The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-22
TREASURER
HENRY T. KNEPPER
POOR HOUSE DIRECTOR
GILLIAN KO0NTZ.
AUDITORS
JACOB NJ. BAKER.
HIRAM d. MCCOY.

THE late hour at which The returns
of the Primary election were receiv-
ed last week, and the uncertainty as
to some of the nominees at the time
OF our going to press, precluded ell
comment on the result. Our readers
have bad the tabulated vote before
them. and have doubtless examined
It, and formed their own conclusions,
during the week that has interviewed.
There can be but D sentiment
among all intelligent men. and that
must be, that as far as the returns
indicate the result as the choice Of
the voters Of the county it is approx
imately correct, but ms representing
the action of the Republican party,
it is q patent, glaring, indefensible
fraud. We know only too well that
at this time, on the advent Of so i'm
portant q campaign, discussions in
the party, should not be encouraged,
nay, must not be tolerated, but we
would be derelict to every dictate of
honesty, we would become particeps
criminis in this most disreputable
result, did we not condemn and de-
nounce it Year after year, this dis
regard Of party rules, this loose, if
not corrupt name Of conducting
primary elections has been growing,
until now, all restraint has apparent.
" been thrown of, and not the
slightest claim can be made that the
result accomplished, the ticket nomi-
mated, was the work Of the Repub-
iican voters of the county, for the
plain aud simple reason, that the
vote returned cast, not only exceeds
the Republican strength, but en-
braces nearly the entire vote OF the
county, irrespective Of party.
Here are the figures to speak for
themselves. 10 1872 the entire vote
of the county was, Grant 3,495, Gree
ley l,ss3-Total 4,s7s. In 1878,
Hayes received..S, 7s4, Tilden 2,330-l
Total STA; while at the election of
last week we have returned as the
Republican vote an average of $3.50.
Every one knows that the entire Re-
publican vote was not polled, and il
rs evident therefore, that q very large
proportion of the Democratic vote
was, or the returns were falsifed by
the officers of the elections.
Without proof to the contrary, we
will not presume fraud against the
election officers, but they must stand
convicted by their own returns, OF
gross neglect of du:y. and wilful dis
regard Of the rules laid down for
their guidance. in receiving and re-
turning Democratic votes. There
are notable and honorable exceptions
20 this censursble course generally
pursued by those officers, which will
be readily observed by reference to
the table Of votes published last
week.
This much 81 10 the maner of pro-
curing the result. As to the result
obtained, or in other words the ticket
nominated, we have q few words to
say. Most Of the nominees are pro-
nounced Republicans, all are fully
identified with the party; at a clean
Republican election. the result would
probably have been the same, or
nearly 80, and the ticket as g whole
is unexceptionable.
We counsel, therefore its sdop-
ton and support 10 is entirety, be-
csnse Of the general worth of the
candidates, because no other salts
factory conclusion can now be %arriv-
ed at, and because OF the vital in
dependent, ia the coming
State election, upon the entire unity /.
Of the party. As to the future, and
we not only speak for ourselves, but I
for scores, esd we have no doubt !
hundreds Of other Republicans, we !
give due and timely notice, that this I
of making nomiastions must ,
be abolished or totally revised and :.
reformed, or the abettors or nominees ;
it must look for support from !
other sources than the HERALD. Ii