Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-26
How He Put Judge Sperry
Z Out Of Business.
Caused 0Id-Llne Republican to
Appoint a Democrat.
Kent Republicans Angry--Democratic
Postmaster.
Especial Correspondence,

Especial Correspondence,
Kent, O., July 26-There resides at
Ravenna an old-line Republican around
whose ears buzzes the Congressional
bee. His name is Judge Sperry. He
is the only man in the Nineteenth
district that Col. Dick really fears,
for the Judge once had many friends
Congressman Dicks only desire In
life was, apparently, to kill off the
Judges aspirations, and this is how
he did it. In the village of Kent, half
way between Akron and Ravenna are
two factions in the Republican party.
One faction is headed by old Marvin
Kent, who for years had the vote of
the town in his vest pocket His lieu
tenants were w. w. Patton, s. p. VOL
colt, Fred Sawyer, Willie Kent and
L. Il. Rodenbaugh. A few years ago
Fred Sawyer moved to Michigan. He
possessed the brains of the whole COM
bination. When he cut loose from the
faction, it commenced to run ashore,
for want of a man at the helm who
could steer the old machine in its
former channel. The young Republi,
cans of the town were ignored, for all
the Offices in the town were filled by
Marvin Kent and his lieutenants. The
younger clement and the old-line Re-
publicans that were not admirers of
the manner in which the Kent faction
operated the party, concluded TO cut
loose from the politicians and form a
combination of their own. This COM
bination was headed by one Lew Kaw,
an old soldier and IA foreman in the car
shop, whose friends were legion. Their
combination was composed mostly of
the men in the shop, more
than 200 strong. When Congressman
Dick conceived the idea that he would
make a first class Congressman, and
went into the field to compete for 1t,
the Marvin Kent faction did not think
as Dick did, so they sent delegation
to oppose him in the convention. The
reason the Kaw faction did not fur.
nish the delegates, was that just as
the vote was to be taken in the caucus,
some of the Kent faction sent in a
tire alarm knowing that most of the
Kaw faction belonged to the fire de-
! i ntn tut AtHt luNtlOI
rushed through the nominations.
When the other faction returned
from their run to the fire the hall was
dark The Kaw combination went to
the convention in body and the ncnl-
hers shouted themselves hoarsc for
Dick, There was to be Postmaster
appointed mt Kent, and the kaw fac
tion wanted to name the man, aud did
name him TO Dick, who promised 10
do what he could for him. The Kent
faction also named their man and
Dick sang them the same song. The
appointment hung fire for a year,
while Elmer France n good Democrat,
! filed the office for more than n year
over his time. Congressman Dick,
whose life was made miserable 10y
both factions hustliug for their mau,
concluded to unload the responsibility
of naming the Postmaster, upon Judge
Sperry, providing that he would not
appoint the candidate of either fac.
ton. So Judge Sperry went TO Kent
Ito look over the situation. He ma
l.uQlly drifted in to the postofiice TO
see Mr.. France aud advise with him
as he, being Democrat, was OF
course disinterested.
1t seems the Judges intentions Were
Inn right In the start as he mentioned
the names of several persons he had
picked out, and whom he had learned