Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-11-13
CHIEF JUSTICE AGNEW,
HE IMPALEs CAMERON, HoYr a co.-rHf
TRUE ISwARDNEss OF now GAMER.
on, HoYT AND QUAY SET THE
CHIEF AslDE-A PuNGENT
T0rTHE
CAMERON RULE OF
PENssYLvANIA.
PIrrsBuRe. Oct. 25.

tations TO which he has been subjected
by the Cameron leaders of the State
but he has finally decided TO define his
position frankly without stopping TO
inquire what candidate or what party
shall suffer by it. IL was the purpose
of Chief Justice Agnew to allow the
election 10 pass without making any
utterance on the political issues of the
day or as to his candidacy but he was
impelled to speak by several articles
which have appeared in the organs Of
cameron, Iloyt a CO. in this city
during the last few weeks, and he de-
cided that when called upon TO speak
at all, he must speak the whole truth
regardless OF consequences. The effect
of Chief usticc Agnew's public address
to the people OF Pennsylvania in this
immediate section and throughout the
Western and Northwestern counties,
must be most damaging to the cause
of both Cameron and Hoyt, 1t is the
first authoritative notice to the great
business interests Of the State and to
all who desire to maintain the purity
and independence of the Supreme
Judiciary, that the present Republican
leaders regard every department of
authority-Executive Legislative and
Judicial-as essential to their political
and personal interests, and that Courts
as well us legislatures must be sub
ordinatcd to low partisan aims. Ag-
news address will undoubtedly largely
increase both his own vote for Su.
preme Judge and the vote of Mason
Tor Governor in this county, from the
Republican ranks, and il may now be
regarded as reasonably certain that
Agnew will carry the highest vote in
Allegheny for Supreme Judge, and
fairly doubtful whether Hoyt, Dill or
Mason will have the most votes for
Governor. The effect of the address
will be widely felt IN the oil region and
in the strong anti-Cameron Republican
counties OF the West and Northwest,
1t will force fusions in many Legisla-
tive districts against the Cameron can.
didates and make many hesitaling Ma.
tionals and Republicans vote directly
Tor Dill for Governor to ensure the
overthrow Of the odious leadership OF
Cameron, Hoyt & Co" as Chief Jus.
tice Agnew styles it. Your correspond.
ent sought Judge Agnew to obtain any
additional views he might have to give
on the subject, but he declined to add
anything for publication to what he
has carefully prepared for the voters
of Pennsylvania. The following is
CHIEF JUSTICE AGNLw's ApphEss.
To H. people Of Pennsylvania
The time has come when | can no
longer suffer my position before the
public to be misconstrued. ! cannot
delay the explanation until after the
election lest it be then characterized us
an excuse. The remarkable silence OF
the entire Republican press in the
State, which has not even Informed its
patrons of what the Greenback press
has willingly admitted to be my atti-
tude, authorizes me to ask now, as
right what its voluntary justice has
not heretofore accorded. The duty is
the more imperious when | have in
dubitable authority that Chairman
Quay has stated that he gave instruc-
tions for this studied silence. | there
fore say have not sought or accepted
a nomination to the Supreme bench
from any party or class and when the
truth is presently told, it will be seen
that even before the Republican con.
vention my candidacy was nominal
only.
In July, 1877, Mr.. Quay, my towns.
man and neighbor and the present
chairman Of the Republican State com
mittee, asked my intention as TO the
Judgeship in 1873. | stated my wife's
aversion, because of my prolonged ab
scnce, and my indifference. lie said
this should not be known, as it would
begc. complications if il were under
stood | would be out Of the field and
suggested to me to announce no con.
clusion until the Harrisburg Court in
May or June Believing this to be
reasonable | acquiesced. About ten
days after Judge Sterrett's defeat in
November, Lewis z. Mitchell, Esq, a
leading member of the Butler bar,
came to my room in the Monongahela
House, holding in his hand an Erening
Leader containing an editorial headed
Judge Sterrett's Future and asked
me if ] sanctioned it. In substance it
proposed Judge Sterrett for my place
and read me out by reason of age. |
believed that il was intended to forstall
public opinion, even before the tears of
defeat were dry upon the checks. Mr.
Mitchell, Democrat, stated il to be
the intention of the Butler bar to sup.
port me.
During the same term had numer.
Gus calls from eminent gentlemen of
the bar of the surrounding counties,
asking me TO be candidate.
AGHEw's CONFERENCES WITH srERRETT.
! had been warm friend of Judge
Sterrett's election, undoubted by him,
when he doubted another, and felt il
due to both to have a frank under
standing, resolving to inform him of
my probable course II found him
anxious TO renew the contest after
severe defeat Next morning ] sought
him, told him Of the Leader article and
said the newspapers were likely to
bring us into conflict He denied per-
sOndl knowledge, but went no further.
l tried to continue the subject but met
o retcence so forbidding | desisted.