Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-01-19

lays, many of which would come un
der the head of dissemination Of inform,
alton, but some q which are not er
penseS "erpresSly authorised BY ldC.'
G. | spent certain amount in trav
cling about myself (duthOrised as trdu
cling erpeases). ] purchased a mum
ber of tickets or raffles for COWS, guns
etc, for the benefit of widows anC
other uufortunates, and expended I
small amount for balls and fairs bu
as they neither helped not hurt me,
think | may neglect them.
II. Ispont large amount in print
ing and distributing my own tickets
so that every one who wished to vot,
it could get it before November 2d
This was entirely independent of tn,
election day distribution, and of tht
distribution by tho County Committees
This is authorized as dissemination O
Information.
Now, although | used money for er
peHSes not expressly authorized By lato
yet not one cent was spent with my
knowledge for any improper or fraud
ulent purpose. On the contrary, every
dollar confded to any one for election
expenses was given under solemn en-
gagement that nothing not consistent
with strict honesty should be done
with il.
OF course | do not pretend to say
that, when money passed through mol
dozen but hundreds of hands, somC
small part of it may not have been di
vertod to improper uses, but if it wai
| have never heard of it. Ihave done
nothing in this campaign that | an
ashamed OF, or that was inconsistent
with strict honesty. Although / would
have no hesitation in taking tho oath
were the words expressly authorized b.
lao are omitted land also the words 81
haze not knolcingly violated any election
iaio, 80 far us they apply 10 the act de
hning necessary expenses yet ! can
not, after reading the Act of 1874, de
fining necessary expenses, swear "that
| have not paid or contributed, or prom
ised to pay or contribute, either di
rectly or indirectly, any money OIL
valuable thing to procure my nomina
ton or election Tor appointment ex
cept for necessary and proper expenses
expressly authorized by laU.
1t may be asked why did | spend
this money, knowing the consequences
The answer is did not understand
until ! was well into the campaign
what would be called upon to pay
for, and when did, ! felt that if
should retire | would, as there was
third ticket in the field, endangei
not only the success of the coun
ty ticket, which was very anxious
to see elected, but also perhaps of th,
National ticket; and although in th,
heat and confusion Of the campaign
was always very particular not to con
tribute a cent for any improper pur
pose, ! was not able in the few weeks
it lasted to consider the whole oues
ton rs | have since. | did, however
determine twice to retire from th,
field, but upon reflection resolved tC
fight ii out on the line Of spending
what ] could honestly for the success
Of the whole ticket, so as not to en-
danger its defeat by my withdrawal
and to decline to take my seat if upor
careful consideration of the subject in
the nine weeks that would elapse be
tween election day and the meeting Of
the Senate | should decide that any
part of the money was used for ca.
penses not expressly "amhOrired By lao. n
Having made this full and frank state
ment OF the facts, wish to say that il
! had done anything that considered
wrong or anything which | would
wish to hide, | could have resigned be.
fore the meeting of the Senate, giving
as reason my business engagements,
or something of that kind, but such is
not the case | have nothing to con
ceal, nothing to be ashamed of, and am
ready, as every honest man should be,
to suffer tho consequences of my ao.
tions. make no claim to having been
deceived or kept in ignorance, What
] did, ] did with my eyes open.
Regretting that cannot, as / had
originally hoped, be OF some service,
however slight, to Luzerne and Lack.
awanna counties in the Senate, ] am.
Yours very respectfully,
EoKLEY B. CoxE,
Late Senator. elect for the Twenty first
District.
The Senatorial seat of Mr.. Coke is
accordingly vacant, and an election
must bc held before the district is rep.
resented.
Judge Pearson last evening express.
cd the opinion that Ecklcy B. Coke
was not amenable to a criminal prose.
cution for the confession made by him
in the Senate yesterday of having
spent a large sum Of money to secure
his election, since there Is no admis.
lion Of bis having purchased votes.
THE IpAnfua Tuottaur