Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-03
AS TO CONTESTS
Congressman Farr's Case Recalls An
other Famous one-The osbourn-
pevlin Most Noted In the state.
by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

| bSN'U most NOIeu w INC otSkes
by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
| CoNGRESsMAN JOHN II. FARR, Of
~ Iackawanna, who has just won his
seat in the present Congress over his Demo-
cratic opponent. falls heir to political treas
ss22fi ,o6C, 56Cv' worth something more than
| Mr., Fnrr has had an unusual c1pcr-
| ience as a public man.
1t is just thirty years ago that he ap-
| pearcd in Harrisburg as one of the repre-
sentatives from Lackawanna county. He
served continuously, till 1000. In 1850 he
was elected speaker of the House.
1t was very turbulent session, but Farr
| handled IL with grip of steel
The same good luck accompanied him
| when he entered Congress in 10I1. lie
served four terms without break.
His contest has landed him for 6fth
term, although he has the unique distinction
| OF serving only few days of actual time,
| though he draws the salary and expenses
for the entire term.
| TONGRESSAfAN FARR'S case directs at
| ~ tention to the fact that contests in the
House and Senate at Harrisburg are going
| out of fashion.
It hns been long time since the Senate
| particularly has had the even tenor OF its
way. disturbed by any such rude and un-
| lovely performance as n contest.
| possible They inevitably result in opening
the doors Of partisan closets and the drag
eing forth Of grinning skeletons Of political
| chcanery that are best hidden from public
gaze.
Contestant for and defender of the title
usually crawl out from under the debris
equally bcsmirched and battered.
TAA1ES FRANKLIN, of the Twenty first
- West Philadelphia district, called my
attention yesterday to an almost forgotten
senatorial contest that was the most famous
in the history of the State Senate in the
last half century, II not in it's entire history.
1t wns the celebrated Philadelphia case
Of Osbourn VS.. Devln in the session of
1880.
Osbourn was red headed. combativc.
one armed survivor of the Civil War who
had completed one term and was opposed
for e-election by Charles Devlin. Senator
Osbourn has been dead twelve or fifteen
now a resident of Delaware county.
Devlin, who wns very popular. defeated
Osbourn by something like sixty votes, but
in the contest Osbourn won the seat not
only because 1t was shown that he was
really elected By the narrowest of narrow
margins but nlso because it was q case of
grave political cxpcdicncy.
j. Donald Cameron was coming up for
reelection second time the following year.
and Republican votes in House and Senate
were needed
The dramatic interest in the contest,
however, ccnters around Mr.. Franklin.
AT THE opening of the session Of the
"A general assembly of 1880 the position of
sergeant -arms of the Senate was offered
to Anthony J. Bannon from Mexican
county, He subsequently became member
of the Senate.
The job was not to his liking. and he
decided to take the place Of journal clerk
lanes Franklin. of philadpDhiQ.
chosen in his stead.
Mr.. Franklin had not appeared in Har
rsburg to be sworn in before Senator Os-
bourn filed notice OF contest. \ committee
Of the Senate was appointed and John c.
Grady, then retiring president pro tenn of
the Senate, administered the oath of Office
to Franklin in the old Girard House, at
Ninth and Chestnut streets.
That was the beginning OF the most pros
porous year that Jimmie Franklin ever
knew in politics.
He is willing to testify to the fact for
reasons that will appear.
S SERGEANT AT ARMS of the Senate
"A it was the duty of Mr.. Franklin to
take charge of the contest, so far as pro-
viding n place of meeting. with accommoda-
tons of every kind, handling of expenses.
subpoenang of witnesses and settling their
fees for attendance.
The greatest number of witnesses ever
subpoenaed in any Pennsylvania contest were
-; nt.l nhor
cn.,su cnns III 'Nis oN'' Ing 'o'"i hu''o'' was
-" ,.;,o .h... ,,.;.,os,o. ,h. ear
for sumnohlns theSe %rnesses the 'er-
se4nt i,.i ,aiS et q ;,0ao h;s o,.n
IN aaui'ioi ne a onJ otod ots W.
saar!, az % pesnai agH nsnor ef tbo
onIE as .he 'esu' ou' NSea' oin'ei u 'n'
coinini'tee' .,,,a , 49,,
All tne lees' ,m lneinen'aLS, H,llease nI!h
3tner expenses SSanS SsI IT. acEru,ns nt. "a , MI
total exceeding slo,oVO, - -. .ho ~
lhToushou' 'he I en,Ite " .o'sss 80. -, inu t 'or .
TEST ne was c0nPelea I" nIres' put one
witness iVr luiIInR R;.. w. fe"po"u u 'ne con'-
mana OF 'he con'ihi.tee,
THE committee on contest consisted OF
l. Senators J. p. 3. Goblin. of Lebanon,
chairman. and o. c. Allen. of Warren, sec
nhn