Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-09-08
A CONVERT.
DIR. MICHAEL sTEcK OF LYcoMIN0 COUNTY,
LATE GREENDACK NOMINEE FOR LIEU.
TENANT GOVERNOR, DECLARES
FOR HANCOCK.

A correspondent of the Hughesville
Enterprise on Saturday interviewed Dr.
Michael Steck Of Muncy, who was the
.Greenback candidate for Lieutenant
Governor in 1878, and ascertaincd from
him his intention to support General
Hancock for the Presidency. The
Patriot Is indebted to the editor Of the
Enterprise for a copy of its correspond
ent's report of the interview in advance
of its publication in that journal. After
some preliminary conversation Doctor
Steck said
"Four years ago as forlorn hope
the Republicans of the county placed
me in nomination for member of As.
sembly. A year afteFward the Re.
publicans nominated me for State Son.
ate, the Greenbackers endorsing the
nomination, the latter knowing my
position on the question of national
finance. Neither OF these nominations
| asked or sought, and you yourself
are aware of my surprise when you
informed me that | had been nominated
for Lieutenant Governor by the Green.
back State Convention However,
this has little or pothing to do with
my present position or views. Though
not fully in accord with the financial
plank in the Democratic National plat
form, | believe financial reform is to be
anticipated at an earlier day by the
Democrats than by the party with
which l have acted since its organiza.
tion up TO within three years-voting
for Fremont, Lincoln and Grant in
1868 and '72. Besides, there are so
many good features in the Democratic
platform, when compared with the Re-
publican, that l am at loss to know
how any man who desires TO see q
happy, prosperous and contentod peo.
pie can hesitate for a moment as TO his
duty at the coming election"
"As to the candidates, what is your
opinion, doctor ?"
"My opinion as to the candidates
themselves is a decided one. There is
really no comparison to be made be.
tween the two men. General Hancock
is both statesman and a soldier.
General Garfield though a well edu.
Gated man, is neither. General Han.
cock is patriot. General Garfield,
like many other would be statesmen in
both parties, is nothing but politician,
and either a very corrupt one or
very Ignorant man. | say he is either
corrupt politician or very ignorant
man for the reason that if his course
with reference to Credit Mobilier and
the DeGolyer pavement contract was
not corrupt-venal, then he IS one of
tho most unsophisticated and ignorant
OF men,"
"But, don't you think he was aware
of what he was doing p
"Certainly. How could it be other.
wise Does not the Congressional Globe
show that previous to the Credit Mobi-
lier investigation, the aims and objects
of the association had been discussed
field was memberY And to say that
he was not fully cognizant of what he
was to do in helping along the De
Golyer pavement contract, is to write
him down the veriest ignoramus in the
land, No, no; | believe him TO have
been fully aware of what he was do
ing"
at is on this account, then, that you
will support the hero OF Gettysburg ?"
mo, not all together The success
of the Democratic party next Fall
means an end TO sectional strife an
end to large subsidies an end to the
power of vast corporations On end, for
some time to come at least, Of unpar-
allied corruption an end, it is to be
hoped, to the power of capitalists, and
their efforts to create n moneyed aris-
tocraey and an end to legislation in
favor of the few rich at the expense of
the many poor 1t means a return to
real prosperity, and return to wise
economic expenditures by our National
State Legislatures. The success ofthe
Republican party at this time means
Just the reverse for an indefinite period;
for il is my sincere belief, that if the
party of bribery and corruption are
successful at the coming election, il
will be many years before it will be
ousted from power, and then only after
the most serious results TO the country
These are some of the reasons, in brief
why | shall support General Hancock,
as well for declaring that | had voted
my last Republican ticket"
"Wcll, doctor, have you any objec
ton TO giving these reasons TO the
publicl
"Nono at all, if in your opinion they
will have any tendency to cnlighter
the people as to the true issues involv
cd IN the campaign"
TDr Michael Stcok in the latter par
of Fillmorcs administration was ap
pointed Indian agent for New Mexico
continuing to act in that capacity dur
ing the administration of both Pierce
and Buchanan. Under Lincoln, he wa
appointed Superintendent Of IndiaI
affairs in the same Territory, resigninl
his position in order to accept the Su
perintcndency of the mining property
now owned by Senators Jones ant
. Chaiey, and Major Edkins. In 1868
he came east, purchased fine farm
near Hughesville, and settled upon il
In 1878 he received the nomination 70
State Senator from the Republican an,
Greenback Conventions. In 1879 th
Greenback State Convention made hin
/ its candidate for Lieutenant Governor
, DR.. Steck is quite prominent membe
, ofthe Patrons Of Husbandry, and nun
bers among his friends many farmer
throughout the State.
= RIGHr TO The SPoT.-Thc Philade