Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-28
CORRUPTION IN
PHILADELPHIA.
Five Thousand Citizens Protest
Against IT.
PARTY LEADERS DENOUNCED
Col. A. X. Mcclure Says Issue Has
Been Intensified by the Most Be
wiIderlDg Public Robbery,

Philadelphia, June 27.-What prom
ises to be local political war was be-
gun at the academy Of music tonight,
when 5000 citizens In town meeting
nominated District Attorney r. f..
Rothermel, Jr,, to be a candidate for
the office Of district attorney against
the candidacy of John Weaver, who was
nominated for that office last week by
the Republican organization Of this
city. The speakers OF the evening Sc
verely arraigned the present city ad-
ministration and the state officials
A telegram from Postmaster-Gen-
eral Charles Emory Smith was read
and was enthusiastically cheered 1t
was as follows:
you can use my name as a vice
president. II Is time for new Decar-
alton Of Independence. Philadelphia
ought to rise IN her might against job
bers in her public rights and the raw
ishng Of her sacred safeguards Of
law"
The principal speech Of the evening
was that OF Col. A. X. Mcclure, the re-
tired editor Of the Philadelphia Times
Mr. McClxe did not mince his words,
and his arraignment Of the whole Re-
publican organization, both city and
state, was extremely severe District
Attorney Rotherme he said, was nom
mated by the Republican organization
three years ago and elected. Now this
organization, controlled by these same
men, refuse him second term. They
have named man, he continued, who
IL untried and an unknown quantity
Mr.. Rothermel sent to prison ballot-boX
thieves. the masters of whom are the
political leaders OF the city today He
had made II so uncomfortable forotherS
Of the same stripe that they were liy-
ing In distant lands and cannot come
home until Mr. Rothermel Is out Of
office. That was the reason, he said
why Mr.. Rothermel was not named.
Col Mcclure then told Of Mr.
Viewers unknown quantities, and said:
"Mr. Weaver has been nominated by
these men because they have been
either assured or reasonably believe
that he will prosecute or not prosecute
crime as their interests might demand.
The issue has been intensified by the
most bewildering public robbery ever
witnessed In the state, and the men
most interested are Mayor Ashbrldge,
Insurance Commissioner Durham, Con-
tractor McNichol ana their associates.
They are committing public robbery by
criminal conspiracy"
Col. Mcclure told how the street rail-
way bills were rushed through the
legislature, and how the governor had
signed them at convenient hour, so
that the gangs representatives could
be first at the door next morning TO
get charters. He closed bv saying the
battle was not one of party, but one Of
preservation against organized
crime, corrupt ballot and the lootlng
Of the public treasury.
Former District Attorney George G.,
Graham, who served eighteen years IN
that office followed Mr. Mcclure, He
strongly urged the citizens to stand
united, and he felt confident that the
patient and suffering public will rise
and annihilate the robber crew and
give back 10 the people the civil gov
eminent"
The resolutions adopted bv the meet
ing pay a tribute to Mr.. Rothermel for
his fidelity and integrity, and formally
nominate him as a candidate for dis
trict attorney to succeed himself
The resolutions also instruct the
chairman of the meeting TO appoint a
committee to conduct the contest and
confer with all organized friends Of re-
form in contemplating an Independent
ticket"