The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-02

Pttsburg, July 1.-Democratic Ma
tional Committeeman Colonel j. Nj.
Guffey, in reply to accusations made
by Judge James Gay Gordon anent the
Altoona convention. makes the follow
ing statement:
Il have read this morning the state
ment of Judge James Gay Gordon, con-
cerning the report of the Altoona con-
vention. When statement over Judge
Gordon's signature imputes bad faith
and the violation Of personal pledges,
it cannot be ignored.
Judge Gordon knows when I with
drew my support from him, and also
why withdrew it. When i favorably
and earnestly considered his candidacy,
i supposed him to be a Democrat.
When the question of his Democracy
was raised, made every possible ef-
fort, through his friends and repre-
sentatives, and the chairman of the
state central committee, to secure an
expression from him as to his position
in 1896. This effort failed the reason
for Withholding such a statement be-
ing offered, that Judge Gordon's Re
publican allies had made a request of
him. and he had given a promise not
to do so. This was the question raised
at the much-advertised New York
meeting, on June s, where it was
claimed we had agreed on Gordon.
ONE THING NEEDFUL.
"On the 18th of June, / advised his
principal Democratic manager that no
man could be supported for the head
of, the ticket at the Altoona convention
who had not stood by the party in 1895;
that this was the one imperative quail
fication for Gordon or any other man
to secure the support of the Pennsyl-
vania Democracy.
"On June Is, I consulted with the
Democratic leaders of ten western
counties, and on the following day,
over long-distance telephone, l advised
Judge Gordon himself of the deter
nlination that he could not be sup
ported for the nomination because by
his own action he had disqualified
himself as a regular Democratic cam
didate. One week later, at the request
of Gordon's leading Democratic friend,
/ met his principal Republican sup
porter and explained to him why Cor
don could not be regarded as an elig-
ible Democratic candidate.
"These facts sufficiently reply to the
assertion that secret and malign in
fluences changed the situation on the
eve of the convention in a single night.
When Judge Gordon forced his candi-
dacy on the convention, and was over
whelmingly defeated, neither corporate
power nor the influence of Republican
bosses had any part in it. 1t was due
n of q
representative Democratic convention
where Democracy was the supreme re-
qulrement, and where no man who
slabs his party in the back, either in
national or municipal contests, had
any standing.
GORDON'S LITTLE TRICK.
when this fact was made plain,
James Gay Gordon took advantage of
disagreement of the committee on
resolutions to force into the conven-
ton, simply and solely that it's action
might be embarrassed, an unqualified
endorsement of issues that are recog-
nized by all members of the party who
have it's real welfare at heart, to have
no place on this campaign.
There is no backward step on ma
tional issues in the platform or candi-
dates. The struggle this year is on
state issues alone. 1t is a battle for
honest government for a great and
patient people, who have been re-
morselessly cheated, deceived and mis-
governed.
(Signed James NJ. Guffey.
Member Democratic national COM
mittee for Pennsylvania.