Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-10-23
To the Democracy of Clearf1eld
and Centre Counties.


ton in this Congressional District, we
deem it but fair TO you, and to our
selves as the Representatives of the
Democracy Of Centre and Clearfleld
counties, TO make statement OF the
condition Of affairs as we found them
| in this District, and to rendet TO you
an account OF our stewardship.
The undersigned were appointed by
| the County Conventions Of Clearlield
and Centre, the representative bodies
of the great Democratic party of said
counties, as conferees, to represent our
respective counties in the Democratic
Congressional Conference Of the
| Twentieth District of Pennsylvania,
and instructed to use all honorable
means to secure the denomination of
eX Gov. CURTIN, our present distin-
| guished and efficient member THAT
we met the Conferees of Clinton, Elk,
Union, and Mifflin counties in Lock
Haven on the 25th Of September, where
an organization was effected. d.-That n
motion was there made tn 60 into Sc
cret session in one of the small rooms
in the Court House. Your Conferees
remembering the odium attached to
the Star Chamber proceedings of the
last Senatorial conference, and that in.
nocent men of our counties were there
smrched, refused to 60 into secret con-
clave, and demanded an open conference.
That we were voted down, the confer
ees Of the other four counties adjourned
to the Court House. where, after some
deliberation the Tesolutionwas recinded.
On the following day the full confer
ence met in the Democratic Club Room
Your conferees were there met by a
delegation from the miners and work
ing men of HoutZdale, Woodward
township and vicinity, who presented
their credentials and copy of the pro-
ceedings of their convention and the
following resolution, viz:
l. Resolved, That we, the miners
and working men of Houtzdale, Wood
ward township and vicinity, will sup
port no man for Office who is not
known TO be friendly to the interests
of the working men, and who will not
support such measures as beneticially
effect the laborer's interests.
2, Resolved, That whereas HON. A.
G. CURTIN, our present representative
| in Congress from this Congressional
District, has shown himself by his
votes, speeches and course in Congress
during thepast four years to be the sin
cere and earnest friend OF the working
man, that we heal tily endorse him and
respectfully demand his return to Con-
gress. and to that end we tpiU cote and
cork for him TO the exclusion Of any 9th
er 1lOminee.
8. ReS0lred, That copy Of these
resolu tions he presented to the Demo-
cratic Congressional Conference, and
that in the event Of their failing to
nominate Hon. a. G.. CURTIN then to
present The same to the Republican
Congressional Conference.
You will see by the above resolu-
tion the determination of the miners
and working men to vote for eX Gov.
CURTIN to the exclusion of any other
nominee, The laboring vote of this
district amounts to between six and
eight thousand votes. That to make
nomination antagonistic 10 the spirit of
these resolutions would be suicidal to
our party. We adjourned from Lock
| Haven to st. Mary's where delegates
|
gamated Association appeared and pre-
sented copy of the proceedings of
their convention held at Dubois, and
resolution demanding the denomination
Of ex-Gov. CURTIN. To both OF these
appeals from organized labor the con
fCrees of Elk, Clinton, Union and Mfr
lin turned deaf ear.
1t were worse than useless TO follow
! the conference to the different places
of meetings Suffice it to say that
throughout the entire district your con-
! ferees found but one sentiment. We
have presented every phase of the case
to the other conferees, hoping that they
might respect the wishes of the people
of this district They failed to do So.
At BellefOnte resolutions were present
ed by the Cleyeland and Hendricks
Clubs Of OSceola and Remove, asking
the re nomination of ex-Gov. CURTIN,
with the same effect. Hee it ecame
patent to all that another adjournment
would be forced and valuable time fit
| tered away, and the party sent to the
/ polls in November with no candidate.
The iron hand necessity was laid on
your conferees, "a Congressman at stake,
and disorganiZation and disintegration
staring us in the face. In view of all
| these facts, and many others which
could be enumerated, there was but
one resort for us representatives Of the
people of this district, viz to with
draw from the conference, nominate
Gov. CURTIN, aud submit the case to
the voters at the polls. This your con-
ferees have done.
The result of it all is that your con-
ferees, representing majority of the
Democratic voters, have made nom
| iuation that voices the sentiment Of the
Democratic masses of the district
The conferees of Clinton, Elk, Union
and Mifflin, representing a minority Of
the Democratic voters, bolted that
nomination and put in the field Mr..
Hall of Elk. Your conferees have no
words of censure for their fellow con-
ferees from the other counties. We re-
cognize the delicate position in which
they were placed. Held firmly in the
grasp Of local candidates, whose single
idea was the defeat or ex-GOv. CUR.
TIN, sense Of honor compelled them
to obey the behests Of their candidates.
We were treated with uniform courtesy
by them. and by the people of all the
counties in which our conference met,
and we sincerely regret that anything
of an unpleasant nature should have
occurred here. But we are not repson-
| cihlp For what wa onu1d nOt prnvnnt