Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-02-27
A LOCAL CONTEST
Pittsburg Election Has No Bear
ing Upon State Politics.
THE sTALwARTs ARE PLEASED
FhIIadeiphia's Splendid Majority VIII
Surely BE Increased In the Fall
Campaign, Say Her Republican
Leaders.
Especial Correspondence.)

have had time to make an analysis or
the returns of the recent election in
this state, Republicans of Pennsylva-
MIA have every reason to be pleased
with the outcome of the balloting.
While there were no state issues in
yolved in any contest in the several
counties, the stalwart Republican ele-
ment made material gains in many
quarters. They have unquestionably
strengthened their position in the
state, and most significant fact shown
in the election returns is the almost
complete annihilation of the so-called
Union party. This political mush-
room, which sprung up in the fight
of the Wanamakerites to elect the
Philadelphia merchant to the United
States senate, has virtually ceased to
exist. 1t continues practically in name
only, with a few of its officers still
willing to allow their names to be as
sociated with it.
In many clean-cut contests in coun-
ties in which there were heretofore
fusion movements the regular Republic
cans carried everything before them
at last weeks election.
The insurgent organization formed
in the deadlock over the United States
senatorship by members of the legis-
lature identified with the bolting ele-
ment no longer exists. The sentiment
upon which this movement was based
continues to be expressed through
Democratic and assistant Democratic
newspapers which long ago lost what
little influence they had with voters.
PURELY LOCAL FIGHT.
These newspapers are now seeking
to convey the impression that the re-
suit of the recent election in Pittsburg
means the annihilation of the present
leadership of the Republican organiza-
tion of the state, and that the cleo
tion of Democrat to the office of con-
troller of Pittsburg is going to have
a far-reaching influence upon the ac-
tion of the coming Republican state
convention.
The facts of the case are that this
was a local contest pure and simple
There was a bitter factional struggle
between rival elements within the Re
publican organization of Pittsburg.
Senator Finn had been unable to pre-
serve the harmony which had existed
among Pittsburg Republicans for many
years under the leadership of the late
C. L. Magee. He found himself at odds
with the powerful Bigelow-Oliver COM
bination of capitalists, and with every
heretofore stalwart Republican news
paper arrayed against his ticket in the
late campaign. A quarrel over the
street railway franchises and differ
ences growing out of the new charter
legislation resulted In a very exciting
campaign. Finn and his friends, who
control the regular Republican organi-
zation, had to fight combination of
Democrats and dissatisfied Republi-
cans, who united upon fusion candi-
date for controller Democrat named
Larkin.
In view of the associations which
many of them had before this contest
was started, Republicans throughout
the state concluded not to meddle in
this family row, and the contest was
waged absolutely upon local issues.
1t has no bearing upon state politics,
and the result of the election will not
in any way influence the action of the
coming state convention. The Repub-
llcan candidate in Pittsburg was de-
feated only by 5000 votes. 1t was in
no sense a stalwart Republican de-
Manxy nP tho nninfnn that
this result may have the effect of get
ting the factions in Pittsburg together
upon some reasonable basis of party
harmony. Whether it shall or shall
not, the integrity of the stalwart or
ganiZation within the state is not af-
fected in the slightest degree. The
Democrats are, of course, elated, but
their happiness will be short lived, as
Republicans will not continue to put
Democrats into Office in a Republican
stronghold like Pittsburg.
OF course to serve factional and per-
sonal ends the Wanamaker and Demo
cratic newspapers throughout the
state have been printing stories to the
effect that Films defeat will seriously
tuc movement III ldNOI VI llc
nomination of Attorney General John
P. Elkin for governor. When it
is recalled that Mr.. Elkin was one
Of the most aggressive stalwart lead
lrs fighting Finn when the Pitts
burger was at the head of the insur-
gent organization it will be seen that
any reverse that Finn might suffer
could not affect Mr.. Elkin's chances
of nomination or election.
PHILADELPHIA'S BIG MAJORITY
BY the official returns just computed
today the Republican candidate for
city solicitor in Philadelphia, John L.
Kinsey, has plurality of 119, 1903 over
the candidate of the Democracy and
the Municipal League, who received
but 1884 votes, representing the COM
bined strength of these organizations
ss against 154 ,G92 polled by the Repub-
lican nominee.
These figures tell their own story.
| They show an absolute collapse of the