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

We copy the following from the Wilkes.
Barre Leader, published at his home.
The editor says;
"An unparalleled example OF lofty
regard for conscientious promptings
was shown in the Senate Chamber of
Pennsylvania by Eelsley b, Coke, who
was chosen to represent this (2lst) Sen
atorial district in the Legislature at the
late election. Mr.. Coke refused to
take the oath of Office for reasons set
forth in bis explanation elsewhere pre-.
sented This action of the part Of
Mr.. Coke will pass into history as a
most noteworthy incident Naturally
enough it created profound sensation
in the Senate, and we may well infer
that many members of that august
body, especially those created by tho
Republican machine, knew that if the
veil was torn from the methods by
which their own seats were secured,
that they, too would be compelled to
vacate.
"The careful and wise reader of Mr.
ooEO's ivttor viii dipuUvvr lnaJ " Is Il
cutting satire upon the law which pre-.
scribes what candidate for office may
and may not do. His constant reiter.
alton Of the italicized words "erpreSSly
authorised Jy ldp," indicates that Mr..
Coke intended to show up in a way
never before attempted, and one quite
likely to attract universal attention,
the absolute absurdity Of a law which
makes it possible for a man not quite
so conscientious as Mr.. Coke, to do all
and even more than he did in securing
his election and then to charge it all
up to things authorized This is the
way the law has been evaded ever
since its enactment, and Mr. Coke pre-.
sents the first case on record of man
boldly refusing to accept the evasions
which other men around him did with
out hesitation. For how many of the
present members of the Legislature
arc there who did not spend a little
something outside the rules "authoriz-
ed ?" We take it that if every man
had made yesterday as honest and as
conscientious a statement as Mr. Coke
did, that new elections would be the
rule in nearly every district in the
State.
"The question will now come up as
to what is to be done under the cir.
cumstances. The Legislature will or.
der a new election to take place within |
short time This will bring us close
on to our municipal elections in Feb
ruary. The canvass promises to be
warm and exciting one with this new
contest for Senator thus suddenly pre-,
cipitated Under the circumstances
there appears to be but one thing left
for the Democracy of the Twenty.frst
Senatorial District to do, and that is
to renomnate and re.elect EclSley b.
Coke. Already the opposition are at
work. Their organ in this city to.
day, refusing to see anything righteous
or commendable in the conduct of Mr..
Coke, rails at him, and by mean insin-
uation, attempts to belittle him in the
eyes of his constituents. Long ago we
said that Mr.. Coke showed that he
had big head and big heart. Now
he shows that he has big conscience
too. Turning back the pages of politi-
cal history in Luzorne, we shall find
charged up against the Republican
candidates, who have been successful
aspirants ior high Office, much, very
much, that will not stand the test of
honesty under the law as measured by
Mr.. Coxe's conscientious standard.
The least the Radicals in the Twenty
first District say about bribery, bull.
dozing and wholesale frauds in the con-
duct of campaigns, the better it will
be for them just at present. 1t is re.
lief to turn from the niggardly express
sion of the Record of this city, to the
frank and manly utterances of the
Scranton Republican as follows;
"'The case Of Eckley B. Coke, SEN
ator.clect of the Twenty.frst District,
who declines to take the prescribed
oath of Office, for the reasons as stated
IN our dispatch, is anomalous and
shows super.c conscientiousness rare.
ly found in politicians. The position
taken by Mr., Coke is creditablc to his
sense of right, however absurd it may
strike the professional politician. His
objections to taking the oath as pre-.
scribcd, as set forth in his statement,
suggests a change in the law that will
cover the expenses as are therein nam.
ed. Mr.. Coxc's refusal to qualify will
compel new election before the
Twcnty.frst District can be represent
cd at Harrisburg"