The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-17
Pennsylvania neW$.

what method the convention should
take to depose Harrity, but from what
they say II is certain they perfer a
plan which in itself will serve as a
clear declaration of unalterable devo-
| tion to Bryan. 1t Is not unlikely that
the conclusion reached will be to have
the convention formally declare a va
| cancv and recommend to National
Chairman Jones the appointment of
some such pronounced anti-Harrity and
Bryan man as Colonel james M. Guffey,
of Pittsburg, to fill the vacancy.
| The party rules make no provision for
the contingency Of a vacancy, but as
| state convention is the supreme party
| authority II can make suitable regula-
tions for any emergency and the Read
ing gathering will he sufficiently YER
| satile to confront any condition. Dur
ing the halcyon period of Mr.. Harrity's
| reign he run conventions that way, and
he will probably find that his success
| sors have no objections to following
precedents that may be to his disad-
| vantage.
Ex-Lieutenant Governor Black. of
York and Editor d. A. Orr, of the
Harrisburg Patriot" are leading the
movement to depose Mr.. Harrity. Both
predict the Reading convention will de-
clare his seat in the national commit
tee vacant, and at the same time re-
affirm the Chicago platform. Mr.. Orr
saws "the Reading convention will show
this political laggard { meaning Mr..
| Harrity) how to get out of a place
where he is not wanted, and by its
drastic action may give needed instruc
tion to narrow and ambitious polite
ians who would make all party ends
serve their selfish desires to the detrl-
ment of a. patriotic organization and
the harm of public morals
Mr.. Black says that while he did not
uniformly agree with Mr.. Harrity while
he acted with the Democratic party
he has followed his leadership with
pleasure on many occasions. But I
cannot follow him out of the Demo-
cratic party" Mr.. Black adds. "a
Democrat might feel a very high per-
sonal esteem for such Republican lead
ers as Mckinley, Quay, Hanna or By
mum. but he would not wish to place
the management of his party in their
hands. They are not Democrats"
| A score OF prominent Democrats who
have visited the state capital within
the past ten days hold and express
views similar to those entertained by
Messrs. Orr and Black Indeed, only
a few have been found thus far who
have thought that Harrity should re-
main and these have excused his hold
ing on by saying he should not retreat
under fire. At the sameHime they agree
that he could save himself from much
embarrassment, perhaps, humiliation,
by gracefully yielding to the demand
of his opponents and make way for his
| successor.
TIMOTHY O.LEARY'S ALLEGA-
TIONS.
Timothy O'Leary, of Pittsburg. and
other friends of the national commit
teeman allege that there was an "un-
derstanding" throughout the last cam
paign with National Chairman Jones
and that the latter was wholly satis-
fled with the nop-action of Mr. Harrity.
An attache of the state Democratic
headquarters in this city, who is con-
Versant with much of the official work
of the Bryan managers, declares that
this statement has no foundation in
fact. Not only did not Mr.. Jones have
a friendly understanding. but he re-
garded Mr.. Harrity as hostile, disap-
proved of his personal and political be-
havior and would now be glad to be
formally requested by the Pennsylva-
mia Democracy to recognize his sue
cessor.
The same gentleman states that Mr..
Harrity has not attended a single
meeting of the committee since the
election of Mr.. Jones; that he has rem
; dered the chairman assistance in no
way and that when he did not refuse
requests made by the chairman he ig-
nored them, which is considered worse
by his foes. Being a political prophet
, is a perilous avocation and the Tri-
bune correspondent shall not try "a
become one. But he may judge and
tell of this political situation as he has
, found it after careful inquiry. 1t may
, be summed up thus:
Mr.. Harrity will be badly beaten al
Reading, unless he can save himself
, by some Napoleonic movement-not
now at all likely to be made-withir
the next fortnight. AS to a straddle
, platform, there will be no compromise
! The Maryland resolutions find no favor
among any delegates with whom the
correspondent has talked, except few
i, Philadelphians and a few from ALE.
gheny who have personal reasons fol
, wanting to oblige Harrity. The Read.
, ing platform will reaffirm the Chicago
) platform, congratulate and compliment
, | Bryan and it may select for specia
, approval the Chicago Bryan position
, on trusts, the tariff and the currency.
4 Wanbaugh.
| ~