The New York herald., 1872-10-05
Fhe Campaign in Lehigh and Luzerne Counties
and What the Leaders Say About II.
4 CcNGRESSMANS ASPIRATIONS.
The "COnfldence' OF Both Parties
in the Final Result.
Hard Work Ahead and the Money
Bags Exhausted.
ALLENTOWN, LenIgh County, Oct. i, 1872

ALLENTOWN Lehigh County, Oct. i, 1872.
Having made up my mind to investigate the
condition Of Affairs in Lehgh county, started for
this place last night, and shortly after my arrival
made my way up the hin to the court house, ad-
Joining which Is the gorgeous residence Of ex-C0n
gressman land now plain lawyer J. d. Stiles, who
has twice served in the National Council the last
two years being member Of the Forty-frst Con-
gross.
1--WE are In devilish mess In this county, said
he, after had entered into conversation with him.
"YOu are aware that at the head Of our Congress.
Bional roll stands the name of Ephraim L. Acker.
Well, that man has been the means Of muddling
our Congressional nominations. He has been in
Congress one term and says Lehigh ought to give
him two years more. But the fact is he is almost
q nuisance In the House at Washington. His
name stands first on the roll, and whenever meas
ure was to be voted for Sam Randall says they
had to 60 to him and instruct him In his business
as he either did not or would not understand how
to vOte.n Stiles then recounted how ardent was
the desire of the honorable gentleman" to take
his seat In the Forty-third Congress. When the
nominating Convention met in Montgomery
county Acker attended with considerable
number Of delegates appointed by q com.
mittee, while Stiles and others attended with
delegates appointed directly by the people Of their
districts. There were about twenty candidates
seeking the honor, but Acker could brook rivals.
Holding fast to the ballots OF his friends, he de
Clared he should be renOminated. After the first
ballot had been taken, twenty six votes being given
for Stiles and the remaining votes being divided
between seven other candidates, Acker became
dem0raliZed. He was thrown overheard,
and Witte, Phadelphan, nominated
by receiving torty-scven votes, clear
majority. Acker, as the editor OF a small
county paper, thinks he ought 70 have the office,
and 1t is not yet known to what lengths he will 90
In order to obtain an election. The Convention,
after sitting in Lehigh county for twelve hours
adjourned to meet in Montgomery the next day,
where they went through the farce Of having forty
three different ballots. "At last" said Stiles, a
gave way and everybody else gave way who
had been eontending for the prize, the
whole vote, except few of Acker's friends,
being concentrated on Witte, an eminent speaker
and man Of great ability. Now here are.
Acker has not said q single word In his paper
against Hartranft, although democratic member
Of Congress- and his ambition Is to get into the
House for another term, we should not be
surprised If he were to enter the ranks OF
the opposition and thus cause us good deal OF
trouble. or course his treatment Of the Hartranft
question renders the task exceedingly easy. But
for this miserable little muddle we should be able
to roll up good majority in Lehigh for Buckalew.
Acker has evidently Overdone his role Of oppo-
sition."
THE STATE TICKET.
"How about the State ticket p,
1--WE have made our calculations on the basis OF
The Geary-Packer fight, and count on nothing less
than clear coalition majority OF 1000. Others have
made estimates in excess of this but with my
knowledge Of the county l cannot hope to
exceed that figure. The republicans are spend.
ing money by thousands OF dollars here.
We have great number Of liberal republicans in
the county-probably five hundred. out OF twelve
Df the leading lawyers, hitherto strict republicans
seven have taken the stump for Buckalew and
Greeley. We have also here number OF straight
republicans, who Will vote the Buckalew ticket
but who will not vote for Greeley. We may have
half Of democrats who will sell OUT but that
you know, is not SO bad as Billy McMuliin and his
gang going over to Hartranit in Philadelphia. We
beat Hartranft out OF his boots. BY the way,
THAT PARDONING BUSINESS
M reacs aga1ss d yme pa o me scneme
areds, people Of both parties. denouncing 1t as a
earfully desperate move. We believe here that
Yerkes refused to publish the infamous document
that appeared subsequent to his release In the
North american until he clear of the precincts
publication unfortunately lends additional force to
the suppositlon that there was something In the
charges after all this buster"
JUDGE PACKERS IDEAS
aence Of Judge Packer, the defeated candidate Of
u
lively interest IN everything democratic. Although
he has practically been out Of politics since his de-
feat, he has kept himself well posted on current
events. He seems sort OF monarch in his magnif-
eence, his house and grounds being on an immense
plateau dug out and leveled from the side Of the
mountain, about two miles from the summit Of
.'Ours is a grand country between Bethlehem and
ths place. he began, "but our politics have kept
Us back-checked us at every step, as Simon Cam
IRON does hostile railroad corporations. The demo-
m arc NJ
pine. During my candidacy in 1869 there
we're Democrats in Luzerne county who
sea Tse OGasn at was a as rank nd e
bad too much liberty and too little discipline.
hopes Of success to the energy % Of the liberals than
their own work. The great trouble with us has
been to trust too much to the cause we labor for,
TO depend on an active principle without CIV
ing 1t the power OF our voltion. l do not
believe in the cry that the immortal principle
and an attempt to prove the practicabIlity Of
preached doctrine. True, the chief phase OF democ
must be accepted. believe to-day that we shall
carry the State OF Pennsylvania, with the aid Of
the liberals, by perhaps $4,000 majority, possibly
more. This county will surely be democratic, un-
less they do counting to proportionate extent
with the manifold method adopted when was de-
SLOW does the county organization manage with
regard to fundsSr asked.
that regard, but they have none to spare that /
know OF to be used for venal purposes"
"Have you heard of the republicans dispensing
their bounties among your peopley''
"No; have not heard OF single instance, at the
same time know 1t is done in the State.'
"They say the same thing Of you,r said.
"If they so regard us they were never
more mistaken. As an organization we
have had literally nothing TO spend; as
movement OF reform enRendered among
the people I cannot see how it would De at
it Is painfully apbafeht! but Under the present
order OF things how you to avodi Ifyou nonl-
lnate poor man for the Legislature, then make q
heavy assessment; elect him and assess again. make
him pay tremendous board bill, treat his friends
who call upon him. and make him spend 81, 0O0 for
which the state pays him but 81 900 in return how
can you suppose men will be honest The only
way to effectually remove the stain Of legislative
venality from among us is to commence an educa-
tion Of honor and legislate that q man, compe.
tent and active, should receive q salary that
xrnlald In MIN hn..n