Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-07-14

Proceedings Of the Republican Con
ference for the 26th Pennsylvania /
CONGRESSIONAL District, held
at Mercer, Pa, July 6 and
Z. aCith q statement Of the
causes arhich led to
its organization.
The Congressional District is COM
posed of three counties, Mercer, Butler
and Crawford. In Mercer, s. II. Mil
Ter, Esq, vas nominated. In Butler
there were two candidates, Mr.. j. D.
McJunkin and Mr.. Thomas Robinson.
McJunkin was nominated by MAORI
tv of lO7 votes. In the Convention
called to count the vote and declare the
nominee, fraud was alleged in some of
the McJu 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
bv 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 DIR. w. b.
Roberts. Upon the face of the returns
DR.. w. B. Roberts was nominated by
majority of 113 votes. Under the
rules of Crawford county, the Return
Judges shall be competent to reject, by
| 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,
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,
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 Mf. 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 McJunkin
wrote duplicate letters to Dick and
Roberts. of which the following are CO.
pies:
MERCER, Pa, june 29th, 1880.
Hon. ". b. R0bets!-
| DEAR SIR Il have received letter from
| Hon j. D. McJuakin, Of Butler county, sGg-
| gesting Mercer as the place for holding the Re
publican Conference aud requesting me 10 hx a
| time intimating that July Sth would be con-
| yenient After he wrote ! had an interview
with hiio, cad accepting his suggestion, have
| agreed upon Mercer as the place and fixed up
1 on July q, 1885, at r. b., as tha ii:la, trust
| the place and time viii meet your approval;
| Having heard thara was contest 10 Crawford
| county but knowing nothing Of the history and
facts thereof-I have mailed a Duplicate Of this
| letter to Hon. S. u. Dick, Of sleadyiiie. in
| pursuing this course I do not wish to be under
stood as in any way interfering III your local
! politics and have done solely that my action
| may not be misconstrued.
! remain, very truly yours,
| &. II. MILLER.
| BUTLER, Pa, june Is, 1850.
Hon. ". B. Robeb:-
| DEAR SIR ON last Saturday, ). u, Miller
| Esq, nominee for Congress from Mercer c0un
| ty was in Butler and we agreed upon Mercer
as the place and July 9th at p. NJ the time
| for the Conference in this District also that we
! would notify both Col. $. D. Dick and yourself
Of the fact, these notices not to be considered as
enhancing the claims Of either contestant.
Yours in haste, but respectfully,
| j. ID. McJUNKIN.
In pursuance Of the above all the
four parties met in Mercer at the time.
Mr.. McJunkn'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-
ferecs insisting that Dick should be adj
mtted as entitled prima .Jdcte to his
seat the Butler Conferees contending
that Dick and Roberts should be treat
ed alike and neither admitted until
Mercer and Butler Conferecs should
organize and pass upon the credentials
from Crawford county; that by admit
! ting Dick in the first instance lie would
have an unfair advantage for if mo-
ton were made TO substitute the Rob
erts Conferees, upon 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 Conferecs
withdrew for consultation After wait
ing one or two hours, the following
notice was prepared and served on Mr..
Miller:
MERCER, Pa, July 9th, 1880.
s. II. Miiier, E5g. -
| SIR According to agreement made at But
| Ter. 2Gtb June last, between Mr.. j. j. McJun
kin and yourself the candidates of your resPcc-
| tive counties for a Congressional nomination in
the 2Gth Pennsylvania District, fixing the time
| of tie Conference on the Gth Of July following
| and the place at Mercer, and that notice Of the
time and place should be given Hon. =. Il.
| Dick and Hon. w. B. Roberts, contesting can
| didates for the nomination from Crawford cDun-
| IT, we as the Conierees Of j. ID. McJunkin,
Esq. have met at the time and place pointed
| out in the agreement, and are now present in
room No. II, at the Whistler House, Mercer,
and are ready to meet you according to the let
| ter aud spirit Of your agreement, that Confer
cnce may be organized and we may proceed to
determine the rights Of the Crawford county
candidates TO q voice in the Conference and the
further business Of the meeting
j. II. NEGLEY, Conferces
II. PILLOW, Of
T. c. CAMPBELL, Butler County.
Mr.. Miller having refused to appear
duplicate notices were sent to Dick and
Roberts, as follows:
MERCER, Pa, July 9, 1890.
| Hon. W. II. Robcrts -
SIR We, the Confcrees Of Hon. j. y. Nc
Junkin, are in session IN room u, Whistler
House, where we will hear you If you have any