Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-25

highway commissioner, now located in
Bethlehem; DR.. c. Albert, a prom
inent physician Of this city and Ross,
of San Francisco, California, and two
sisters, Miss Geneva, a we'll known
school teacher, and Miss Viola. Fun
eral arrangements will be made fol-
lowing the arrival OF DR.. Fritchey's
body from Philadelphia this after
noon
Long Prominent Figure
DR.. Fritchey was for many years
one of the most prominent figures in
Harrisburg. He was leader of the
Dauphin County Democracy during
the stormy days of the Fritchey-
Meyers fights for supremacy in the
city and county organizations of that
party. During the heyday Of his
power he was by far the most popular
politician in the city and no local
candidate in any party felt safe until
he was assured or Fritchey's sup
Vance c. Mccormick, now national
Democratic chairman, became a can
di6ate for mayor and assisted him
materially In procuring both the nom
nation and the election. During that
strenuous campaign and the fight for
the passage Of the first Improvement
loan Of s1,090,000, DR.. Fritchey was
injured in an automobile accident and
sustained a slight fracture OF the
skull. Despite the orders Of his phys
icians TO remain in the hospital he
returned TO the city and worked night
and day for the success Of the loan
and the Democratic ticket. After
ward he and Mccormick disagreed
and in time DR.. Fritchey retired from
active politics but to the end Of his
career he was a power in Democratic
circles and his advice was eagerly
sought by municipal candidates.
During the days of his county chair
manship he was known throughout
the State as a Democratic stalwart
and numbered among his best and
most influential friends William
Jennings Bryan at a time when
Bryan's slightest wish was law in the
Democratic party.
Friend to Many
Or. Frltchey was a friend in need
TO thousands of Harrfsburgers. He
numbered his patients among all
classes. but he seldom collected a bill
Tor professional services where the
FAMILY or patient could iIl-afford to
pay n II is said. that large and re-
munerative as his practice was, the
service he rendered free far exceeded
that for which he collected pay. He
was a man OF wonderful energy and
J ne slept as llItlG
as two or three hours a night and
made as many as 100 professional
calls in twenty-four hourse. He loved
clean sports and was a great base
ball fan" He believed in scientific
farming and took great delight in re-
cent years in the raising of n poultry
and milk cows. The personal remin-
cen of the ex-mayor, if out to
paper, would have made n of the
most interesting chapters in Dauphin
county's political history. At one
time he swayed city council. had a big
influence in the school board and
dictated terms to the county commits
sioners. He was a politician of the
old school, such as developed i'm the
lays of the free-for-all primary and
the county convention. He had poll
teal enemies and hosts of sincere
friends n admirers.
Lifelong HarrisburgeF
John A. Fritchey was born in Hsr-
rlSourg, in the old homestead, at Sec
n n Vine streets, one of the few
ola log house landmarks still standing
His parents were the late John F. and
Anna NJ. (Hoon) Fritchey. His father