Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-07-14
MERCER CONFERENCE.
\ Brief History of the Proceedings.
SENATOR ROBERTS FIRM STAND FOR
THE RIGHTS OF HIS CONSTITUENTS
-M'JUNKIN THE NOMINEE
HIS CLEAR AND CONSIST
ENT PUBLIC RECORD.

OF Butler, as tne RepuDllcan Candidate
for Congress in the Twenty sixth Con-
gressional district This result was ac-
complished on the second day of the
Conference We shall present in an
early issue the official report of the
proceedings, which will speak for
itself
1t is well known, however, that
there has been contest in Crawford
county between Senator Roberts and
Hon. S Il. Dick, which has led to
some embarrassment in the Congress
sional struggles in this district. In con-
sequence of this struggle, Mr.. S. IL.
Miller, the nominee for Congress in
Mercer, and Mr.. McJunkin, the nomi-
nee for Congress from Butler, con-
sulted together at Butler on the 26th
of June ult., and agreed between them
selves that the Conference should be
held at Mercer on the 9th of July at
O'Clock p. m, and that written notice
should be sent by each party to both
Roberts and Dick, advising them of
such conference and requesting them to
be present.
These notices were sept and received
by Roberts and Dick On the day APP
pointed all the parties were present at
Mercer with their conferees.
Very much TO the surprise, however,
of Mr.. McJunkin, Mr. Miller was dis
covered to have changed his position,
and on the arrival of the parties at
Mercer, announced that he would per-
nit Mr. Dicks conferees to participate
in the organisation of the conference
upon the same terms with himself and
Mr. McJ Junkin.
To this Mr.. McJunkin very proper
ly objected, inasmuch as both Roberts
and Dick claimed to be the regular
norninees Of the party, and TO hold the
requisite credentials. Mr. MED kin
contended that Roberts having re-
ceiged beyond any controversy, the
majority of the votes in Crawford was
entitled with equal courtesy with Col.
Dick. Under the circumstances, Mr..
McJunkin insisted that the original
agreement and understanding between
himself and Mr.. Miller shonld be ad-
hered to and that neither Roberts nor
Dicks conferees should be admitted
until their case mad been presented
and passed upon by the conferecs of
Mercer and Butler.
TO this proposition Senator Roberts
and his conferoes assentpd, and stated
that they would cheeripllg acqniesce
| in Whateyer conclusion was arrived at
Col Dick, on the contrary, dissented
from this proposition, insisting upon
entering the conference upon terms OF
equality with Mr.. McJunkin and Mr.
Miller The entire afternoon of the 9Th
vas spent without coming to any ar
rangelnent, anl ihp time haging ar-
rived for the conference 70 assemble aG-
oopdipg topotice, Mr.. McJankin notified
Mr.. Miller in writing that bis confer
ees would meet in room IL OF the
Whistler House, where they would be
ready to proceed with the business OF
the Conference.
Neither Mr.. Miller nor bis conferees
responded to this notice, and after a
| lapse Of . reasoRable time, Mr.. McJun-
kin notified pol. Dick and Senator
Roberts that the session was being
held in room If, where the contesLcnts
from Crawford county might present
their credentials and be heard. Col
Dick and his conferecs paid no atten-
ton to this notice, but Roberts con-
ferecs responded to it, and presented
their credentials, whi.h were favora-
big passed upon, wbereHrgA Roberts
conicrees were duly admitted.
The Conference was then organized
by the election Of John II. Negley, of
Butler, as Chairman, and James A.
Stone, of Conneautville, as Secretary
After discussing matters pertaining to
Conference, they adjourned at | p. m,
till the following morning, in the
meantime notifying Mr.. Miller again of
the time and place Of adjournment, and
requesting his attendance. The Con.
ference again met In the morning, and
Mr.. MiIler's conierees not presenting
themselves, a further adjournment was
had till 2 o'clock Mr. Mller's confer
ees did not put in appearance then,
and there being no evidence OF his de-
sire or intention TO meet with the con-
ferees, the conferees proceeded to dis
cuss the interests Of the party and
| their duty to their constituents. There
seemed TO be no other course open ex-
cept to proceed to make a nomination.
| After several ballots were taken Sena-
tor Roberts instructed his conferces to
cast their votes for Mr.. McJunkin,
whcreupon Mr. McJ unkin was unani.
mously placed in nomination for Con-
/ grcss and after adopting appropriate
resolutions the Conference adjourned
sine die
In the meantime it was understood
that Mr.. Miller and his conferces ad-
journed to meet in Greenville on tho
5th Of August next, but with whom,
by what authority and for what pur-
pose, we are unable to say.
Hon. j. ID. McJunkin, of Butler, the
Republican candidate in this district,
is % gentlemen in the prime Of life, Of
high persona! character, an able law
yer of irreproachable record. He is
well known in the oil regions, and
about ten years ago ably represented
Venango county for three consecutive
terms in the Legislature. Heisa staunch
Republican, and will make an indus
trious and useful representative in Con-
gress.- 1uuscilte Heratd, July 8.
-Myriads Of winged potato beetlees,
new kind in the locality, are dcvas-
tating the fields Of some farmers in
Somerset county, this State. They
are as active as neas or flies, and can
only be caught when their wings are
wet. The informant states that some
potato patches have been literally eaten
up, and that the gentle nippings Of the
Colorado bug are mild compared to
the sawmill appetites of the new pest,