The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-18

luteu hIcs
At the Opera house in Carbondale
Saturday night the local Republican
campaign was formally opened with a
big and enthusiastic mass meeting.
All the candidates from this end of
the county and many prominent party
workers, among them Deputy Register
James II. Hopkins, County Detective
Thomas Leyshon and Attorney Eugene
Davis, went up on the 625 Delaware
and Hudson train and We're met on
their arrival by Hon. John +. Reynolds,
neNt-Prthonotary Copeland and
committee of prominent CarOondalc
Republicans.
To the music of the Mozart band the
party proceeded to the American house
where the candidates held an informal
reception for an hour meeting hundred
of leading citizens who were introduced
by the local committeeman.
At o'clock the meeting was begun.
Hon. John f. Reynolds presided. on
the stage were Candidates Clarence +.
Pryor, w. l.. Langstaff, John T. Cope
land, John r. Jones. Thomas p. Dan
iels, William X. Beck and Charles
| Heuster and the following acted as vice
presidents: Hon. S. S. Jones, ex-Mayor
G. f. Rettew, w. S. Badger, Hon. Z.
T.. Hendricks, d. w. Humphrey, John
Dimrlick, Frank Dennis, Frank Smith,
| Reese Hughes, w. r. Baker, Frank
Burr, w. D. Evans, Daniel Scurry,
John Gaughan, l.. /. Bunnel and w.
| l.. Hunter.
| OVATION FOR MIR. JONES.
After a number of patriotic selections
by the Mozart band Chairman Reynolds
called the meeting to order and with
a few PREDATORY remarks explanatory Of
the significance of political mass meet
| ings, introduced District Attorney
John r. Jones as the first speaker of
| the evening. 1t was some time before
| he was able to proceed, so hearty was
the ovation which greeted his appear
| ance at the front of the stage. 1t
proved conclusively that the popular
district attorney had lost none of his
| popularity in Carbondale and that the
| putrid Vaporings of malcontents is
having the opposite to its intended
effect
Mr.. Jones when he had finally secur-
ed silence made some laudatory refer
ences to the progressive spirit of the
| Pioneer city and then in a deeply ear
nest and intense manner proceeded as
follows:
Three years ago l spoke from this
same platform under quite similar cir
| cumstanCes. l spoke then of every
member of the ticket hut myself. Now
] propose to say something of myself
| Distasteful as it is to me, or as it would
| be to any man, am compelled in duty
| to myself. to my family, and to my
| friends to speak out
Il came here tonight to give an ac-
count of my stewardship. Three years
ago | was honored with the nominal
tion for district attorney. IT was 4
proud period Of my life. 1t was a
prouder period still when l was elect
| hd to that office with a majority OF
1900. Three years passed and there
came another convention. The man
who was my competitor at the first
convention was again my opponent. I
| announced my candidacy for renomi-
nation only after carefully eighing the
matter and through the advice and So
lcitatiOn of many friends from all parts
of the county. No sooner had I entered
the field than my competitor went
throughout this county scattering
broadcast the most contemplate SLAM
|
only solidified my friends. The con-
ventiOn demonstrated this. Out of the
total votes cast / received all but 23Is.
This result showed that his base vitu-
peration was not believed; that the
people still have confidence in their
former judgment.
something for which he can never fully
| atone.
ORDER OF THE COURT.
1T has been said that l multiply in
dictments. A recent order of court
was made on this score, intended as a
guide to aldermen and justices of the
peace. 1t was misconstrued by many
to apply to the district attorneys Of
fee AS to my conduct of that Office
I will say only this. When l entered
upon my duties I inquired into the
practices which obtained during the
incumbency of my predecessors-Con
molly, Kelly, Edwards, men whose con-
duct needs no defense here--and l fol-
lowed their precedents. Before you
my neishbors. and before high heaven
] say in this public manner that !
have never received one dollar wrong
fully during my administration of the
office of district attorney of Lackawan-
ma county, and as to this latest false
charge of my defeated competitor
backed by certain parties-I will say
again before you and high heaven ]
never bribed any man nor asked any
man to accept a brlbe. That petition
was as false as its purpose was FOUL
ThunderOus applause, cries of you're
all right John r." and such like dem
onstrations of approval and sympathy
fairly shook the house. 1t showed be.
yond peradventure that the missile
hurled at John r. Jones and indirectly
at the whole Republican ticket was
unconsciously a boomerang.
Attorney Fred w. Fleitz, the mex
speaker held the rapt attention of tn,
audience for nearly an hour, with hi.
persuasive, easy style and forcible ar,
guments. He aimed to show that "of
years" are quite as important as presl
Dental years and that the election o.
Republicans to local, city. county ant
state offices is necessary to the success
full control of national politics. He alsC
had something TO say Of dissenters ant
. the usual cause of dissensions, Hi!
remarks in substance were:
am sure it is not necessary for me I,
endeavor to impress this intelligent al
, dience with the beneficial effects OF tn
protective tariff and sound money, or will
. the pernicious effects of free trade AM
free silver. / am satisfied that the peo
pie settled that question in the most en-
phatic manner at the polls last November
but ii may not be untlmcly and out o
place for me to occupy your time and at