legislation, which a new member, no matter how well qualified he may be, cannot secure. JOHN SCHEUER, JR. JOHN SCHEUER, JR. John Scheuer, Jr., Republican nom inee for re-election to the assembly from the Second legislative disrrict, is a native of the South Side Scran ton, where he was born on DfiCPtnber 12, 1858. He attended the public schools until nearly fifteen years of age, when he entered his father's bakery to learn the trade of baker. At the same time he attended a business college in the evening, thus fitting himself for the duties of life. In 1889 he associated himself with his brothers, under the firm name of Scheuer Brothers, and bought out his father's bakery business and estab lished the large steam bakery which is still conducted in South Scranton, bv the firm, with the subject of this sketch as business manager. This bakery has always been a Union bak ery, and has never been identified with the Cracker Trust. In 1887 Mr. Scheuer was elected to represent the Eleventh ward in the select council, and while a member of that body, he faithfully represented his constituents. He compelled the Central Railroad company of New Jer sey to file a bond for damages to prop erty on the Slocum Flats, caused by the encroachment of said company on the Lackawanna river, and under the terms of this Bond thousands of dol lars were paid to the property owners whose properties were damaged. He has been a director for vears in several local Building and Loan Asso ciations on the South Side, which has done so much to building up that sec tion of the city. He was president of the South Side Board of Trade for three years, and during his term of office, the Scranton Axle works were established in the Twentieth ward. This concern now employs nearly two hundred men and boys. In 1898 he was elected to represent the second legislative district at Har risburg, and performed his duties In a painstaking and efficient manner. Notwithstanding the excitement over the election of a United States sena tor, he succeeded in having passed sev eral measures of benefit, not only to the people of his district, but of the county at large. He was an ardent advocate of every measure that would purify the ballot, and presented and succeeded in passing the "Defective Affidavit BlU" which prevents a citiz en from losing his vote through care lessness on the part of election boards. He had charge in the House and suc ceeded in passing the "Election Con test Bill." which will save the county from expensive election contests in the future, and which provides that Lhe petitioners must pay the costs in case they do not prove their case. Contests have been an expensive luxury in Lackawanna county, which has paid out $200,000 as expenses in such con tests. He passed a bill providing for the recording of maps of all tracts of land laid out for sale. This enables the purchaser of a lot to know exactly where his lot is and prevents the clos ing of streets or alleys after the plot has been all sold. During the session Mr. Scheuer was a member of the Committees on Ap propriations, Banks and Banking, Mu nicipal Corporations, and Labor and Industry. His action on all labor legislation can be judged from the following endorse ment: Whereas, The Hon. John Scheuer, jr., while a member of the legislature of this state, was an earnest and ardent supporter of the various bills which were in the interest of labor, and lost no opportunity to do what he could to assist us, therefore, be it Resolved, That the State Legislative Board of Railroad Employees of Pennsylvania in con vention assembled at Sunbury, Pa., this twenty sixth day of April, 1000, does extend to the Hon. John Scheuer, jr., our sincere and heartfelt thanks for the fearless and persistent manner ir. which he fought for the wage workers of this state, and we hope that the citizens of his dis trict, especially the working classes, will realize his sterling worth, and return him to this field of usefulness, where men of this character are so greatly needed. As a member of the Appropriations Committee he secured appropriations amounting to $86,500 for the charitable institutions of his district, and succeed ed in placing the Hahnemann Hospi tal on the list for $5,000. He socured $13,300 more in appropriations than the district formerly received, notwith standing the fact that the revenues of the state were at a low ebb at the time. He also started the agitation for a new Lackawanna Hospital, which bill will be taken up this session. Mr. Scheuer's experience on the Mu nicipal Corporations Committee, to which all charters and bills relating to the government of cities are re ferred, will be of especial benefit to our city in the next session, when the new second-class city charter for our city will be adopted, his acquaintance and good standing with the old mem bers will go far towards securing good EDWARD JAHES, JR. Edward James, jr., the Republican nominee for the legislature in the Third district, is a young man whose popularity was strikingly attested at the recent primaries, and whose train ing while a member of the select coun cil, especially fits him for effective work at Harrisburg. He has every quality of a successful legislator; en ergy, pleasant personal address, a mind quick to seize upon the salient features of every public problem, thorough familiarity with the people and conditions of his district, and a schooling in the practical affairs of life which has put him in touch with the needs of the great working class. While Mr. James resides in the city portion of the district, his candidacy is of particular interest to the farm ing element by reason of the fact that he has given especial attention to the subject of suppressing the illegal sale of oleomargarine. In conjunction with City Food Inspector Fred J. Wldmay er, Mr. James has been largely instru mental in preventing much unfair competition against the dairy Inter ests of Lackawanna county. His ex perience in this direction equips him to take an influential part in the draft ing of such additional legislation as may be necessary to still further check and eliminate the oleo nuisance. P. A. PHILBIN. P. A. Philbin, Republican candidate for representative in the Fourth dis trict, was born December 8, 1867, in Archbald, where he has lived ever since his birth. Like many another son of an honest miner he received all his education in the excellent public schools in the town in which he was born. As some of the most successful men of these valleys at the present day, he began life as a breaker boy and picked slate In the breaker of the Pierce Coal company at Wlnton, near ly two miles from his home. After two years in the breaker he went to school for a short while and next worked as clerk in Mr. Price's store at Archbald. From clerk he became bookkeeper and on June 1, 1885, he accepted a position in that capacity with the late James Jordan in his large general store at Olyphant. For over four years he re mained with Mr. Jordan during which time he made hundreds of friends in Olyphant. and won the lifelong esteem of his employer. In September, 1889, he was offered a similar position in the office of the Scranton Truth, which he accepted and two years and a half later became a member of the local staff of writers of that paper. He had long looked for ward to a career in journalism, and his wide and varied experience on the staff of a live daily paper helped to gratify his ambition, and paved the way for a large Independent career. Mr. Philbin has also studied law, having registered with Attorney H. M. Hannah, of Scranton. For several years he has been a close student of legal matters and the knowledge he has gained thereby will be of Inestim able value to him in the state legisla ture. Two years ago he bought out the ArchbaldCitizen and is now editor and proprietor of that influential journal. This year Mr. Philbin accepted the un animous nomination of the Republi cans of the Fourth district to represent at Harrisburg that' great industrial section which comprises the entire up per half of Lackawanna county ex tending to the Scranton line and in cluding the borough of Dunmore and the townships of Jefferson and Roaring Brook. There are few who are so well fitted for that' high office as is Editor P. A. Philbin, of Archbald. Born in the district which it is his ambition now to represent, he has spent a lifetime in the closest touch with its people. The son of a miner, he knows the needs of t'he miners, their just grievances and bitter wrongs, and what laws are necessary to right the EDWARD JAMES, JR.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers