Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-04-10
Harrisburg, April 8.-There is first

class row on in the Democratic organi-
zation in Pennsylvania, which Is likely
TO result il the overthrow OF Colonel
James NJ. Guffey, whose alleged leader
ship of the minority party in this state
is characterized by many Democrats as
bossism of the most fragrant kind.
Guffey never was a leader. He has
been simply boss. He has no follow
ing other than that which recognizes
the power of his immense fortune
among such Democrats as must nave
source of money supply always at
hand. "Guffey pays the freight, has
become a familiar expression among
the weaklings who have gone TO the
front in the Democratic organization IN
Pennsylvania since Guffey has been
running the machine. Men of the type
of Harrity, of Philadelphia; former
congressman Wolverton, OF Northum'
berland, and Meyers, Of Dauphin; Rob-
ert e. Wright, of Lehigh, and w. U.
Hensel and William B. Given, Of Ian
caster, and other Democrats OF recog-
nized ability and standing in public af-
fairs have refused to have anything to
do with the Democratic organization
since Guffey became sole dictator.
Guffey's policy of getting amateur
politicians of the order Of Killing, of
Erie, and Greasy, of Columbia, to fill
the role of state chairman Is explain
ed by his desire to be "the only thing
in the whole Democratic show. Guf1ey
is now accused of setting up the game
~ counties hiring n1lt
favorite sons for the Democratic nomi-
nation for governor SO that no one man
will be likely to develop any special
strength and that he may in the end
dictate the nomination for some one
whose name he will write upon his
slate few days before the holding OF
the Democratic state convention.
TROUBLE FOR GUFFEY.
There is liable to be trouble for Cuff
fey at the forthcoming meeting OF the
Democratic state committee, when
new chairman is to be chosen.
This meeting takes place at Harris
burg ON the 23d inst. There Is already
talk of Guffey's having recognized the
sentiment in his party against his
scheme of having figure heads as state
chairmen and that the state committee
men may take the matter in hand and
select chairman Of their own.
The dissatisfied Democrats point to
the fact that the Democratic party has
been steadily losing ground since Cuff
fey succeeded Harrity as its leader.
Guffey's deals with insurgent Republic
cans and his denunciation of every
Democrat who declines to support his
fusion tickets have aroused feeling
of resentment among many influential
Democrats, which is likely to have en-
phatic expression at the coming meet
ing.
The latest exhibition of Guffey's boss
ism was given in Allegheny county on
Saturday last when he arbitrarily di-
rected that there should be no primary
election held for the naming Of dele
gates to the state convention, but that
the state delegates should be "appont-
ed"
This arrangement gave the rank and
file of the Democracy of that county no
choice in the matter. They had to bow
submissively to Guffey's orders and
Guffey fixed up slate and the men he
indicated were appointed" as delegates
to the state convention.
Following out Guffey's program OF
having favorite sons named, the dele
gates appointed" under Guffey's COM
mand were instructed to support G. w.
Guthrie. Of Allegheny, for governor.
Thus even the men picked out by this
Democratic boss will not be permitted
to exercise their own judgment as to
the candidate to be supported in the
convention. II Guffey wants Guthrie
when that state convention date rolls
around they will have to vote for Guth-
rie, and IL he should decide to slate an
other candidate they must be for that
candidate.
With this exhibition of Democratic
bossism, Guffey's henchmen in Allie
gheny had the effrontery to adopt reso-
lutions in which they denounced what
they are pleased to term the Republi-
can machine" 1t has been the proper
thing for the Democratic and assistant
Democratic newspapers to characterize
the Republican organization OF Penn
though the most virulent and persist
ent abuse is constantly heaped upon
that so-ealled machine" the Republi.
cans in Pennsylvania may we'll be
proud OF their party organization when
they compare 1t with that of which
Guffey is the sole and most domineer-
ing bo.H.
REPUBLICANS GET pOPIrI, AR WILL
The Republican machine in Penn
sylvania is simply what the Republi-
can voters Of the state make it. The
present canvass for nominations at the
hands of the Republican organization
of Pennsylvania is a free and open
contest. In many counties the Repub-
lioan voters are being called upon not
only to select their own delegates to
the state convention at primary elec-