Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-07-21

The Congressional District is COM
posed of three counties, Mercer, Butler
and Crawford. In Mercer, S. III. Mil
Ter, ESQ.,, vas nominated. In Butler
there were two candidates, Mr.. j. D.
McJunkin and Mr.. Thomas Robinson
McJunkin was nominated by majori-
ty of 107 votes. In the Convention
called to count the vote and declare the
nominee, fraud was alleged in some of
the McJunkin districts, and commit
tee composed of two Robinson and one
McJunkin delegate, was appointed to
investigate. They unanimously report
ed in favor of the vote as cast. The
report of the Committee was adopted
by the Convention by large majority,
and the candidates nominated as shown
by the face of the returns were declared
the nominees of the party. This dis
posed of the contest in Butler county.
In Crawford county, the candidates
were Hon. S. B. Dick and DR.. w. b.
Roberts. Upon the face of the returns
DR.. w. B. Roberts was nominated by
a majority of 1l3 votes. Under the
rules of Crawford county, the Return
Judges shall be competent to reject, by
q majority vote, the return of any dis
trict where there is evidence of fraud.
The County Convention which met
was composed of sixty return judges,
thirty-one of whom would be majority
of the whole number On motion to
throw out certain Roberts districts, a
vote was taken, the Dick men claiming
thirty in favor of the motion, the Rob-
erts men admitting twenty-nine in its
favor, but neither claiming thirty-one,
a majority of the whole vote. The
Convention divided, both having Or
CARNATIONS, thirty-one declaring Rob-
erts the nominee and the others declar-
ing Dick the nominee.
On the 26th day of June Mr.. Miller
and Mr. McJunkin agreed upon Mercer
as the place, and July 6 at P. NJ, as
the time for holding the conference.
The contest in Crawford county was
admitted and it was understood that
the candidates from Crawford county
should be equally treated with and that
notice should be given to both of the
time and place of holding the Confer
ence. In accordance with this under
standing, Messrs. Miller and MeJunk
wrote duplicate letters to Dick and
Roberts, of which the following are CO.
pies:
MERCER, Pa, June Goth, 1880.
Hon. W. B. Roberts
DEAR SIR:-I have received a letter from
Hon. j. D. McJunkin of Butler county, sug-
gesting Mercer as the place for holding the Re
publican Conference and requesting me to fix a
time, intimating that July Sth would be con-
venient. After he wrote / had an interview
with him, and accepting his suggestion, have
agreed upon Mercer as the place and fixed up
on July g, 1880, at p. NJ, as the time. trust
the place and time will meet your approval.
Having heard there was contest in Crawford
county but knowing nothing of the history and
facts thereof-I have mailed duplicate of this
letter to Hon. S. B. Dick, of Meadville. In
pursuing this course do not wish to be under
stood as in any way interfering in your local
politics, and have done so solely that my action
may not be miscOnstrued.
/ remain, very truly yours,
S. ii. MILLER.
BUTLER, Pa, June %, 1880.
Hon. w. Il. Roberts,
DEAR SIR On last Saturday, s. II. Miller,
Esq, nominee for Congress from Mercer coun-
ty, was in Butler, and we agreed upon Mercer
as the place and July 9th at 7-P NJ, the time
for the Conference in this District also that we
would notify both Col. S. b. Dick and yourself
of the fact, these notices not to be considered as
enhancing the claims of either contestant.
Yours in haste, but respectfully,
]. d. MCJUNKIN.
In pursuance of the above all the
four parties met in Mercer at the time.
Mr.. McJunkin's Conferees, at P. NJ,
held an informal meeting with Mr.. Mil
ler's Conferees. The question discussed
was the action to be taken with regard
to Crawford county, the Mercer Con-
ferees insisting that Dick Should be ad
mitted as entitled prima .tacie to his
seat the Butler Conferees contending
that Dick and Roberts should be treat
ed alike, and neither admitted until
Mercer and Butler Conferees should
organize and pass upon the credentials
from Crawford county; that by admit
ting Dick in the first instance he would
have an unfair advantage, for if a mo-
tion were made to substitute the Rob
erts Conferees, ppon proof that Roberts
was the nominee from Crawford cOun-
ty, and the Butler and Mercer Confer
ees were to divide, Mr.. Dick would re-
tain his seat. No understanding was
arrived at, and Mr. Miller's Conferees
withdrew for consultation. After wait