Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-26
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg. Jan. 23-The situation in
Harrisburg the past week has not
changed. Quay is still outside the
breastworks, and the Democrats hold
the key to the situation. With the CO.
operation of the anti-Quay Repubi-
cans they have successfully defeated
several attempts of the QU-< Republic
cans to infringe on their - hts. This
was particularly the case on last We'd
nesday, when the new lieutenant gov
ernor. j. p. Goblin. attempted in the
most high handed way to rule the joint
convention in behalf of Quay.
| At the Democratic caucus, held that
morning, 1t was decided to present
series of rules for governing the Joint
convention. The anti-Quay Republican
leaders had been invited to discuss
these rules, and had agreed to them,
and guaranteed to stand by the Demo-
Gratis in securing their adoption. There
was nothing particular in the rules, eH-
cept one which provided that there be
only one joint ballot for United States
senator per day This was distasteful
to the Quay leaders, and they laii
their plans to defeat the adoption of
the rules, and Lieutenant Governor
Goblin was selected as the club.
DIXON'S JOINT RULES.
Accordingly when Representative
Dixon. of Elk. the Democratic leader,
offered these joint rules Goblin refused
to listen to them. He ruled then them
out of order. Then Mr.. Dixon appeal
ed from his decision, seconded by Sen
ator Finn. the anti-Quay leader. BIT
again Goblin refused to listen to the
appeal Finally when a hurried attempt
was made by the Quay men to adjourn
! Goblin summarily dismissed the con-
vention, refusing to call the yeas and
nays as demanded by half the Demo-
| Gratis on the floor and the ant-Quay
| Republicans. In an instant the house
was in an uproar A protest meeting
was held, with Bliss, anti-Quay Repub-
| liCan of Delaware, as chairman, and
| Dixon, Democrat of Elk. as secretary.
A series of vigorous resolutions, de-
| nouncing Goblin and his action, We're
| framed That day 1t was also decided
that If in the future Goblin attempted
anything more of the kind he would be
dismissed from the chair. All Wednes-
day afternoon Hon. George A. jerks.
Hon. John II. Fow and ex-Judge Cor
don, of Philadelphia, three of the ablest
Democratic lawyers in this state. with
eX-Attorney General II. c. Mccormick
Republican, were in a Harrisburg law
office examining the law as to Gobin's
| right to preside over the joint conven-
tion as lieutenant governor. It was
found that he had no right, nothing
but courtesy and precedent permitting
him to so act. The protest was signed
by 139 senators and members, the ma
jority of the Legislature. all of them
Democrats and anti-Quay Republicans,
with perhaps half dozen Quay men
who became disgusted with the action
of their party.
DEMOCRATS STAND FAST.
The Democrats are In excellent shape.
During the past week Colonel J. M.
Guffey, the brilliant and active Demo-
cratic leader, left his great business
in Pittsburg and came on to Harris
burg to look after the fight in person.
Hon. George A. jerks, candidate for
United States senator. spent part of
the week here. From Philadelphia
came ex-Judge James G. Gordon, whose
sterling Democracy has earned him
the eternal enmity of the Quay ma
chine. d. A. Orr. editor of the Harris
burg Patriot, ex-Postmaster John Il.
Larkin, of Pittsburg, ex-County Chair
man w. ]. Brennan. of Allegheny. ex-
! Congressman Howard Mutchler. p Gray
Meek, Colonel Jack" Spangler and
other leading Democrats of the state
have been in constant attendance.
watching the progress of events. De-
spite the fact that these men were here
directing the fight in person the Quay
men did not hesitate to attempt all
sorts of lying schemes to create fric-
ton between anti-Quay Republican,
and the solid Democratic phalanX.
Their most popular mehod was to
start the story that certain members
In certain Democratic delegations Were
wavering, and that on such a dav
these men would break away from the
Democratic line. The story would then
be circulated as coming from the
Wanamaker headquarters. Every false.
hood of this kind was alleged to come
from the antiQuay Republican rooms
in the Commonwealth hotel, but theil
frequency and persistency soon re-
vealed their real character Senator
Finn and General Koontz repeatedly
and vigorously denied that any such
statements had come from therr but
on the contrary they had discovered
that these reports We're circulated by
Quay's lieutenants.
The object undoubtedly was to
create friction between the Repuh!i-
cans who are fighting Quay and the
Democrats who are also fighting him
There was another reason perhaps
more important than this, and that is
that the Quay men are compelled to
make some such assertions to keey
their lines straight. 1t is well knowr
that there are at least ten men voting
for Quay who are ready to break away
from him whenever an opportunity IRE
sents.
ELKIN IS CONFIRMED.
John =. Elllin was confirmed IN tn
senate last week as the attorney gen.
eral of Governor Stones cabinet His
confirmation was made possible by the
help of four Democratic senators. viz
Boyd of Fayette, Haines of crk, Nee
ly of Clarion and Stiles OF Lehigh
Even then Elkin. one of the indemnity