The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-03-30
Very Respectfully,


A feeble effort on the part of a few of the
old time kiokers in this town to foment
party strife IN the Republican ranks called
forth the above card from the Chairman OF
the County Committee The trick is so ex-
ceedingly gauzy and silly that one would
scarcely believe full grown men TO be guilty
Of the ike Were it not that a wilfull and
malicious effort has been made to mis-
represent the action OF Chairman Biesecker
and other Republicans we would let il pass
unnoticei.
Some weeks ago the name Of Mr.. Edward
Scull Was announced as a candidate for
Congress at the forthcoming primary cleo
ton. No sooner was this announcement
officially made than the signal fires were
kindled and the faithless braves were sum-
moned 70 meet for the purpose Of devisiDg
ways and means to encompass his over
throw. How to get a candidate and who to
get was the vital question to be considered.
"Col" d. ]. Homer was approached,
but that veteran Of many political cam
paigns, with keen recollection Of the bat
tie Of 1880 and its disastrous and humiliat-
ing results, wisely shook his head and sagely
said 50 No, not for Dan" Mr.. F. J. Kooser
was next waited upon by selfappointed
committee composed Of C. J. Harrison, D.
J. Homer and few others, and was urged
by them to enter the lists. The manner in
which the gentlemen composing the COM
mittee had acted toward him in the late ju-
dicisl contest was too fresh in Mr. Kooser's
mind 10 allow their arguments and urging
to influence him, and he declined to accede
to their request.
In the hope OF inducing Mr.. Kooser to
change his mind and become candidate =
few Maryla land tactics were employed. let
tiers were written TO persons in different
parts Of the county requesting them to write
20 Mr.. Kooser and urge him 10 run, and sew
eral persons from adjoining towns who
were called TO Somerset on business were
solicited by Mr.. Harrison, 70, on their re-
turn home, get up petitions or kilograms to
Mr.. Kooser, urging him TO become a candi-
date.
Saturday, March 10, was the last day on
which a candidate could hand in his an
nouncement under the rules Saturday
evening Mr.. Kooser announced decidedly and
finally that be would not be a candidate,
and it was then that this little clique Of par
ty-wreckers. no one Of whom had the man
hood to make the fight himself, no one Of
-, 5.-.s .,,v,.,,,ce Lf,,safF a. a can3i-
date, in sheer desperation, determined, re-
gzrdless Of all precedents and in defiance Of
the party rules, 10 place candidate from
Blair county in the field.
This having been decided upon, between
half past ten and eleven o'clock Saturday
night, C. J. Harrison called at the office Of
Chairman niesecker and said he wanted =" to
announce Hicks for Congress" Which
Hicks 90 asked the chairman. Why, John
Hicks Of Altoona" replied Harrison, and
here is a check for fifty dollars to pay for
bis announcement" This is entirely ir-
regular. Captain" said Mr.. Biesecker. Il
have invariably required the candidate to
hand in his own announcement and want
to treat them all alike; besides have. no
right to take tie announcement OF man
who is not citizen Of the county" Wei,
Hicks has announced in Cambria county
and / think he has a right to announce
here, A" said Mr.. Harrison. 81 don't think he
has replied the Chairman, "but II you insist
on leaving your check here it can stay for
what its worth" and with this Biesecker
placed the check in the drawer Of his Office
desk. On the following Monday and T,es-
day Chairman Biesecker laid the matter be-
fore the Executive Committee and they were
unanimous in saying that his action in refus-
ing TO receive the announcement Of can
didate not citizen of the county was prop
er and that 10 have done otherwise would
have been in violation Of the rules govern
ing our primary elections.
Tuesday evening Mr.. Harrison was called
into Chairman Bieseeker's office and the
Chairman offered to return his check, but
Mr. Harrison refused to receive it. The fol-
lowing Saturday morning be again called
and asked for the check, and il was taken
frosa the drawer where it had lain since the
Saturday evening previous and was handed
10 him.
The above was shown chairman Biesecker
Tuesday morning and he was asked If our
statement of what occurred at his Office
when Mr.. Harrison called 10 announce Mr..
Hicks was correct. He replied that 1t was,
and said IF Captain Harrison is correctly
reported. then he deliberately and wilfuIly
perverts the truth when be says that he
showed me 3 telegram or that lin any way
consented or agreed to announce Mr.. Hicks.
II fthere was no question as 10 the right Of