The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-12

Tuesdays election will be of great
interest and Importance to the people
of Scranton and the wonder is that 1t
is exciting such a small amount or
general interest The campaign up to
date has been very quietly conducted
on both sides of the political fence and
seldom, indeed, on the eve of a city
election has there been such q general
indifference on the part Of all classes
of voters. This is due probably to two
| causes, the uncertainty as to what the
courts will do with reference to the
| school board and a failure to fully ap-
| preciate the importance of Tuesdays
contest 1t more vitally concerns the
voters of this city than the selection
of state officers would.
BY their votes Tuesday they will
| chose select and common councilmen
| in the ten even numbered wards of the
city and members of the board Of school
control in the eleven odd numbered
wards. 1t is true that the school con-
trollers selected in the eleven odd-num-
bered wards may not be allowed to
serve out their terms but they will at
all events serve part of it, and 1t
| should be as much the care Of the in
telligent, thoughtful voter to see that
good men are selected as If there was
no question of the legality of the pres
ent board.
THE BOARD OF SIX.
These remarks apply with added
force to the situation with reference
to the candidates for school director of
the city at large; members of the board
of six as they are commonly termed.
! b.a I,ol ha Ia1,
illegal, as now seems probable in the
opinion of the best legal authority OF
the city, it becomes more than ever the
duty of the voters of Scranton to see
that the affairs of the school district
are transferred to men of experience
and ability. These qualities are pos
sessed in large degree by the Repub-
lican nominees. d. !. Phillips, f. S.
Godfrey and Elias f. Evans are
trained business men who have been
distinctly successful in conducting
their own business affairs and will
bring to the service of the school,
district qualities that are indispen-
sable in managing any large business
enterprise. Peter Neuls is a represen-
tative of the young German element
of the South Side. He is noted for
his sterling integrity and strong COM
mon sense. Eugene ID. Fellows, as Sec
| retary of the board for five years, and
| F. S. Barker as an active member OF
that body for years are thoroughly in
= touch with all the details of school
, work and will make just the link thai
is needed between the old and the new
, boards in case the courts shall decid,
against the present school governing
, body Mr. Fellows Is a lawyer, and
Mr.. Barker one of the leaders among
the city's progressive young bushes.
: men.
, The prime Importance of a goot
f school board is patent to every
a | thoughtful person. 1t should partlcu
larly impress itself on every Repub
, lican and lead him to do some persona
\ work on behalf of the clean handed
n able men who are the Republican can
didates for school director.
f NECESSITY FOR WORK.
, 1t is necessary that every Republi
: can do his full duty Tuesday. In tn
= First, Fifth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth ant
Seventeenth wards, each of which is
Republican stronghold, the ward can
didates are unopposed, or practically 81
. and consequently there is not the sam
incentive to get out the full vote tina
>, there would be if there was a red
: hot local contest in these wards. There
:. in lies danger to the head of the ticke
a that should be appreciated.
= On the other side of the politica
fence conditions are different In tn
= strong Democratic wards several Dem
! ocrats are battling bitterly for the war
- offices and the result will be a larg
q vote in all these districts of whic
n the men who head the Democratic cit
n ticket will to large extent be the ben
n eficiaries.
a If the full Republican vote is pole
II victory is assured; it therefore be
o hooves every Republican to do his dut
v Tuesday.
One Of the things the Democrats ar
" trying to accomplish in this electio
d is to secure control of the select coun
,r Gil. They have the common counc
I, but the Republican select has stoo
n as bulwark against many of the job
If that Democratic officials have planne
n during the last two years and it is no.
IS proposed to end all this by maxim
/ the select council Democratic, if pos
sible, which would give that party en-
tire charge of the machinery of tn
city government.
Those who have watched the progres