The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
The Latter's DecIination Has Put the
Powers That Be In q Bad Fix.
INDIGNATION IS FREELY EXPRESSED
Mr.. Griffin Was n Candidate mt 10
O'Clock Monday Morning, They Say.
Mr.. Horn Returns from Crystal Lake
and Announces His Perfect willing
ness to Answer His Party's Call.
statement of HIS Course as He
Would Have the People view II.

courts. They say that II Is not so much |
q desire to have him above anyone else
as the candidate, but they do not like |
the idea of a nominee refusing to run |
and virtually saying that there is no |
hope of an election.
Mr. Gri1ln's decination is particu-
larly a confession of that nature, they |
feel, because he has for two years past |
been a pronounced candidate for the |
office, and his refusal to now accept |
unanimous nomination cannot well be |
viewed in any other light. Informal
sessions of the leading spirits of the
convention Col. Fitsimmons, Joseph
O'Brien and the principal nominees,
were held at various times and places
yesterday and after many suggestions
and much discussion it was decided to
let Mr.. Griffin rest for a day or two and
then try and convince him that he
would make a huge mistake If he per-
sisted in throwing the nomination over
his shoulder.
They will argue to him that he is al
most sure of election and even though
defeat stared him in the face, 1t would
be better for him to meet it as a mar
tyr than to run away from the fight
at this juncture and thereby dig his
own political grave.
Col. Fitzsimmons will likely be en-
| trusted with the task of bringing the
recreant Griffin into line, but 1T is high
| ly improbable that even all of the
| colonels forceful eloquence and pow
ers of persuasive reasoning Will change
| Mr.. Griffin's determination.
WHAT MR.. GRIFFIN SAID.
When seen by Tribune reporter last
1 ''Nnthinp
that now comes to my mind can induce
me to change my position. For family
reasons, which 1 do not care to parade
before the public, and which at all
events the public might not fully ap-
preciate, / resolved last week not to
stand as a candidate and informed the
| slate-makers to that effect Monday. l
also sent a formal letter to the chair
man of the convention announcing that
under no consideration would ] allow
my name to be used for any office; and
| further | told a number of delegates
of my determination and of the letter.
I. therefore, can not be held responsible
for any inconvenience or perplexities
that may now confront the commit
tee"
Then nothing will change your de-
termination?" was asked
mo, nothing. l positively will not
be a candidate. 1 will frame formal
declnation as soon as 1 am officially
notified of the nomination"
Last night when Mr.. Griffin's deter
mination reached the ears of the men
at the helm they were prone to be
somewhat indignant, and they spoke
their minds freely, and for publica-
tion, too, concerning Mr.. Griffin and
his actions. Exceptions were unreserv-
edly taken to his statement that he
notified the committee Sunday that he
would not be a candidate, and in the
most outspoken manner he was char
acterized as a gentleman of defective
memory, to put it lightly Colonel
Titzsimmons was quoted by one party
as saying that Mr.. Griffin came to his
room in the Scranton house, after he
had retired Sunday night to secure the
eloquent lawyer editors services as a
nominator. At 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing Hon. John p Quinnan received a
message from Mr.. Griffin, he is accred-
= tied with saying, asking him to secure
substitute papers and nominate him.
COYNE NOT A CANDIDATE.
Street gossip had il yesterday that
Hon. Frank r. Coyne, of Old Forge
, would be the likely substitute, but dur
! ling the afternoon when he came to towr
G on business connected with the marriage
;, license court, he look occasion to stoI
the gossip and emphatcally say thai
v he was not only not seeking the Of
: flee, but could not take the nomina
a ton.
6 Who the committee will likely nam,
p in his place has not been even dis
cussed, the leaders believing that they
will be able to bring Mr.. Griffin int
line, despite his announcements that h,
= will not accept. His positive assertion
: that nothing will induce him to accept
II which is printed above, may change tn
t aspect of affairs, and set the commit
d tee on another track. 1t would no
h be at all surprising if a call for a spe
cial session of the county committe
:. should be made today.
Mr.. Horn returned yesterday morn
:, ing from Crystal Lake and set at res
]! all doubts in the minds of those VIII
IS had any, as to his acceptance of tn
l. nomination. To a Tribune reporte
g who saw him soon after his arrived a
t his office he said: Il Syill accept tn
domination. l am perfectly satisfe
d with the ticket, and think it is goin
It to win" AS to his withdrawal he said
It WHY HE WITHDREW.
l. "At the solicitation of several warn
personal friends l consented, last fal
5, to allow my name to be used as a can
didate for the nomination to the of
e, fice of district attorney, and had de
,e cided to make a thorough canvass, bu
al a severe domestic aftiiction caused m
l. ~ L,
county, and as Hon. II. j. Duggan ha
announced his candidacy for the Office
felt that he being an excellent citi
zen, a lawyer of splendid legal al
tainments, and a sterling Democra
who has hosts of friends throughou
the county, would be thoroughly quail
H. fled to protect the interests OF the part
$, during the campaign, and that there
N fore my withdrawal would not jeopal
Id dize the interests of any of the pros
t. pective candidates, consequently / ad
vised my friends of my position an
authorized the announcement of IN
withdrawal, and stated to them tha
if Mr. Duggan were to be nominated h
and the other candidates would receiy
N my hearty support. Mr.. Duggan hay
ne ing subsequently withdrawn and tn
k. convention having nominated me by az
clamation, / accept the nomination. Al
Y, ter my return to the city today / mt
le and conversed with Mr.. Duggan, an
he assured me that he understood m
e. position was as l have before statet
n and that not only myself but the Ell
tire ticket would have his hearty SUI
!, port"
y, Mr.. Norton also authorized the al
= nouncement that he, too, would acceI