Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-08-01
The Mercer Co. Convention.

u.
town, and its location preeludes it from Dc
ing ANYTHING else. The Court house II
By grove in the centre oi INC
,o-, all ,he business houses Of the town
ara around that square, and there are
severaI handsome residences on the street
running north and south and skirunS the
Court House square on the eastern SIDE
The only animation or life to be seen IN the
town last Tuesday was in and about the
Court House, and the reason for this was
the meeting of the Republican County
Committee. to take action on the charges
of bribery that have been made and con
fessed. in connection with the. nomination
NJ Major Alex. Mcdowell, of Sharon, for
Congress.
~Our Alex" az they call him up there,
was in the crowd shaking hands and talk
ing with everybody; so was the Honorapie
Samuel Miller, and SO were the other
politicians Of the town.
TWAS sometime after l o'clock when the
crowd started up the stairways to the lttle
court room, which was soon comfortaoly
filed, and fully half-past one when Chair-
man Perry called the meeting to order WIN
a tremendous blow with his hammer on the
Judges bench, and stated its object.
Mr.. Perry referred to the charges Oh
bribery so quickly following the adjourn
ment of the New Castle convention; ad-
yised cool and deliberate action, the sur
render of no rights, the doing of nothing
that they would regret, and called upon
Major Mcdowell to make his statement
The Major stepped into the box-like
''bench. amid tremendous applause, and
after it subsided made speech somewhat
similar to the one he made to our Co. Com
mittee, though more lengthy. Townsend
promised to nominate him, and he hnally
was nominated on the 195th ballot, had
never had any conversation with the three
Beaver Co. delegates who voted for him,
did not and will not pay them dollar nor
authorize anybody to pay for him, AMI as
far as he knows not dollar was paid lie
courts rigid and searching investigation,
referred to the action of the Beaver and
Butler County Committees; in the interest
of harmony he advised the Co. Committee
to appoint committee to meet with those
OF the other counties and search and ex-
anime, and if their report found himself
or his delegates connected with the bribery
he will step down and out; he advised do
ing nothing rash, but that the Co. Com
mittee be firm and show the Republicans
of the district that they would have justice
and fair treatment; he does not want to
force himself on the party and in It's IN
terest will step aside if found guilty Of
fraud or illegal practices. He believes the
Republicans of the 25th district are willing
to concede justice as between county ana
county and man and man, they must be
friends and not enemies, there Is no room
for two candinates but plenty of room for
one; Mercer Co. was well represented at
New Cattle and there are no charges
against either its candidate or delegates.
The Major was heartily applauded
several times during his speech, and seem
ed to have the absolute confidence of all or
nearly all his audience.
4 motion for a committee of five on reso-
lutions then carried, it was appointed, ana
the Chair announced recess Of twenty
minutes, and somebody said he had receiv-
ed a telegram from Quay to quit and send
him an original package.
The feeling against Quay in the county
seems to be intense. Threats of boiling
Delamater, though they gave him their
delegates last Spring, were heard on al!
sides. They seem to think that Mcdowell
il being made the victim of conspiracy
that originated with Quay.
The committee on resolutions reported
and the resolutions were read. They speak
of the charges of bribery, of McDowelrs
disclaimer, of their explicit faith and con
fdence in him, but at his request will
name committee of three to meet with
the committees of the other counties, their
committee to act with others and make
report to their Co. Committee at a future
meeting; and if Major Mcdowell had
nothing to do with the bribery they will
claim tho district nomination for him.
The Chairman asked for remarks from
Mercer, Beaver, Butler or Lawrence Co.
men present.
Sam Miller arose and said that he noticed
that the Rev. DIR. Mehard, of Wilmington.
fnr ha
Dr., who said he was not there to make
speech. He thought the resolutions should
be passed, though it was settled principle
that fraud smirched nomination, and
though the nomination was regular, it was
the duty Of candidate to decline such q
and again 60 before the people;
cases must be considered with
their surroundings and antecedents; Mercer
Co. should adhere to the Major on his
of the case, he knew the Major
by reputation; it was well-known that two
years ago Mcdowell could have had dele
gate from Lawrence Co. for $3.50, but didn't
take him.
Then Sam Miller was called for; Sam
hesitated; somebody said Sam was bashful
and that brought down the house. Sam
spoke highly of McDowelfs character, is
sure that an investigation will clear him,
end then they should all stand by him, as
such action was due to Mercer Co., its Is
delegates, Mcdowell and manhood.
Henry Hall was the next speaker. He
said We are all for Mcdowell because We
know him; we won't take the word Of three
selfconfessed boodlers against his reputa-
tation, and We want investigation. We
don't want Mcdowell to be the victim of
of somebody clse's sin.
Mr.. J. G. Brown, of Greenville, formerly
editor of the argus, believes Mcdowell
made no improper proposals for his four
delegates. but if a committee investigated
and reported, then what7 This is not a
question Of McDowells guilt or innocence,
briberyi" Were these three votes pur-
chasedf" II there was bribery, if these
three votes were purchased, then the NOM
nation is invalid and there was no nomi-
nation made. The question of McDowelPs
guilt or innocence was false position.
Mr.. Brown was the only Mercer Co.
speaker who had the courage to touch the
vital point of the matter, and his remarks
were received in silence, except the NUT
tered threats of revenge and disapproba-
ton