Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-10-07
GEN PACKER AND LcG-FLoATING

When man is q candidate for an important
office, it is but right that the People should
know what his views are on such subjects as
affect their interests. The following letter,
copied from the CIeartisld Republican, Of Feb
ruary 4, 1853, will show how General Packer
then stood on the clog question -
HARRIsBuRG, JAN. 26, 1858.
GENTLEMEN " our favor of the 18th instant
enclosing a copy of a resolution adopted by
the citizens of Morris township, i'll Clcarfield
county, rendering TO me the thanks of the in
habitants Of that township for The pert rhich
tOOif In tie Senate at us last session, III DE
FE.8IINC The bill to PROHIBIT the floating
of logs IN the INoshGRnoR, and other Tributaries
Of the SusguehGHnG, reached me at this place
few days since. The deep inter est which very
many OF my constituents had in the question,
made it my duty to oppose the bill to which
you refer with spirit and energy. This l did
Jciih the more readiness and zeal, as the propOs-
ed PROHIBITION NET WITH NY OWN
UNQU.ALIFLED DISAPPROBATION. 1
thought the bill which passed the House of
Representatives wrong in srery point. trong,
If no expenditures had been MADE i1 The EREC-
TION Of BOOJfS in Tie 1frer, for the ACCOM-
MOD.4TION Of the FLO.ATiNG BUSINESS
but especially SO, in view of the large invest
mentS of capital which had been made at Will
Transport, Lock-IIaven and elsewhere in the
construction OF booms, the erection of steam
saw mills &c, dependent entirely on that bu
sncSS, as then fully recognized and establish
ed by law. The Senate was of the same opn-
ion, and the bill was defeated by single vote.
Nor can | believe that the bin now before the
Legislature will meet with any better success.
rendering to the citizens of Morris town
ship, my sincere Acknowledgements for the
kind notice which it has pleased them to take
of my humble efforts in the Senate; and TO
you gentlemen, my profound regard.
l remain, yours, faithfully,
WM. +. PACKER.
To Jas. Airport and S. c. Thompson.
The language here used by Mr.. Packer is 50
plainly in .taror Of log. floating, that it is al
most needless to comment upon it. One thing
is, however, worthy of special note. After
acknowledging in this letter that he did take
part in :'dcfe0ting bill 10 prohibit the floating Of
logs in the Moshannon and other tributaries of
the Susquehanna," he proceeds to argue the
merits of the bill, and comes to the conclu-
sion that it is :'tcrong in erery point 20 Nor
does he assume that it is s.,rrong'' only be-
cause of conflicting personal interests, but that
it is :'H'RONG if NO erpenii'ures hal been
made in The erection Of booms in the rirer For
THE ACCOMMODATIONS Of the FLO.8T'-
ING business i'' and, therefore, and because it
met Nth his ..unquaiifed disapproJation,'
he aided in defeating the bill. Here, then,
Mr.. Packer asserts that log.foGfing is , igh,
and that to prohibit .foafing IS tsrong!
To show how Mr.. Packers action at that
time regarded by the people of CIeartield
and Centre, it is only necessary to refer 10 the
proceedings of meeting held in Rush town
ship, Centre county, which was largely attend
cd by men OF all parties. Among the resolu-
tiOns adopted at that meeting, and which are
published in the Ciearfeid Republican Of Octo-
Der Is, 1888, was the following:
s'Resolued, That we will vote our thanks to
both Houses of the next session, if they will
pass an act to compel Bill F. Packer, and John
Beck, to stay at home, mind their own bust
ness, and not annoy the Legislature all winter
long, as borers.'
At present Mr.. Packer is trying to .scarry
water on both shoulders or rather, perhaps,
logs on one shoulder, and rats on the other
as would appear by the following extract from
an article in the Lock Haven WGtchmaa, Of
Sept. 4th, 1887
SIT is an incontrovcrtable fact, that General
Packer mas always been, at least pretended
- nave been, the firm friend and supporter OF
the Susquehanna. This none of his warmcst
friends will deny. In fact, we have heard his
friends claim him as being the ssfather of log
| tioating;" that he did, no more than months
| ago, approach one of our extensive log float
ers, and assure him that. if elected Governor
! he would aid them to the extent of his ability
in keeping the River open to the floating of
| loose saw logs. 1t is also fact, that two
weeks after making this assertion to log
merchant, in a conversation with some square
| timber merchants from slearfield county when
| questioned upon the same subject. he asserted
| that he had changed his former notions iB re-
gard to the jWstness OF log floating, and if C.
lected Governor, he would aid the timber men
Of Clcarfeld county in having the .snuisance"
;lbated in the West branch of the Susquehan-
| ma river. These are incontrovertable facts
which we defy successful contradictions
| This shows that he is 'all things to all men. ;
In order to secure votes, he makes promises
! to both parties. He is Ssfish or fowl . as the
| occasion may require, and it is fair to presume
that he is a fishy candidate-he is rather too
! slippery. Can such man, who gives pledges
to the Log-foaters freely as to others, be
trusted hy the people of Clearfcld County (?
Let them answer for themselves. The pros
poets for passing a bill next winter 20 prohibit
tioating are good, but If Packer is elected,
there is every reason to believe he will frus-
trate legislation on the subject.
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| The anxiety of the Iocofoco Marty and Tho