Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-26
How He Put Judge Sperry
( Out Of Business.
Caused OId-Line 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. II. VOL
colt, Fred Sawyer, Willie Kent and
L. l.. 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 man at the helm who
could steer the old machine in it's
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-
lpublicans 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 foreman in the ca,
, shop, whose friends were legion. Thcil
combination was composed mostly o.
the men in the shop, more
than 200 strong. When Congressman
Dick conceived the idea that he woult
make a first class Congressman, an,
0 went into the field to compete for II
I the Marvin Kent faction did not thin
n as Dick did, so they sent Il delegation
to oppose him In the convention. Th
reason the Kaw faction did not fui
nish the delegates, was that just u
' the vote was to be taken in the caucus
y some of the Kent faction sent in
o fire alarm, knowing that most of tn
q Kaw faction belonged to the fire d'
/, partmcnt. Then the Kent tactic
IS rushed through the nominations.
q When the other faction returne
# from their run TO the fire the hall wa
N dark. The Kaw combination went
a the convention in body and the men
r. hers shouted themselves hoarsc fl
y Dick, There was to be a Postmast,
0. appointed mt Kent, aud the kaw ia
q. tion wanted TO name the man, aud d
name him TO Dick, who promised
Id do what he could for him, The Kel
y. faction also named their man al
"A Dick sang them the same song. III
" appointment hung fire for yea
&. while Elmer France, II good Dcmocro
" filled the office for more than ycI
ne over his time. Congressman Die
~ whose life was made miserable
he both factions hustling Tor thelr ma
,l, concluded TO unload the responsible
M OF naming the Postmaster upon Jud
III Spcrry, providing that he would II
rc appoint the candidate of either III
or tion. So Judge Spcrry went TO Ike
NJ, to look over the situation. He L
by ,turally drifted In to the postotfice
nd see Mr.. France and advise with Ii
he as lic, being Democrat, was
TO- couree disinterested,
ed 1t seems the Judges intentions we
he nll right in the start, as he mention
ey the names of several persons he h
picked out, and whom he had learn