Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-02-21
FLINN FIGHTS
FOR HIS LIFE
Reform Element in Allegheny
County Appeal to Repub-
licans in the State.
RIPPER" PASSED IN SENATE
New Charter Bul Designed to Over
throw the Pittshurg Rinr IS Now
before the House at Harrisburg
aud u Big struggle is waginw.

before the House at Harrisburg
aud u Riw Struggle IL wagiaw.
Especial CorrespendenceJ
Philadelphia, Feb. 1a.-lnterest In
state politics continues to he riveted
upon the plans of the stalwart Repuh-
lican leaders to aid the reform element
in Pittsburg to overthrow the iniqui-
tous Finn machine.
The board of trade and the chamber
of commerce of Pittsburg have been
working for years to bring about re-
forms in the management of municipal
affairs in that city, and they are now
depending upon the regular Republi-
cans at Harrisburg to help them pass
what Is known as the ripper" or new
charter bill. This measure. after a
most desperate fight, was passed final
ly in the state senate last week. Finn
led his forces in person. and up to the
very last minute hoped to be able to
block the bill on third reading. He
and his insurgent and Democratic fol-
lowers resortad to the most desperate
filibustering tactics. and with the as
sistance of the Guffey Democratic or
ganiEation the Finn comhiners be-
lieved they would be able to keep the
bill from getting constitutional ma
iority in the senate and thus dispose of
the issue without having to run the
gauntlet of the house,
FLINN SHOWS WHITE FEATHER.
Finn. in a speech made against the
bill, showed the white feather. He re-
N "A M "a
ted States senatorship. in which he and
his insurgent followers went outside
the lines of the Republican party, and
with the cooperation of the Democrats
sought to defeat the nominee of the
Republican caucus. the choice of a
large majority of the Republicans of
2enusylvania, for senator. just as he
ui6 two years before. when. by fu-
sion deal with the Bryanite Demoera-
cy, he prevented the election of Re
publican to the senate.
Now that the business men and man.
ufacturers and in fact the entire re-
form element Of his home county are
up In arms against him and demanding
that he and his henchmen shall be
driven from their positions of power,
Finn Is pleading with the regular Re-
publicans of the state to come to his
rescue and block the plans OF the tax
payers of Allegheny, who have been
obliged to bear the burdens which the
Finn ring have put upon them In their
extravagsnt and profligate administra-
tion OF public affairs in Pittsburg.
Finn made several speeches in the
fiilihusterine movements against the
passage of the bin. in one of which he
referred to the senatorial contest and
whimperingly declared that when the
vote was taken ON that issue he had
supposed that the book was closed"
that the fight was ended, and that
there was to be harmony,
Almost everybody In the chamber
smiled when Finn said this, for they
recalled the domineering and defiant
attitude which Finn assumed all
through the last session OF the legis-
lature, when. with the insurgents and
the Democrats under his whip. he con-
trolled enough votes to prevent an
election To the senatorship. They also
had vividly brought to mind the
damnahle conspiracy by which the
Finn insurgents had Col. Quay arrest
ed In this city under trumped up
charge, and how they had hoped To see
him convicted. although there Vas not
a scintilla Of evidence that he had
wronged a single individual or that In
any business transactions which he had
with the Peoples bank. the bank or
the state had lost penny.
Finn. with his record Of the past
fresh In the minds of every stalwart
Republican Of PENNSYLVANIA, is now
upon his knees a supplieant for mercy,
heseeehins the Republicans OF the
state to save him from the wrath of
his nelshbors.
BOSS RULE pENoUNCED.
A couple of Democrats aud one or
two insureents made weak arguments |
In opposition To the passage of the [
"ripper" after Finn had spoken,
Tie was confronted. however, by
facts and hsures from his fellow eiti- [
sens which showed the need Of a radi- /
cal change In the methods of municipal /
management In pitsburg. A letter /
was read from r. l.. Strawbrldge. a I
we'll known attorney OF pittsburg, Sc
verely arraisining the Finn regime /
and demanding relief from the lesisla. /
ture.
Among other things MIR. Straw
bridge said,
III there II place this side Of hell /
that needs reform II Il rittshurg. II 4
there II a modern stable ON earth that 4
needs 10 be tlpped open aud dunged out .
by some hereulean hand II IL the Pitts 1
burg city hall aud the appurtenanees /
thereto, The stable hoases, hostlers. /
sponge holdera, ruhhers. con men 4
aud laekeys must No 10 the dump on 4
hA a..