Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-11-28
CHANGING BROWNS.


Gov. Stone has not been satisfied the
way things political have been going in
Pittsburg for some time, as the Olivers
and Rigelows were gradually securing
control of all the sources of political
power, and so after making Recorder
A. NJ. Brown tempting offers to resign
and meeting with refusals, he, on
Thursday last, sent the following letters
by a special messenger to Pittsburg;
Commonwealth of Penn'a.,
Executive Department,
Harrisburg. Pa, Nov. 81, 1901.
Hon A NJ Brown:
Dear Sir-By virtue of authority vest
ed in me by law l hereby remove you as
Recorder of the city of Pittsburg.
Very respectfully,
William A. Stone. Governor of Penn
sylvania.
Harrisburg, Pa, Nov. 81, 1901
Joseph o. Brown, Esq,
Dear Sir-By virtue of authority vest
ed in me by law, hereby appoint you
Recorder of the city of Pittsburg, vice
A. NJ Brown, removed.
Very respectfully,
William a Stone, Governor Of Penn
sylvania.
This action of the Governor caused a
commotion in Pittsburg, as 1t meant
the reinstatement Of the friends OF VII
liam Finn. as the city government, and
the dismissal of the men Major Brown
had appointed during his six months as
Recorder.
The gist Of the whole matter seems to
be Gov. Stones ambition to be United
States Senator, and he seems to have
been holding the power put in his hands
by the Ripper" law as club over the
head of Quay to force him to agree 10
his schemes, and failing to secure any
promises from that source, went BACK
TO Finn, or at least lived up tc some
previous agreement with him.
Quay promptly disavowed all re-
sponsibility for the Governors action,
Elkin put in a mild disavowal, while
the divers and Bigelows limited at
bribery and corruption. But Quay
made William Stone Governor OF Penn
sylvania, and in doing SO. turned down
Chas. w. Stone, then one Of the leaders
in Congress; and not only that but fol
lowed Chas. W. into his own Congress
ional district and, with the aid of the
Standard Oil Co.. ruined him political
ly, so we cannot see that Quay can be
held blameless if blame there be, and In
fact this whole affair is but another dis
closure of the low standard that has
prevailed in the politics of the state for
many year.
Accompanying his letters of dismissal
and appointment, Gov. Stone sent an
address TO the people OF Pittsburg' in
which he states that Major Brown 5
wholesale removals Of officials were rot
in accord with the spirit of the law, nor
his (Stone's) intentions, particularly his
removal of number of old soldiers, for
political reasons. and against his (the
Cows protest.. and that he is not can
didate for U S. Senator-and then he
added remarkable postcript denying
receiving $3.50, 900 for signing some bills
the exposure of which was threatened
by Bigelow.
Major Brown denied Gov. Stones
charges. and stated that the Gov. had
asked him to make certain changes. and
never protested against any Of his re-
moYals.
On Monday, J. 0. Brown took the
oath OF Office, and reappointed some Of
the old officials ousted by A. NJ. Brown;
Quay's friends are calling upon John
Elkin, Attorney General by appoint
ment OF Gov. Stone, and candidate for
Governor, to resign; and what will fol
low-what effect Stones apparent break
with Qnay, and alliance with Finn.
will have On the politics of the party in
the state, remains to be seen.