be candidate to succeed himself, but
there will be others. The Twenty-first is
rather a peculiar district. 1t doesn't al
ways give its representative in congress
a second term as many other districts III
the state are in the habit of doing. Repre-
sentative Heiner, who was honored with
two terms, was the exception to the rule
His predecessor, Hon. George F. Huff, of
Westmorelsnd, was turned down for a re-
nomination at the close of his first term
so was his prede sur, Hon. Alexander
X. Craig, of Jefferson, who was the first
representative from that district as it is
now constructed. There are now four
counties In that district-Indiana, Jeffer-
son, Armstrong and Westmoreland. The
latter county was for many years in the
district composed of Fayette, Greene and
Westmoreland. The other three counties
were in what was then known as the
Twenty-ffth district, composed of In
diana, Jefferson, Armstrong, Clarion and
Forest counties. Indiana was then the
favored county, as 1t contained more Re
publican votes than any other county in
the district. In those days, however, the
Republican nomination did not mean cleo
tion, as IL does now, in both districts. The
Democratic nominees were Just as often
elected in those districts as were the Re-
publican candidates. In fact the district
-(the old Twenty-fourth) in which West
moreland was then located, was for many
years Democratic. The other (the old
Twenty-fifth) district was always a close
one.
After 1876, when General Harry White
(now Judge White, of Indiana), was last
elected, the old Twenty-fifth district did
not send a Republican to congress until
1t was divided between the present
Twenty-first and Twenty-elghth districts.
General White was first elected to con-
gress in 1872. In 1874 he was again the Re-
publican nominAC, but was defeated by
Hon. George II. jerks, Democrat, of JET
ferson county. Again, In 1878, General
White was the Republican standard bear
| er, but he was defeated by Hon. James A.
! Mosgrove, of Armstrong, the Greenback
| candidate. In that year there was a
three-cornered fight, James NJ. Guffey
| the Pittsburg oil operator, was the Dem
ocratc candidate. He then resided In
| Clarion county. The Greenback craze was
| then in the zenith of its glory In Western
| Pennsylvania, and their candidate, Mr.
| Mosgrove was elected. In 1880, however
the Republicans regained the district by
electing Hon. A. C. White, of Jefferson
In the following congressional campaign
| In 1882, the Democrats, assisted by the
remnant of the old Greenback party, re-
| captured the district and elected John ID
| Patton, of indiana. Mr.. Patton had. un'
I'll 1850, when he voted for General Han
cock for president, been a Republican. In
1884 and 1886 the Republicans were victo'
rious. In the latter year they electel
James d. Moffett. of Clarion.
The legislature OF 1887 redistricted the
state. Since then the old Twenty-fourtf
and Twenty-fifth districts have been Re
publican The Twenty-eighth district
| into which were thrown Clarion and For
| est counties, which were formerly parts
Of the old Twenty has alternated be
tween the two old parties-first In 1886
| electinE rNpkA fHatton, Republican, o.