The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-09
A. B. STEVENS FOR MAYOR
Has Right to Expect the Unani-
nous Support of the Welsh Re
publicans on the West Side
and Throughout the City.

The following letter in the interest
OF the candidacy of ex-Sheriff A. b.
Stevens, which appeared in the Scran-
ton Republican of Tuesday morning,
shows that Mr.. Stevens has not been
forgotten by his old party friends and
neighbors:
Mr.. Editor: / very seldom trespass on
Your valuable space with any OF my ouin-
ions, political or otherwise. But at this
time l feel an unusually deep interest IN
the mayoralty question, and desire to in
sert the following In your columns, ad-
dressed more especially to the Welsh Re-
publicanS voters of this city, in behalf OF
one who has always been their political
friend and champion.
At this time it is well and eminently
proper that the good people of this pros
porous city Should be seeking for u man
possessing the qualifications for the Office
OF mayor as a candidate to be voted Cor
and elected at our next municipal cleo
tlon. The Republican party has sought
for such man, and in my opinion he has
been found in the person of eX-SheriR A.
b. Stevens, who, at the earnest and per-
sistent solicitation of many of his loyal
Republican friends, has consented TO
stand as the Republican candidate for the
Office.
Mr.. Stevens is so well nd SO favorably
known by the citizens of Scranton, espe-
cially by the older residents--that 1t would
be the height of pres sumption in me to at
tempt to give even an outline of his career
in our midst, in or out of office, or as an
enterprising, successful business man.
Wherever he has been placed-whethcr as
councilman, marshaN, sheriff. coal op-
orator or general business man. Mr..
Stevens has always fully filed the bill.
In office he has been bright, efficient and
as honest as the sunlight. AS an EN-
ployer OF labor he has the well-deserved
reputation of being kind, liberal generous.
| As politician he has always been an in
dependent, active. loyal, unconditional Re-
publican-never bending the neck to the
| yoke of any so-called "boss," and vet
never bolting and never Withholding his
| loyal support from his party's nominees.
| He has the courage of his own convc-
| tions, and from my intimate acquaintance
with him for over thirty years / have no
| hesitation in predicting that in the event
| OF his being elected mayor of this city in
February next, A. b. Stevens will be the
| mayor and no one else. and that he will
| give the city a clean and efficient adminis-
| tration OF its affairs.
In years past the Welsh Republicans or
| Hyde Park were well acquainted with MIR.
Stevens, and knew of his successful fights
| In the Republican conventions of old I.i-
| zerne for the recognition of the Welsh
element in the party in the distribution Cf
| the Offices For all time prior to his cham
| pionship of their rights, the Welsh Re
publiCans were only useful 10 the party IN
rolling up large majorlties at the polls toc
candidates OF other nationalltics. never
| having an opportunity 10 cast a vote Tor
| anyone bo airing a Welsh name.
| AIr. Stevens, residing in our midst in
Hyde Park saw that this was unfair ami
| resolved to contend for justice for us in
the party convention, and the first Welsh
| Republican ever nominated for a county
| Office In old LuZerne was George L. Rich
ards, of Plymouth, for clerk of the courts
and he was put in nomination by Asa b.
| Stevens and was elected.
| Immediately following this, and hndilg
that the old Miners union" desired n
representative in the legislature at Har-
risburg, and learning that their choice
was Honest Dicky" Williams, of Halle
ton, Mr. Stevens nominated him in the
convention and advocated his election,
and "IIonest Dicky," as he was familiar
ly called, was triumphantly elected. Fol-
lowing this, our own Robert ]. James,
who was so highly esteemed by every one
who knew him, having lost his health
working in the coal mines, by the advice
OF many OF his friends, sought an Office
aspiring for a seat in the legislature. Be-
ing advised, however by the writer and
others, Mr.. James resolved to seek the
nomination for clerk Of the courts as be-
ing far more lucrative. And Mr.. Stevens
again comes foi ward and nominated Rob
ert j. James for clerk OF the courts, and
/ know whereof l speak when / say that
the pocketbock of A. b. Stevens contrib
uted generously to defray the expenses
OF our friend, r. ]. James election cam
paign. Mr.. James was elected and was
enabled thereby to settle up his financial
affairs IN an honorable manner before he
was called away fIom the leadership OF
the "Cambro-American Choral society"
to the land OF Eternal Song.
refer TO the foregoing instances TO re-
call the fact that Mr. A. b. Stevens was
the means OF breaking the political ice for
the Welsh Republicans OF the Wyoming
and Lackawarna valleys. opening the way
for them to the more general recognition