The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-24
p0LITICAh
RIALTO !
Gossip Among the Leading Statesmen
Of the County Seat.
JAMES GRANT FOR COMMISSIONER
III se Who Seem to Know Say He will Get
the Plum-David M. Graham will
Contest the Seat of His Demo-
cratic Opponent John F.
gins, of Town.
Spe cial HERALD Correspondence.

Pottsville Nov. 23-Rumors are flying
thick on the political rialto these days. Some
of them can be credited, while others have
not the semblance of facts to base the state
ments upon. The principle subject for dis.
cussion among the statesmen just now is the
plums to fall from the political tree of the
Democratic variety.
The District Attorney, Controller and the
Poor Directors each have tree to shake on
or about January 1st, and it's dollars to
dOughnuts that the crop that will fall from
those branches will he inadequate to supply
the demand for this luscious fruit. And
then-there will be trouble.
Distsict Attorney elect Cummings has at
his disposal three deputies and clerk with
salaries attached as follows: First deputy,
81, 800 per year; second deputy, 81, 200; third
deputy, 5000 clerk, 5000. These salaries
are fixed by law, and cannot be changed by
the salary board. While it is not officially
announced, yet the names of those published
in the HERALD as the successful applicants
can be accepted as the ones who will fill those
positions. They are James j. Moran, first
deputy II. o. Bechtel, second, and NJ. J.
Fleming the third. The clerk has not been
definitely decided upon but is likely either
to be William Kramer or G. H. Streigel, the
latter former resident of Shenandoah. Both
these young men are circulating petitions in
their own behalf.
Mr.. Moran, the chief deputy, while a
native of Heckscherville, claims Girard vile
as bis place of abode, and the statesmen from
Butler township claim him as their prize as a
result of the last move on the political chess
board. And they are entitled to much of
the glory. Mr.. Moran is well aud favorably
known, and his steady advancement is due
more to his own personal efforts and close
| application than to anything else Whom but
fifteen years old he lost one arm by an acci-
dent in a coal breaker. and from that time on
he applied himself closely to his studies,
ente ed u law office, was admitted to the bar
in 1894, elected County Auditor four years
previously. and in 1895 was made third as
sistart deputy under District Attorney
Bechtel, which position he now holds with
much credit to himself.
The second deputy is Harry o. Bechtel, SOL
of Judge o. P. Bechtel and at present solici
tor for the County Commissioners. During
his tncumbency in that position he has the
proud record of trying mole cases for th,
county, without assistance or extra cost t
the county, than any of his predecessors in {
like period. Mr.. Bechtel is a graduate o
Havcrford College, and five years ago was ad
mitted 10 the Bar, having read law in tn,
office of the man under whom he will serv,
after January 1st. His friends predict tina
he will prove an able and efficient assistan
to Mr.. Cummings, and there is no reason +
doubt that assertion. The third deputy, NJ
j. Fleming, is a native of Donaldson, an,
entered the law offices of John +. Whalen
Esq, i'll 1896, and year or so later was ad
nit led to the Bar. He is q married man
and is favorably spoken of.
True, there is some dissatisfaction anon
she faithful over the selections made, bu
that would be the case no matter who secure
the plums. The retirement of NJ. P. Nc
Laughlin, Esq, the present chief deputy
who has served so faithfully in that office TO
the past six years, is not received favorabl
by his numerous friends.