New-York tribune., 1909-11-02
FIGHTING "THE GANG"
Philadelphia Machine Worr1ed
by ID. {. GibbOney.
rRy Telegraph to The Tribune.

tBy Telegraph to The Tribune.l
Philadelphia, Nov. 1.-"Corrupt but de-
cidedly discontented." clearly describes the
condition of Philadelphia on the eve of
an exciting county election. and the COM
bination Of contractors which has the Inu-
nicipsl government by the throat is in
semi-panic
4. Clarence Gibboney. persistent and in
defatigable fighter of the machine and
vice, is again before the people as a can
didate, this time for the post of District
Attorney. and anybody with half an eye
can see what his success would spell for
the militant gang which runs the city and
which has been responsible for existing
conditions
The Republicans in the last Legislature
put through a direct primary bill. which
in a measure answered popular demand for
primary reform They had the notion,
grown out of long control and almost limit
less power by grace OF sloUeoing and
listiess people, that the law would not
bother them al all.
When the primaries were held, Gibboney.
the unyielding, uncompromising foe OF
corruption, came within a few thousand
votes OF running away with the nomina-
tion for District Attorney from Samuel I.
Rotan, the incumbent. and favored of 'the
gang" A good many men have felt GER
tain that Gibboney actually Won the
straight Republican nomination, but was
sidetracked by the familiar methods OF
the contractors and their TRUSTEES"
Gibboney was made the nominee of the
William Penn party, the organization
which gathered in the independent voters
of all parties, and of the Democrats. and
the campaign has brought forth some of
Mr. Gibbonet is an able lawyer. with the
prestige Of a long. uphill battle against vice
and politici.! corruption to back him in the
estimation of the better class of citizens.
He has Hon the open support of many bust
ness men OF wide influence and the covert
aid OF others whose interests prevent their
more pablo participation in political strife.
The newspapers of the city with one ex-
ception. are standing for him.
The gang workers, with fidelity to the
contractors who arc the heads of the Re
publican organization, have laid their plans
for the usual methods OF controlling the
election machinery and as they have all the
boa rds II will require remarkable vote
TO elect Gibboney 1t is evident, however,
that the citizens Who have the interests OF
the city at heart and who are anxious 10
see its unenVied reputation for corruption
cleared, have reached the determination 10
stand together for the final overthrow of
the forces of evil.
One of the factors Of the Gibboney can
vass is the demand for the restoration of six
for-a-quarter tickets on the trolley system
Of the Rapid Transit Company. The cheap
er form of transportation shut off some
months ago by the arbitrary action of the
cCmpany which has the backing OF the
political machine. The people have awak-
ened TO the fact that the contractors or
ganization. headed by State Senator James
p McNichol. and the Rapid Transit inter-
ests are practically identical.
The Republican organization claims
tan will be elected by $4,000 majority, while
the reforucrs have issued statements that
Gibboney will defeat Rotan by 10000