The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-15

The purifying of the municipal politics
of this city and of the general adop-
tion of the Crawford county system of
conducting primary elections were the
topics considered at last evenings
meeting of the Mems union of the
Green Ridge Presbyterian church.
A short business meeting preceded
the regular evenings programme and
a new constitution was adopted, which,
among other features, changed the
name of the association to that of the
Mems Union of Green Ridge, it hav-
ing outgrown the Green Ridge Pres
byterian church
Probably the feature of the evening
was brief but pithy address by the
president of the association, Rev. l.
]. Lansing. d. d., urging aggressive
action on the part of all honest citizens
toward a publication of the city poll
tics of Scranton. Mr.. Lansing said in
part:
"These matters are generally known
throughout the city and there is no
reason for silence regarding them. For
instance, 1t is the popular belisf and
common gossip that there are school
controllers who have no others means
of livelihood, that bribes are paid 9TH
ers by certain publishers of text books
to vote for their books; that teachers
obtain positions by paying stipulated
amount to school controller and GER
tainly the number of incompetent
teachers to be found in our schools
bear out this latter charge.
COUNCILMEN BRIBED.
oh,
of our councilmen have been paid large
bribes to retard the passage Of the new
telephone measure. All of these mat
ters deserve immediate attention and
it seems to me that the proper thing
to do is for us to elect to the board
of control and to the councils men who,
if these alleged practices prevail. will
dare to stand out publicly against
them and who can keep their constitu-
ents posted on the true state of af-
fairs existing in our city legislative
bodies
An interesting address on the Craw-
ford county system was delivered by
Hon. Fred w. Fleitz. He emphasized
the point that though the Crawford
system is an excellent one. no system
of party rules will ever bring about a
reform until the individual voter is
educated as to what were his best in
terests and the best interests of the
community at large are.
He stated that the great difficulty
with the old convention system was
that it interposed between the wishes
of the people and the candidate, the
personality of a delegate who was gem
orally elected on account of his popu-
larity and voted just as he pleased.
| Referring to the recent controversy
in this county over the continuance
! Of the Crawford system, Mr. Fleitz
stated the main objection was a very
| feasible one namely, that the vote of
| the party could not be got out by it.
A general discusson followed his re-
! marks and upon motion of f. b. Stur-
| ges it was decided to appoint COM
| mittee of three from both the Second
! and Thirteenth wards to arouse the
! public generally. without regard to po-
! ltical faith. to the great advantages
! to be derived from the Crawford Coun-
! ty system and TO get the voters out
| to the primaries conducted under the
! system.
THE COMMITTEEMEN.
| The following We're chosen as the
! Second ward committee: G. b. Shoe
maker, f. NJ. LOOmis and b. T. Lacey.
From the Thirteenth ward the follow
ing committee was selected: George
Dimmick, George b. Davidson and a.
T. Hunt.
An interesting address was also de-
| livered by 9. L. Chittenden, select
councilman from the Ninth ward, on
the Registration of Voters" Mr.
Chittenden stated that he believed the