Evening star., 1898-11-04
ALL BASED ON QUAY
Democratic Success in Pennsylvania
Hangs on Enmity to Him.
SITUATION IN WESTERN DISTRICTS
Republican Candidates SufferFrom
Anti-Machine Sentiments.
POSTMASTERSHIP SQUABBLES
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

P1TTSBURG, Pa, November 3, $685.
Three congressional districts in the west
ern part of the state are claimed by the
democrats as furnishing fighting ground for
the democrats, the twenty-sixth, twenty
seventh and twenty-eighth, while in an
other. the twentieth. democratic hope Is be-
ginning to sprout, though somewhat feebly
In the twenty-seventh district the fight
is probably more interesting than in the
others. This district comprises the coun-
ties of Cameron. Mexican, Venango and
Warren, with population of 1873 1876. 1t
was carried by Charles w. Stone, repub-
hcan, in 1896 by a vote Of 15,777, against
1o,o5S for w. j. Breene, democrat and pop
ulist, and 1 ,131 votes for John E. Gill, pro-
hfbitionist. Mr.. Stone carried the district
In three previous congressional elections,
and up to this time it has been regarded
as sound republican community.
In this campaign ex-Representative Sib-
ley, the picturesque and wealthy free silver
advocate, who Is well remembered in
Washington, is a candidate for Congress
against Mr.. Stone, and the prohibitionists
nave put up William w. Hague. 1t is Mr.
S1bley's personality and participation in the
campaign which has made the situation in
teresting and rendered the outcome in a
measure doubtful.
MIR. Sibley is Popular.
Mr.. Sibley is rich and in a political con-
test is generous. When he was a candidate
for Congress two years ago in the adjoin-
ing district, the twenty-sixth, which takes
in Erie, he was defeated by the republican
by only 126 votes in a total vote of nearly
81 900. He is an energetic campaiener re-
sourceful and exceedingly popular among
all classes. This year the leading repub-
hcan paper of the district in which he is
now candidate has declared for him and
is urging republicans to vote for him Mr.
Sibley is expected to benefit materially by
the dissatisfaction within the republican
ranks. Mr. Stone has had trouble with his
postmastership appointments and the re-
volt against him is said to be violent on
this account
My own investigation of the conditions in
the twenty-seventh district lead to the con-
clusion that the democrats are not in as
good shape on the congressional ticket as
they are on the state and legislative tickets
The twenty-eighth district, which lies Just
south of the scene of Mr.. Sibleys fight,
also presents an interesting condition of
affairs. This district is composed of the
counties OF Center, Clarion, Clearfeld, Elk
ana Forest. 1t was carried by William c.
Arnold, republican, in 1896, by 1926.
against 5000 for j. L. Spangler, democrat.
and ,o3o votes for John Brennan, prohibi-
ZIONIST. The republicans have renomi-
mated Mr.. Arnold and the democrats have
put up James K. P. Hall, while Geo. w.
Rheen is the prohibition candidate.
Postmastership dsappointments seem to
nave nave proved a great bogy man in Penn
sylvania republican politics In nearly
every district where the democrats claim
prospects of gains the republicans say their
losses Will be due to the troubles over local
postnasterships. In Pennsylvania it seems
70 be the fashion for the defeated candd-
dates for postmasterships to wait until the
republican candidate for Congress is nomi-
mated and then threaten to knife him.
Broke an Old Custom.
IN this case Representative Arnold rec
ommended the appointment of a postmas-
ter at Bellefcnte, which is the home or
Gov Hastings, and the latter recommended
another man. Two other governors have
hailed from that district, and 1t has heen
the custom to permit them to recommend
the postmaster in their own towns. Sem
ator Quay is supporting Mr. ArnolG's rec
oitllhehdauon and the Postmaster General
VINO is something of a Pennsylvania him
sell, Is said to be favorable to the candi-
GATE OF Gov. Hastings. Why this condition
should affect the vote for representative
IN congress l cannot understand, but both
the democrats and republicans saw that
such will be the case. 1t is probable that
Mr.. Arnold may have to suffer on account
OF the opposition to the machine
me t"enty-sixth district Is composed of
the counties of Crawford and Erie, with a
population of 151 ,39s. and including the city
OF Erie. The district was carried by Mr.
John Z. Sturtsvant, republican in 1896 by
1s,sfO. against 1914 for Sibley, democrat.
and 36l for Benjamin Mason, prohibition
1st The democratic claims in this cam
pa1gn are based upon the antagon!sm to
Senator Quay and the republican machine
me democratic managers have estimated
that there will be slump of l. 500 in the
republican vote of the city of Erie but
this, | think. is an extreme claim.
Home of Mr.. Andrews.
Erie is the home of Mr.. Andrews who
is one of Senator Quay's lieutenants lust
republicans The republicans have nomi-
rated George H. Higgins and the demo-
crates Athelston CASTOR, who Is indorsed
by the populists. and the prohibitionists
have named Francis A. Loveland Outside
of the factional differences Of the repub-
llcans there seems very little in the situa-
tion In this district to promise an overturn-
ing OF the republican majority of last year
The twentieth district which Is composed
of the counties of Bedford, Blair, Somerset
and Cambria, was carried by Josiah D.
Hicks republican, in 1896, by 10 974, against
1897 for Mcnamara, democrat, and ISL
for Bracken, prohibitionist, and 7,46S votes
for ]. E. Thropp. protectionist.
This year Thropp Is the republican candi-
date. and his democratic opponent Is J. NJ
Walters. The democrats are basing their
hope of overcoming the heavy republican
majority of the district solely upon
Thropp's unpopularity among the working
men. He has conducted a company store,
which has arrayed the laboring vote
against him. There is lukewarmness
On the whole. the democratic chances in
this district are more attenuated than in