Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-07-30

Nihoi mSiASahs ~ iOifi nv N1o NhSoNh
member OF the Legislature, and in
1915 was defeated for the State Sen
ate. In 1922, he was elected mem
ber Of Congress, which position he
filed until 1929, when he was nomina'
ted and elected Governor over Joseph
Ritner, anti.Mason, by vote of rs,
219 to Gl,776, and was reelected in
1882 over Joseph Rltner, anti-Mason
by vote of 81 1886 to Ss, ,l65. He was
defeated for a third term on account
Of a rupture in the Democratic party
and the formation of a double ticket.
Governor VOLTS great ambition was
to advance free system OF education
and to that end his whole life was de,
voted. He not only advocated such a
system, but had the pleasure of seeing
it adopted in his native State, and his
namc heralded abroad as the great
beneiactor of mankind. Governor Vol
adhered to Jackson, and advocated his
second election. In 1886, General
Jackson appointed him First Comp.
troller of the United States Treasury,
and in 1888 he was appointed by Pres
idcnt Van Buren, Collector of the Port
of Philadelphia. Governor Wolf died
on the llth OF March, 1910, in the 63d
year of his age.
GOVERNOR RITNER.
Joseph Ritner, the eighth and last
Governor under the Constitution Of
1890, was born on the 25th of March,
1880, in Berks county, and Of German
extraction. Mr.. Ritner was very un.
fortunate when young, having receiv-
ed but little education He married
Susan Alter at the age Of twenty, and
after wandering about for some time,
finally settled in Washington county,
upon the farm of David Alter, his
wife's uncle, Here he found an excel.
lent library, and devoted all his leisure
hours in study, taking for his motto,
"Bnergy-invincible determination.
Mr.. Ritner was elected q member of
the Legislature in 1920, and served
until 1926. In 1924, he was chosen
Speaker of tho House, and was re-
elected in 1926. In 1920, Mr.. Ritner
was nominated for Governor by the
ant.Masonic party against Wolf, but
was defeated. He was renominated
in 1882 against Wolf, but was again
defeated In 1925, he was again NOM
mated and elected over Wolf Inde.
pendent Democrat, and Muhlenberg,
Democrat, by the following vote: Rit-
ner, 94, ,023 Wolf, ,65,S ,SO4, and Mullen
berg, 40,5s6. Governor Ritner was
re.nominated in 1888, but was defeat
ed by David r. Porter, Democrat
The election OF 1888 was close, and
charges of fraud were made against
the friends of Governor Porter. Thos,
Ii. Burrowes, Chairman of the State
Executive Committee of the anti-Ma'
sonic party, issued an address in which
he stated that until an investigation
had been made, they would "treat the
election as if they had not been de-
feated." During the interval between
the election in October and the meet
ing of the Legislature, the excitement
ran high throughout the common
wealth, and upon the assembling o.
the two Houses, large numbers from
different parts of the State had assem-
bled at Harrisburg. The Senate wal
organized by the friends Of Governor
Ritner, and in the House there was {
double set of officers elected, the
anti-Masons choosing i. S. Cunning
ham as Speaker, and the Democrat
Wm. Hopkins. Great excitement pre-
vailed and a lobby took possession o
both Houses. Governor IRitner called
out the militia and also called on th'
United States Government for help
which was, however, refused. 1t look
ed at one time as II this dispute woult
result in blo0d,Shed, but better counci
prevailed, and the House was finally
organized by the recognition of VIM
Hopkins as Speaker, and the peaceabl
Inauguration OF Governor Porter
These troubles have since been know
as the "Buckshot War" and made tn
participants famous in Pennsylvania
politics. In 1S48, Governor Ritne
was appointed, by President Taylor
Director of the Mint at Philadelphia
and resigned at the death OF Taylor +
make room for the iavorites of Pres
dent Fillmore. He was delegat
from Pennsylvania to the Nationa
Convention, which nominated John {
Fremont for President. Governor Rii
nor was q warm supporter of the fire
school system, and has the honor Q
preserving it at its worst perilous houl
He died on the 10th of October, 1866
in the Goth year OF his age.