The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-06-04
BRoruERsvALLEY REPUBLICAN.
Gen. Koontz as DR.. JykelI and Mr..
Hyde.


SOMERSET, Pa, June ?, 1896.
Nh EDIToR -
Two or three years ago the reading public
was greatly excited over little volume from
the pen of Robt Louis Stevenson, entitled
"Dr. Jykell an Mr. Hyde in which the dual
life led by the principal character was por-
trayed. The work met with an almost un-
precedented success for the reason that every
community has its dual characters around
whom sycophants endeavor to draw the
cloak of obscurity and through which the
stubborn light of truth rarely penetrates. DIR.
Jykell. il will be remembered, was pictured
as one OF natures noblemen. His purity,
benevolence and charity were sung by all
who knew his name, but when night shut
out the day and while under the influence
of a secret drug compounded 10y himself, he
was transformed into the monster Hyde,
whose every instinct was of the lower era
ton and whose idea of virtue was as crude
as his other instincts were brutal. The
miserable existence of this dual character as
portrayed by the novelist left profound
Impression on the reader.
Somerset has its dual characters as well as
other sections of the moral vineyard and it
is the purpose of the writer to shed little
light on only the dual political character
OF one Of our most prominent Republi-
cans, at this time.
General William II. Koontz has been
doing the Jykell-Hyde act in local politics
for a number of years.
At the beginning of every campaign he
proclaims himself as good Republican as
his neighbor. and challenges proof of his
disloyalty to the party tEat has so FREQUENT
ly hOnored him.
In 1874 he procured the congressional
cunferees from this county, after promising
! Mr.. Cessna that he would not lie candidate;
went into the conference and prevented Mr..
Cessna's nomination and Hyde-like, gloated
over the loss ofthe district to the Republicans.
In 1881 he advocated the nomination OF
VIM. NJ Hall for Judge, at the Republican
primary election in this county and in the
| fall worked openly for the election Of Judge
Baer, a Democrat.
In 1882 he championed the cause of John
Stewart, for the sole purpose Of defeating
the regularly nominated candidate-Gen.
Beaver-and electing Democrat-Robt. E.
Pattison-to the Gubernatorial chair.
In the spring of 1856 he exerted every
effort to defeat the nomination of Mr.. Scull
for Congress in this county at the primary
election and before the conference and in the
fall counseled with Mr.. Tate, the Democratic
candidate and worked openly for The latters
election. lie urged the election of ii Demo-
erai in this Congressional district and stump
ed for a Repqbli an-McComas-of Mary
land, in the same campaign.
Again, in the campaign of 1883, he labored
to secure the defeat Of Mr.. Scull and to pro-
cure the election of Thomas NJ. Greeyy, the
Democratic candidate for Congress In this
district
Asa dual character there can be no doubt
at all of Mr.. Kconiz's pre-eminent ab. ity to
fill the BILL and.as Jykell-Hyde politician
he might well be termed bowling success
since he is loud in his protestations of 10y
atty to the party in the spring, when the Re-
publican nominations are made, and just as
vociferous in his denunciation Of the nor i
nees in the fall, when the general election
comes off.
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