davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

AS 1t is understood that we are like
ly to have a special election for Il
member of Congress from. this district,
there are many inquiries in regard to
the law governing such elections. The
election, if one is held, will be govern
ed by the act Of July 2, 1889, which
provides as follows: -.
SEC. 80. Every writ which shall be is
sued by the Governor of this COmmon-
wealth in pursuance Of the Constitution of
the United States, to supply vacancy in
the representation Of the people Of this
Common wealth in the House of Represen-
tatiyes of the United States, shall be di-
! rcctcd to the Sheriff Of the county or coun-
ties composing the Congressional district,
and shall particularly express the day on
which the election shall be held 10 supply
such vacancy.
SEC. 30. If such vacancy shall happen
during the session Of Congress, or If Con-
gress shall be required ~ meet at some
time previous 10 the next general election,
the Governor shall appoint time as early
as may be convenient for holding such
election otherwise, he shall direct the
election to be held at the time appointed
! for holding the general elections
SEC. IL. Every writ for holding spe-
cial election as aforesaid shall be delivered
TO the Sheriff, to whom the same may be
directed, at least fifteen days before the
day appointed for such election, who shall
forthwith give due and public notice
thereof throughout the county at least ten
days before such election, and shall send "A
copy thereof TO at least one Of the inspec.
tors of each election district therein.
1t will be seen from the above that
should vacancy occur in our district
at any time within a week or ten DAYS,
by reason of the pending contest, the
election can be held on the 18th OF
February, the same day on which the
borough and township elections are
held, provided the Governor will issue
his writ fixing that time and deliver
the same to the Sheriff. of the counties
fifteen days before the day he desig-
mates.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
The Congressional Contest.

The arguments on the contest from
this Congressional district before the
House Committee ON elections, were
concluded last week and all the evil
dence went TO the sub. Committee for
its consideration. 1t is understood
the Committee has agreed upon re-
port declaring the seat of Mr.. Yocum
vacant but at this writing, (Wednes-
day noon no official advices have
been received from Washington that
the Committee has reported its con-
clusions to the House. OF course, so
far the nature of the report is only a
matter of conjecture, but the best in.
formed newspaper correspondents at
the National capitol, all agree in in
ierring that a new election will be
ordered, although a special to the
Pittsburg Commercial Gazette, of the
2lst, indicates a different view. 1t is
probable, however, that before this
issue of the DEMOCRAT reaches all its
readers in Centre county the commit
tee will have submitted the report, and
of its speedy adoption by the House,
there is little question.
Should it be decided to declare a
vacancy, an election tn FIJI it will be
necessary, and it is probable that the
Proclamation will be issued for il to
beb@ld on the 18th of February, the
rSlsdiar day Tor holding the borough
and township elections. The time be-
ing very short, prompt and efficient
action upon the part of the Democra-
cy of the various counties of the dis
trict will be indispensable. In this
county the Chairman of the County
Committee has issued q call for a
meeting of the Committee for next
Saturday, in order that he may be
fully empowered TO act with the
expedition the exigencies of the case
require. Under our party rules and
the precedents of many years stand
ing it will be necessary TO re-convene
the County Convention of last Sep
tember to make n nomination. An
early day will no doubt be named
for the assembling of the Convention,
when our candidate will be placed in
nomination. So far as we can learn
in our county there is but one senti-
ment, aud that demands the renomi-
nation of Ex-Governor Curtin, should
the action of Congress as above indi-
Gated require n candidate to be placed
in the field. We are also informed
that this sentiment is re-echoed in
every portion of the dirtrict, thus
placing the nomination of Governor
Curtin beyond a peradventure.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

Total t........... ~.
This appears to be a somewhat com
plicated method of computing the vote,
but still it may be better system
than the one under which we now elect
the highest officers of our government.
For years there has been a growing
dislike to the present electoral system,
and strong reasons against it have
been urged by many wise and thought
ful statesmen. Some object to it on
the ground that it is too far away from
the people, and gives majority party
i'm a State absolute control over all
the electors, either through the power
to select them by the legislature, or
by electing them on a general ticket,
thus practically DISTINGUISHING tho
minority, however large it may be.
Another objection is, that the political
party controlling the Legislature OF a
State, instead of acting from motives
intended to promote the general well
fare and basing changes upon princi-
pies of public policy, may at each
succeeding Presidential election, with
the aid of a sympathising Executive,
change the manner Of choosing elect
ors exactly as party necessities may
require, and just as the Republicans
now propose to do in the State of New
York. This looks like a dangerous
power to trust to q State legislature,
and the abuses that may flow from it
are clearly exemplified in what is now
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

A PETITION was presented in the
House last week by Speaker Randall,
signed by Gov. Hoyt, Auditor Schell,
and Treasurer Noyes, asking the pas
sage of a bill for the recomputation of
the accounts between the United States
and the several States and the City
of Baltimore, growing out of moneys
expended in the war of 1912 with
Great Britain.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

SCARCELY any man in civil life has done
ine American people greater service than
Soh9 sherman, but he is doing at this mo-
hent perhaps the greatest Of all bic services
10 standing forward A. Presidential candi-
cate against Grant and Blaine. e.--lSprinqJisid
Republican.
Perhaps he is doing good service in
the manner indicated, but he has done
greater service to John Sherman him
self than he has to the country during
his public service-rising from very
moderate means on a very moderate
salary to immense wealth. 1t il the
democracy, however, who are expect
ed to do the great service to the coun-
try by standing forward" and defeat
ing the victor of these stalwart rivals
ior the Presidency.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

IL the last Legislature a bill was
introduced and very earnestly pressed,
providing for an appropriation from
the treasury OF the State of four mil
lions to pay the damages of the Pitts
burg riots. 1t failed, and the liabili-
ty remained upon Allegheny county.
These damages are now compromised,
without trouble, at s2,5O0, ,0Oe, and it
i. not difficult to see where the money
was to come from to pay the large and
active lobby for procuring the passage
Of the bill.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
The Election of President.

The proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the United States in
regard to elections of President and
Vice President, recently introduced
into Congress by Hon. Geo. A. Bick-
nell, of Indiana, has received favor
able report from n subcommittee of
the select committee to which it was
referred by the House of Representa-
tives for consideration. 1t is expected
that at some time during this week
the amendment will come back to the
House with the endorsement of the
entire committee. Il proposes a radi-
cal change in the manner of ascertain
ing and declaring the number of elec-
toral votes that each candidate for
President shall receive in each State
in which votes are cast for him, and
prescribes the manner of counting the
votes and determining questions of
contest. In another column will he
found synopsis of the changes to be
made, and from it we copy the follow
ing in relation to the way in which
the number of electoral votes that
each person shall receive is to be as
certained
"The electoral votes and traction there
OF of each person voted for as President in
any State shall be asceriained by multiply
ing his entire popular vote therein by the
number Of the States electoral votes, and
dividing the product by the sum of all the
votes given in the State for President, and
the quotient shall be the number of cleo
toral votes and fraction thereof to be ns-
signed to such person, using for such frac-
tion three decimals only"
1t is TO he the same for Vice Presi-
dent, and TO explain this proposition
as we understand it, we will take the
result Of the last Presidential election
in Pennsylvania. The total vote cast
for President in 1876 was 75S,910,
divided among four candidates as fol-
lows: Mr.. Hayes received 3s4,1s4
votes; Mr.. Tilden, 366, ,204; Mr. Coop
er, ,204. and Mr.. Smith, 1918. OF
course under the present system Mr..
Hayes received the entire twentv-nine
electoral votes of the State. BY Bick-
nell's method of computation, what
would have been the result? Taking
the vote of Hayes (3S4,1S and null
tiplying it by 80, we have for product
11,141 1886. This product divided by
the entire vote (7jS,91O) gives us
quotient of ii, with fraction in deci-
mails of $50. Tilden's vote of $685.
204, treated in the same way, gives
quotient of l3, with fraction in deci-
mails of 1915. Cooper's vote, by the
same process, makes the quotient
fraction in decimals of .275, and
Smiths vote fraction in decimals Of
$50. The result may then be stated
as follows:
Havna raaeivas II Cg0 ElcctnraI ,,o,cs
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

The Reading Eagle has story that
Reinholdsvilie, Lancaster county, is
very much excited over the strange and
mysterious death OF the wife of Henry
Fisher, who resides a short distance
from that place. The family reside in
a small house, and the dead body OF
the woman is now laid out in one Of
the lower rooms. The husband is EN-.
phatic in his statements that his wife
died from the effects Of being bewitch.
ed, and an old woman is named as the
person who bewitched Mrs. Fisher.
The old witch has quite reputation in
the neighborhood, and Is said to per.
form the most mysterious things. She
does business with quite \ large mum.
ber Of people. who come from all di.
rections. 1t Is asserted that an enemy
Of Mr.. Fisher visited the witch, paid
her money and had certain spells cast
over her which resulted in death. Mr..
Fisher died In violent spasms.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
Curtin VS.. Yocum.


IT would perhaps be expecting too
much to look for an honest, truthful
discussion of any matter of public in
terest in the columns of the Philadel-
phia Press. 1t has been gradually but
surely falling from its high estate as
newspaper until it has now reached
such degree of journalistic degrada-
ton as to render its opinions on any
subject absolutely worthless. Its edi-
tor has the reputation Of being a great
statistician, and he certainly did much
h enhance his fame by the skillful
and dcxterous manner in which he
made figures lie in his article on the
Curtin contest in the Press of the 18th
instant. He was cautious enough to pre-
face his remarks by the statement that
the testimony was so voluminous and
complicated rs to be unintelIigible,
except to the immediate counsel in the
case. Thus fortified he proceeded to
demonstrate his dense ignorance of the
whole matter by stating that there
were 335 illegal votes cast for Gov
ernor Curtin and only 30 for Yocum,
thus making the latter's majority $40.
Warming up to his work, the ex-chief
of the Bureau of Printing and the pres
ent compiler of election figures in Jay
Gould's Tribune Almanac boldly plum
ges into the unregistered vote, and
airily asserts that it was alleged by
both sides that there were large
number of unregistered votes cast, but
that neither party offered any evidence
to show for whom these unregistered
voters cast their ballots. And this in
the face of the fact, that Gov. Curtin
qualified every such unregistered vo-
ter in the districts which gave him n
majority, where the voter could be
reached by n subpoena. The law in re.
gard to unregistered voters is so plain
that he who runs may read. 1t is not
directory but mandatory. 1t does not
seek to deprive the legal voter of his
right of suffrage because his name has
been omitted from the roll of registra-
ton, but it clearly and decisively
marks out the manner in which he
shall prove his legal qualifications to
the board holding the election. Wher-
ever this necessary proof was wanting
in precincts giving Gov. Curtin ma
jority the voter himself was placed
upon the stand aud his qualifications
established. This was not done by
Mr.. Yocum and hence large unregis-
tered vote was not accounted for be-
fore the Committee. The number of
illegal votes proven to have been cast
for Mr.. Yocum was largely in excess
of those shown to have been polled for
Gov. Curtin, preponderance in fact,
which would have wiped out Yocum's
majority twice over. There is not the
slightest doubt that the Committee
would have seated Governor Curtin
ON the equities of his case, instead of
remanding the matter to the sovereign
power of the people for adjudication,
had he so wished. But his counsel in
the final argument actually suggested
new election as the best and most sat
isfactory solution of the vexed ques-
ton. The Press further stultifes itself
by making an obviously unfair and
unjust comparison between the vote
cast for Mr.. Dill and Governor Cur
tin in the six counties composing the
Doth district. II does not see fit to
remember that Mr.. Dill ran largely
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

DEMOCRATIC Co. COMMITTEE Rooms, !
BELLEFoNTE, Jan. u, 1880. !
There will be meeting of the Demo-
cratic County Committee at the Court
House, in Bellefonte, on Saturday, January
"a at | P.M NJ.
Business of Importance will BE- transact
ei. By order Of the Chairman,
j. l.. SPANGLER.
+. Z. BIBLE, Secretary
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

CONGRESS does not appear to have
put in any very active work yet. All
parties seem TO shrink from approach
ing the disturbing questions of finance.
The resolution of Mr.. Bayard to de-
prive the greenbacks of their compul.
sory legal tender character was repor.
ted adversely from the finance com
mittee-the minority also making a
report. The whole question will pro,
badly come up for discussion next
week on the adoption of the report,
when we may expect to obtain much
information on this dark subject from
the views of the Senators who partici.
pate. Although the laws relating to
finance have been agitated in every
hamlet and political parties run on
the crude views Of individuals to
obtain selfish results, still the bear.
ings of the laws upon the prosperity Of
the country and TO what extent they
accord with our institutions, are but lit.
tie understood, and we look forward
to the honest official views we may ex.
pect from such men as Bayard, Wal.
lace, Thurman, and other statesmen,
to dispel the cloud overshadowing the
subject.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

ANOTHER revolution in Maine" is
what it may be called. Backed by the
opinion of a partisan Court, Blaine has
got q substitute into the Governors
chair at last.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

OUE friend Hayes Grier Of the Co
lumbia lancaster Herald says in re-
ference to a new election in this Con
gressional district, that the democracy
can make sure thing of it by nomin-
atlng good, sound democrat--one
who can unite the whole vote. That
Is precisely what the democracy intend
to do, and the man they mean to place
at the head Of their column is the Hon.
Andrew G. Curtin, and they will send
Inn to Washington, backed by n ma
Jorlty unprecedented in the political
history of the 10Th Congressional dis
trict.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

BY counting out Democrats duly
elected, and by counting in votes never
cast, on the allegation that they should
have been given, because they were
negroes, and ought to count whether
polled or not, the Republicans stole
the Presidency and seated Fraud.
This the Radicals call Purifying the
the ballot-box." But, counting out
alleged Republican members of the
Maine legislature, according to the
laws aul precedents enacted by them
selves, these same consistent radicals
denominate Fraud and scoundrel-
ISM"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

Certain sections Of Mexican county be.
ing afflicted with wolves, which are kill.
ing the sheep in great numbers, Charles
Jones, of Kane, an old and successful
hunter, offers TO clean o1t the varmints
for $50 head for old ones and S1s q
head for young ones.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

General Grant Is expected to ssil from
Havana Tor Mexico February 8.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

+, Z. BIBLE, Secretary.
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21
Altered Appointments Of Bishop
Green.

Since the publication Of my wintff and
spring appointments few weeks ago circum-
stances have compelled me 10 make several
chances The following list therefore, il put
forth a. substitute for that heretofore pub.
lished. W. VI. GRgEs
February-Vicksburg /; New Orleans s.
fConsecrationJ; Woodville s; Natcbez &c
II l6; Rodney II Grand Gulf -; Epiphany
20 Port GibsOn Y; ordination, Vicksburg
rs BoyIna q; Edwards 49, Bolton o.
March-Raymond2 Clinton 4; Jackson I;
Yazoo City IL; Rolling Fork n Lake Wash.
ingt0n =.
April-Greenville Rosedale II Early
| Grove Is; Grenada (CounclJ b.
After Councl-RipleS, CoriDth, Iuka and
other places will be visited ~ which due
notice will be given.
At each Of the above places liberal cjntri
[ button will be expected Ia behalf Of Missions
within the Diocese. w. VI. GREEN
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21
Masonic Festival.

A number of our lady friends having
kindly volunteered to provide Festival,
the proceeds of which are to be applied in
paying for repairs on Masonic Hall, we will
be thankful for contributions to the supper.
from families in the city, and also for a
general attendance on the occasional
Angeles Hall, Wednesday night, 2Sth inst.
Contributions can be sent to the Hall at
any time on Wednesday.
J, l., POWER,
IL, NJ. TAYLOR
W. Q. LowD,
JNo A. WEBB,
...,., john McGILL,
Committee.
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21
Annual Meeting Of the Masonic
Grand Bodies.
GRAsD sECRETARY's OFFICE.
Trakaop No Ian "a Ikau


The Thirty-second Annual Convocation Of
the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, will be held
in the City Of Jackson, on Monday and Tues
day, February md and Bird proxmo The
Grand Chapter will convene al II o'clock, A.
~ Monday.
The Sixty Second Annual Communica ion Of
the Grand Lodge will be held a. same place,
commencing At u o'clock, 4. w. on Wednes-
day February ith
Transporiat on arrangements have been
effected rs foll,w W.:
Chicago, -. Louis and New Orleans Rail
roa1-will sell excursion tickets TO delegates
at six cents per mile for round trip, al ali
stations from Grand Junction 10 Osyka ia.
GLIDING kosciusko Branch, and also at New
Orleans. The sale Of tickets will commence
Saturday, Janusry 3lst and end February
9TH good 10 return unit Oh.
Yidksburg and Meridian Railroad Delegates
will apply % agent az point. Of starting for
excursion tickrt-siK cents per mile for round
trip, 10 be purchased from January 3lst, Ia
February 81; good 10 return by february OH
Mississippi and Tennessee Railraad from
Memphis TO Grennda- Delegate paying rcgu.
! lar fare TO Grenada will be returned free on
Grand Secretary. = certificate Of attendance.
! Memphis and Charleston railroad-Dele.
! gates will purchase Of station agent regular
! full fare ticket In coming, and will get Ger
! DUthlf OF hiiFHNhNCf winch VIII nUth RE
agent NJ Memphis or Grand Junction to sell
! the holder a ticket 10 the original startiut
point on said road at one fifth regular fare fol
round trip. Return tickets will be good opl,
on day Of sale, and will only be sold Feb
ruury I X, Q.
The Natchez, jackson and Columbus rail
road, and the Ripley and Ship Island rairoad
viii return free delegates who pay full fare II
coming,
Mobile and Ohio Rnilroad-Not vet hear,
from, but favorable reply expected-the Gus
tomnry excursion rate on ibis rond being 81,
cents permile for round trip. Tickets to be oh.
tanned ofagents at points Of starting.
The Parlsot Line Of Steamers will carry del
eEates At two-thirds regular fare coming anC
| returning,
It is expected that the Steamers Natcbez
r. 4. Lee and }. NJ. White will make The Gus
tomary reduction.
Delegates should provide themselves will
duly nttcsted credentials, and exhibit sam,
to uekct agents when applying for excursion
| tickets.
Pearl Lodge No %, at its meeting thi
month, appointed Committees TO receive an,
assign the Grand Officers and Representative
on their arrival at Jackson.
J. h. Power, Grand Secretary.
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21
yick.burR and Meridian Railroad.
Extra Papers Notice to Members.

Members wishing extra copies Of TnE DAILY
CLARION will please send their orders to our
counting room by o'clock the night pre-.
vious. Orders for extra copes.of the Weekly,
which is printed on Wednesday, must be sent
to our office on the Monday morning previous,
when the outside pages 90 press We will
furnish either edition, by the dozen or hun
dred, at reduced rates.
Orders can be sent by the pages Of either
House. Payments for extra papers, or for
subscriptions can be made when order Is
given, or at any time during, or az close Of
session, as the members may prefer #.
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21

ID. W McRAE, Esq, of Copiah, has been
in our city for several days, He was the
regular nominee of the Democratic. Conser.
vative party in the late election, and made
a campaign that was worthy of success.
Better luck next time, we hope.
Col. Vance, Of the Copiahan, has also
been taking notes of matters and things
transporting at the State Capitol
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21

HoN, w +. MELLEN, of the House, was
yesterday the recipient of a beautiful
boquet, presented by Miss Katie Power, ms
an expression Of gratitude for the handsome
manner in which Mr.. McIlen placed her
father IN nomination for the Office of State
Printer
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21

MEMBERS of the Legislature aud other visi-
tors to our city will find that the stock Of
staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Clothing, Fur
nishng Goods, Boots aud Shoes &C., nj RonrN-
son, STEVENS 4 Co.. rs usual is not surpassed,
in quantity quality or price by any, A visit
will convince.
Jan. 10 SOd3t
The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-21

A. @. DuRDiN, ESQ, editor of the Carroll
Courier, and w. +. Hamilton, Esq. the
efficient Sheriff of Carroll, favored us with a
call yesterday. Mr.. @. NJ Liddle, Of the
Handsboro Advertiser, has also dropped in
upon us during the past few days. We
always feel complimented when our press
brethren call to see us during their visits to
the State Cnpitol.