New-York tribune., 1901-12-16
PHILADELPHIA AFFAIRS.
SULTATION on DEMOCRAT
IG AFFAIRS
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

Philadelphia Dec. I4-Political doctors from up
the State VIII TO this city IN a few days 10
hold consultation on the morfbund PhadelphlS
Democracy and attempt will be mace 10
resuscitate and reiuvenate the organization. For
years the Philadelphia Democrats who have not
been ashamed be known as such nave peeh
split into factions. and have been acting as
assistant Republicans by turns TO whichever OF the
two Republican factions was uppeTfnost ihlS
condition caused by the system OF minority
representatIo tIon" which obtains In some IL the oe-
psrtments Of the city's service.
The most Iucrat Tive positions % which Demo
could aspire those Of Judges. city COM
missioner mercantile appraisers Board Of he-
vision of Taxes and real estate assessors VI
.hege only The judges and the city commissioner
are elective but some Democratic judges elected
by the people died under Republican Std'e
administrations and their successors have been
the selection of Republican Governors, and Tor
years judge in good health has failed OF re-
nomination by his party. These Democratic judges
nave had the selection OF the minority meinper OF
the Board Of Revision Of Taxes, which has the
appointment Of real estate assessors IN each
ward. OF whom must be representative OF
the Democratic party. The Democrat on the
Board or Mercantile Appraisers has always owed
his appointment to q Republican Auditor General
srd Republican City Treasurer.
These ere the loaves and fishes ever which the
Democrats among themselves IiarilnS BACK
10 t.e source Of these emoiuments. each faction
has cough; the aid OF the dominant Republican
faction. and has returned the favor when its he
publican friends needed help.
rhe Democratic factions are now known as Patti
son-Gordonites-named for Ex-Governor Robert Il
PattSon ano ex-J;.dge James C. Gordon-who have
SIDED with the Insurgent- Republican faction. led
by ex-senator David Martin, and the Donneiiy-
Ryanites-so named because their leaders are Mag
israte Charles Donnelly, chairman OF the city COM
,nittee and Thomas !. Ryan, minority city com
,issoner-vho furnished valuable assistance to the
present regular Republican organization controIied
by Senator Quay's friends-State Insurance 'orn-
missioner Israel ". Durham and Mayor Sau1Gei IL
Ashbridge
T-n6sr This svster, favored Individual Democrats
have gained some offices and Democracy has lost
all prestige Of the hundred thousand Demo
Gratis who voted for Mr.. Bryan for President the
first time thirty thousand left for the two fac-
tians to divide The others either refrain from
nol,,fcs altogether or help to swell the abnormal
Republican ajorities.
Colonel lanes NJ Guffey. Democratic National
Committeeman for Pennsylvania. and the leaders
~ tbe nartv elsewhere in the State, have been cast
np aboIt 10 discover remedy for this conditlcn OF
the party and in consequence committee ap-
pointed by the State committee is coming TO Fhlla-
delphia Governor Pattison and Judge GORDON nave
the ears Of its members but Donnelly and Ryan are
in control Of the organization and to forestaH 'hen1
have made changes in the party rules TO meet me
demands of fairness TO the outs
IN Republican RANKS in Pennsyl lT2Ilia me -ehSIoA
over the candidacy for the gubernatorlal noIl'.-@
ticn Is as high as has been at 2ny TINE Slfre
S5overnor Stone did the second ripping Of Pits
t,,re for ex-Insurgent Senator William Finn ne
opponents in the regular Republican ranks O. Al
to-nev General Elkin who for more tran d year
has beea looked upon as the slated candidate q the
-oa,,-o+ior leaders to succeed Governor Stone,
have devoted the last week 20 attempts 10 nix "p
the Philadelphia end OF the organization IN the o'l
ter fight which is going on in the western par %
she state They 'ieplore' Mr Elkins quas-n- |
dorsernent of Governor Stones deserton OF oeha-
for ouav's old friends in Pittsburg 10 make tllhh
converts TO the Organization. and fear j. "iil
prove too much for the organization coh-Ioi'e'
hv q fusion of Insurgents and country Democrats
- elect Mr. ETkin Governor and at the same time
;. elect a clear majority of regulars 10 the next
legislature and thus secure the re-eleelon OF
Tinted States Penrose the doi of the fhii-
adephia regulars
The fear felt by Mr Eikin's friends thai Sen
e-or oray's resurrection act. with Don Cameron
playing corpse is rot stage play. has been most
evident and has not been altogether renewed bE
knowledge OF the fact that Mr. EIlan Is sneaG'he % g
San Lucie. Fla. Mr.. Quay's urgent Teqae5St-
These friends say they have heard from hln;lo<t'
and they are claiming that the Senator Will aban-
his idea Of harmony without t-IAlIl IlE,7fIE a.
. the fathfu-which Mr.. Elkin certainly mas been
In The same breath they declare rse fFyr hs if Mr.
Fikin persists his candidacy when ne returns r'jI
because he has secured the Senator's Endorsement.
That part Of the conservative element IN dnis ei
which has been supporting the administrators "I
, pib Tbich il has been attacked is in
ciined to put on a thinking cap. since the AWARD AWARD
fevy davs ago of the street cleaning and Sarbase
collecting contracts for 1862. The American PROD
uct Company the property OF poiluclafs Nio hf5a -
been known favorites of the administration h@S
secured garbage contract at SiSS,"p al az
vance of almost $50G00 its contract price Tor
1901 The public has not been enlightened aS -
the reason why II should cost the company ~ pr
more this than last Neither mas lfie
neonle baon taken into the confidence OF the lii-
vate firms of contractors who VIII get IN lE- S!i
600 more than S5el.G3 which theE receive LIS
wear for cleaning the streets and gathering I'D 'he
ashes. ~, .r..-
This kind Of continuous Increase or expenses
along almost the whole line of the citys contracts
is altogether disproportionate to any acluai IL
crease In of work done or the cost oL
labor and material. The taxpayers may refnefnoeE
this when election time comes aGaln--or theE may
not They viii when the rate is Increased
There assembled this last week in this city a
body OF representatives or sect Tor many
wears bitterly divided into three Their sIleclai
purpose was confer the propagation OF 1le
doctrine OF universal peace and 20 arrest the spirit
lowers OF Elias Hicks have held aloof from the
orthodox followers Of George Fox. and the 1ollo~-
+rs OF Wilbur from both. Their religious ollIer-
ences have maintained with all the tenacity OF
conviction which distinguishes the most obstinate
.iogrnatfsts under the designation OF American
ffyss came together from the three branches on
ground common them al-opposition 10 war
This is the first time since the Hicks scnisrn that
there has been a general union OF the various sec
fariars who. ia popular parlance- are known as
that they came together Tor
.,niv one special object. but it may be not alto
Eether insignificant OF some relaxation OF the rigid
lines of their olden differences that. after so long
separatton they should be willing unite at all
Temporarily
BUSINESS PART OF SALEM, ". III. BURNED