The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-29
LEAR TO CAMERON
Urging Peace by Removing the Cause
for Strife.

Devoted to the party.
THE Ex-CHA1RMAN OF THE HARRIS
BURG CONVENTION WILL VOTE FOR
THE REPUBLICAN TICKET, BUT Ex-
PECT TO SEE 1T DEFEATED-ADvICE
TO CAMERON.
philadelphia Press,)
Ex-Attorney-G g eneral Lear furnished
The Press with the following open
letter to Senator Cameron
Hon. j. ID. Cameron.
My DEAR SIR: Some of our friends
have succeeded in getting the party
entangled in the most incomprehensi-
bic and apparently inextricable maze
which l have ever witnessed, and
unless 1 can get you to join me in her.
culean effort to untangle it, the whole
business will soon go to the "demnition
bowwows." an doing the best can to
straighten things out, but some of your
friends will not cooperate with me, and
In fact, treat me rs recalcitrant mar
plot, and Others call me names.
I'm order to understand what to do,
1t is first necessary to state to you the
difficulty, and in the manner in which
it was brought about. The most seri-
Gus part of the complication is the re-
suit ofthe adrot managemento of Whar-
ton Baker and Charles s. Wolfe, prac-
ticed upon the inspecting innocence
and guileless simplicity of M. S. Quay,
T. w. Cooper and Chris Magee. One
John 1. Mitchell-who 1 believe, is
your colleague in the United States
Senate met Messrs. Barker and
Wolfe in Philadelphia, and complained
to them that he was not getting his
share of political patronage which was
dispensed in Pennsylvania. and, that
while his friends received something,
it was not an equal proportion, either
in quality or quantity, and it was a
repetition of the story of the two broth
ers who slept in the same bed, the
younger and smaller of whom COM
planned to his mother that the big
brother did not give him his share of
the bed, which the elder brother de-
MED, and avowed that he took but
half of it. But the smaller boy ex-
planned that the big boy took his half
right out of the middle. This allega-
ton that you took your share of the
political patronage out of the middle,
leaving your colleague only the edges,
and somewhat ragged at that, was
looked upon as a grave infringement
upon the principle of equity the very
essence of which is equality.
THE PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCE.
In order to ascertain the truth of
falsity of the charge, and if true to de-
wise a remedy, it was agreed to submit
the whole question to the arbitrament
of ten boni ct legales hOmines to be
selected on behalf of the respective
parties, five to represent the rights and
protect the interests of each side. In
moment of misplaced confidence,
you or your friends selected or agreed
to accept, two such incolnpetents in
political management as Messrs. Quay
and Magee, to represent, with three
others, your side of the case, with
chairman Cooper as an occasional
alternate for Magee in his absence.
Mr.. Wolfe was the chairman of the
committee of five representing the
other interest, and who never says
much, but "is sly, devilish sly" took
advantage of the weakness Of your
representatives and induced them to
open the whole question of the party
grievances, and succeeded in obtaining
admissions by implication, that pat
ronage is used to promote personal
political ends that offices are bestowed
within the party upon other reasons
than the sole basis of fitness; that
competent and faithful officers are re-
move without cause; that nominating
conventions are packed with delegates,
by committee and other means incon-
sistent with fair representation OF
the Republican masses; and that the
ascertained popular will has not been
fully carried, out in State and National
Conventions and by those holding Of
flee by the favor of the party. These
are grave charges, and it il alleged
that they were aimed at your method
of dsipensings.t the political patronage
of the State, and conducting the action
of the policy of the party. The admls-
sion of the truth Ofthese serious charges
are found among the declarations OF
principles proclaimed by your friends,
and the remedies provided for their re-
dress. Ifthey are not adMitted, the
declarations of policy and principles
and rule of action adopted by thai
Peace Conference are meaningless
Among them are the following:
First. That we unequivocally con
denim the use of patronage to promote
personal political ends, and require tha
all offices bestowed within the party
shall be upon the sole basis of fitness.
Second. That competent and faith
full officers should not be renewed eX
cept for cause.
Fourth. That the ascertaiued popu
lar will shall be faithfully carried ou
i'm State and National Conventions
and by those holding office by tht
favor of the party.
ResoiUed, That we also recommenC
the doption of the following permanen
rlles for the holding of State Conven
tions and the conduct of the party:
FNba dalaoatnS IN Stata Con vent ion