Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-01

his political manipulations while oc
cupying his judicial office. which have
followed his retirement from the courts
of the city, make UP one of the most
sensational and startling incidents of
the great campaign which has been
agitating the state and the country for
the election of a United States senator
to succeed Colonel Matthew Stanley
Quay. Judge Gordon's conspicuous ac-
tivity in the field of politics in the last
few years has led to many public crit
icisms of his course, to which until re-
Gently he seemed to be absolutely in
different His presence at the Altoona
Democratic state convention, throwing
all respect and regard for his judicial
position to the four winds, and per-
sonally directing the wire pulling in
support of his own candidacy for the
nomination for governor opened the
eyes of the people of the common
wealth as to what length Judge Cor
don would go to accomplish his end.
Fierce with resentment at those whom
he thought helped to thwart his ambi-
tion-and he believed Senator Quay to
be at the bottom of it-Judge Gordon
took up with the Wanamaker managers
ana he mas ever since DeeH II cOHIlUei-
tial adviser of the Philadelphia mil
lionaire in his political operations. Sem
ator Penroses bold charge that the
Wanamaker Gordon Graham crowd
were in a conspiracy against Quay
which he made in his famous interview
in the gubernatorial campaign, and
which the people by their votes for
Colonel Stone seem to have needed
was a revelation to many. In this pub
lie statement Senator Penrose directed
attention to Wanamakers efforts to
bring about the nomination of Gordon
for governor by the Democrats, with
the hope of getting Democratic sup
port, in the event of Gordon's election,
for his candidacy for the United States
senate, and told how, in order to carry
out this scheme, it was necessary ito
smash Quay" Referring to Judge Cor
don's defeat in the Democratic state
convention, Senator Penrose, in this in
terview, remarked: This totally unex-
pected bludgeon blow was at the time
attributed by Judge Gordon's hench-
men and organs to the influence of Sen
ator Quay exerted through certain
Democratic leaders," With Gordon and
Graham no doubt in mind, the senator
added: "The recital of these facts is
sufficient to convince any reasonable
person why the parties interested
should show their malice against Sena-
tor Quay in a contemplate prostitu-
ton of that criminal arm of the law
temporarily under their control. I do
not hesitate to predict that the boom
erang thrown by these malignant and
desperate political intriguers at Sem
ator Quay will return to them with ter
ri ot hn oil
vember."
THAT PENROSE PREDICTION.
The election of Colonel Stone by a
plurality of 10000, and, despite the
Wanamaker Gordon-Swallow combina-
ton, the election Of q Republican leg
isla ure, with majority of "a on joint
ballot, and which is certain to re-elect
Colonel Quay to the United States sem
ate, rather fuifills the prediction of Sem
ator Penrose.
But the verdict of the people does
not seem to have been recognized by
these enemies Of Senator Quay 1t was
announced that. with characteristic
boldness, Judge Gordon proposed to sit
on the bench in the trial Of the cases
trumped up against Senator Quay and
his associates. Then the eminent coun-
sci for Senator Quay determined upon
a move, evidently not anticipated by
the Gordonites. Already plans were
being laid for Impeachment proceedings
against Judge Gordon at the opening
of the legislature, and those in charge
of this matter were satisfied that the
case would be pressed to a successful
issue. Two previous moves for the Inn
peachment of Judge Gordon, one in 1898
and the other in 1885, had been made
One was started too late to get beyond
the chairman of the judiciary commit
tee, and the other, through combina-
tion of Democratic and Republican in
fluences, although vigorously pressed
by Lawyer Newlin. of this city, who
bitterly denounced Judge Gordon's con-
duct on the bench, failed to get the nee
essary number of votes. Senator Quay's
friends had no doubt of their ability tc
convince the members of the legislature
of Judge Gordon's unfitness for the
bench. and that he would surely have
been impeached. Then, had Judge Cor.
don persisted in his determination tc
sit during the proceedings against Sen
ator Quay. 1t is known that the propei
papers were drawn to invoke the power
OF the supreme court to block this dar
ing act.
While all We're eagerly waiting the
outcome of this unprecedented condi.
ton of affairs the commonwealth was
startled with the announcement thai
Judge Gordon had resigned from the
bench.
During Judge Gordon's occupancy O
the bench there was built up in Phila
delphia political organization which
has been known as the Gordon or Della
hunty Democracy, and which depends
mainly for support upon saloonkeeper
licensed by the courts, Democratic EN-
ployes of the courts and the Democratic
real estate assessors, whose appoint
ments are made by board Of whicl
Judge Gordon's friend, Mr.. Lukens, al