The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-17
specIal TO the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Harrisburg, Aug 16.-When the seven
Israelitish priests, obeying the orders
of Joshua, started upon their novel
method of warfare against the Pales-
tine town bearing trumpets of rams
horn and blowing Herewith they could
have been no more confident of what
should come to pass at the time of
their blowing the seventh blast early
about the dawning" of the seventh day
than was National Committeeman
Harrity of the result of the bugle blast
that he sent from the walls of his
castle of stone and mortar at urban
Overlook week ago.
Mr.. Harrity has for some years been
accustomed to go ahead in the Demo-
cratic party without waiting the bid
ding of some son of Nun or any son
of anybody and he did not, therefore,
have the inspiration which gave conf
dence to Joshuas cornetists. But he
blew quite as furiously and just as
confidently as they. He proclaimed
a straddle plank for the Reading con-
vention, and by the token of that
straddle he adroitly thought to save
himself. He believed that one good
old time wind ripper from his bugle
would array about him all his old
henchmen in his favor and put to rout
all old and indeed all new enemies,
should there be.
1t cannot be concealed Mr.. Harrty's
past successes in Pennsylvania Demo-
cratic politics have made of him an
absolute bold warrior. He has cultivat-
ed a powerful sight of self-confidence
and of this no better proof could be
submitted than his cool, if not saga
cious, demand from Overlook that the
Reading convention should tactically
and for harmony's sake desert the Chi
cago platform and the Nebraskan ora
tor by writing upon it's banners: This
is not the year for discussing national
questions" But Mr. Harrity's poll
tical foresight has not improved by
his vacation from political work.
EMPHATIC REPLIES.
Within the week since his call from
the Overlook castle ten counties have
made responses and each one in turn
has more violently opposed the COM
promise proposition than its predeces-
sor. These answers have been brought
out by the accident of convention OF
county committee meetings and with
no view Of . king special cognizance of
the natit al committeeman's demand.
but they have been notable and mean
ing responses nevertheless. Bedford
county replied negatively and vehem-
emily. Bucks county, edging upon his
own, most earnestly shouted no.
Greene not content with asserting it's
determination to continue in the open
for the Chicago platform denounced
Mr.. Harrity for remaining on the ma
tional committee and instructed its
delegates to Reading to vote for his
formal removal.
Franklin county elected as it's county
chairman one of it's most outspokeI
Bryan men, young Minehart, a risinl
lawyer, popular campaign speaker anC
an out-and-out anti-Harrity man. Col
umbia county, led by Representativ,
Creasey, who headed the Democrats ol
the floor of the house of representative
last session, adopted as a whole tn,
resolutions of the York county conYen
tion, drawn by eX-Lieutenant Governo
Black. Allegheny's response has gon
to every corner. Latest, Fayette an,
Lawrence counties demand the Chi
cago platform, and denounces strad
dlebugs. Clearly the rule of Harrt,
as platform writer is over.
What of the Philadelphia chance
for retraining nominal Leadership
through membership. of the nationa
committee? This may best be an
swered by giving such information a
has been gained from unprejudicet
sources during the past week. A com
pact body of local leaders made vi
from various counties has determine,
that the Reading convention shall no
only take eagerly all that is visibl
of what some dissenters call the Bryal
dose but that it shall no longer leave il
doubt the wishes of the Pennsylvania
Democracy as to representation in cam
paign direction, nominal or real
The leaders have not yet determine