Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-08
THE POLITICAL WORLD.
OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOROUGH
AND TOWNSHIP CAMPAIGNS.
Freeland's Three-Cornered Contest Makes
the Calculations of Politicians More
Difficult Than Heretofore-A Royal
Battle On in Foster.

of the candidates on the various tickets
are not so noticeable as in some previous
| years; still, this can not be taken as a
sign that nothing is being done. All
the candidates, it is said, are doing
effective work, and each side side claims
to be making inroads in the ranks of its
| opponents, while the Citizens ticket is
making headway daily since it was
nominated. Democrats are aware of
the fact that the borough is Republican
by nice majority on straight party
vote, but they are also aware that
straight Republican votes will be scarce
at the coming election, not that the Re-
publicans are any less Republican than
heretofore, but because the rank and
file of the party realize that it is to the
interest of the town and themselves to
| reject men placed on their ticket.
The turning down at the Republican
convention of men who would have
made ideal candidates, and of whose
election there would have been no oues-
tion, was blow at the party which the
better elements of the organization feel
in duty bound to resent. That whole
sale dissatisfaction exists among the Re-
publcans is an open secret, and neither
coercion nor coaxing will drive it out of
the present contest. The placing of the
Citizens ticket in the field was done to
show that the intolerant spirit mani
tested at the primaries and the conven-
ton by those who controlled them is not
in keeping with Republicanism, and
besides it gives Republicans with con-
victions an opportunity to express them
at the polls by voting for men who have
the respect and esteem of the entire
community.
While the object of the Citizens ticket
is one of principle and the candidates
named are worthy of the votes of the
citizens, there is some doubt as to what
vote will be polled for its nominees.
The conditions prevailing very much
resemble those which existed in national
politics last year. Then the Repub-
licans were united, and the Democrats
had two candidates, Bryan and Palmer,
wiz itPipoChblIS bilt tlcHcul
which thought that the main body of
the party had made mistake in choos-
ing its candidates.
Locally, the conditions are reversed.
The Democrats here are united, and it
is the Republicans who have instituted
revolt which resulted in third ticket
being named. In the presidential CON
test the Gold Democrats objects were:
First, to defeat the Democracy rep
resented by Bryan, and second, to elect
their own candidates. The Citizens
supporters have similar objects in view.
precedence last fall, and the Gold Demo
Gratis, to insure the defeat of Bryan,
voted almost solidly with the Republi-
cans.
With some of the men who launched
the Citizens ticket the same idea Is
under consideration. The first and mo.
important object necessary to accomplish
to procure vindication of their revolt
is the defeat of the men nominated at
the Republican convention. If they
find their own candidates strong enough
to do this, they will likely vote them
straight, but, should the Citizens ticket
appear to be unable to carry the day,
many of its best friends will not risk the
loss of their votes and their labors to
purify the party, but will vote with the
Democrats rather than see an undesir-
able faction of their own party win
10 tbis N In 6
which the Citizens ticket will poll that
rises up in all the calculations of the
other candidates. AT times it seem that
the third ticket, or rather some parts of
it, will be as strong as either the Re-
publican or Democratic tickets and
stand as good a chance of carrying the
borough. Again, the drift appears to
be towards the Democratic. nominees,
in order to make the Republican defeat
positive fact. just which course the
Independent Republicans will follow is
not known at this stage of the campaign,
but if the similarity of action between
them and the Gold Democrats continue
they will accomplish their object in the
same manner as was done by Palmer
and his followers in November.
In Foster township a battle royal is
being waged. For once in a long time
the Democrats have ticket which gives
general satisfaction. 1t is a strong one,
not with the Democrats alone, but with
the voters as whole. The candidates
and party workers throughout the town
ship have the ground pretty thoroughly
covered and can see nothing but sure
victory ahead. This has been made
possible by the bitter factional fight
which began among the township Re-
publicans few years ago. The breaches
have never been healed, and today they
are wider than ever. Even the candi
dates on the Republican side are at wal
with their fellowmen on the ticket, ant
some are resorting to every known
scheme to humble their companions
The Democrats are taking advantage o