The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-05-03
Won ON His MERITS,
But Only By One Vote.
J. NJ. Berkey Elected County Super
Intendent for the Third Consecu-
tive Term.-kn Honor Not En-
Ioyed by Any OF His Prede
cessors Since the war.
SALARY REDUCED TO THE MINIMUM
ALLOWED BY LAW.

! bore very cheerful message TO the sex oed
Of County Superintendent Berkey late yes
terday afternoon. Il read as follows:
..You are reelected by one majority. and with
O'' signed ST ned - Yous FRIENDS"
The streets Of Somerset were crowded yes
terday afternoon with school directors and
local politicians from all sections Of the
county. Such buuonboling has seldom
been seen in Somerset at an exciting politi-
cal election as there was among the school
directors By the adherents of J. NJ. Berkey
and Z +. Pritts. Mr. Berkey was deprived
by sickness, from being present, in fact his
entire canvass was conducted by bis friends
without his advice or assistance, he being in
/ such feeble condition as to be unable to
hear the reports Of his supporters or TO offer
any suggestions as to the plan Of campaign
being pursued in his behalf
But Mr.. Berkeys friends were numerous.
They recognized in him the most efficient
County Superintendent this county has had
since the days before the war . they had care
fully noted the progress the district and
borough schools have made under his super
intendency, and they determined that be
was the right man in the right place and
that they would keep ham there for another
three years term.
When the convention assembled, at half
past one O'Clock, the court room was crowd
ed to its full capacity. Jonas NJ. Cook, Of
Somerset borough, was elected president, and
J. d. Liyengood, of Salisbury, and DR.. W
II Gardner, of New Centreyille, Secretaries.
After the roll OF directors had been call
ed, Mr.. HOlss sspple, OF Paint, arose and ask
ed whether the directors Of the newly organ
lied borough of benson were entitled 70
vote in the Convention In answer to his
question a letter from the Deputy-State Su-
perintendent was produced, stating that the
directors of Benson borough, if the board
had been properly organized, were enti-
ted 10 a vote in the convention John
z. Scott, Esq, Of the Somerset board,
read an extract from the Act Of Assembly,
enacted in 1892, which IS at direct variance
with the opinion from the Office Of the State
Superintendent. Chairman Cook, very prop
erly, under the circumstances, decided that
the directors from Benson were entitled to
a vote. But the correctne ess Of the position
taken BY Mr.. Scott is conceded BY lawyers.
The decision Of the chair was reeeIy-
ed with applause by the adherents Of Priits-
On motion Of director it WAS then decided
TO fix the salary Of the Superintendent al the
minimum sum allowed BY law. After this
nominations for Superintendent were deeiar-
ed to be in order Frank Collins, of the Ber-
lin board, placed the name of J. NJ BeTkey
in nomination, arising to his feet only long
enough 10 say: nominate J. NJ. Berkey,
and straightwSy resumed his seat. John
Darr. of Lincoln township, nominated f. Z.
Pritts in a few well chosen remarks. he
was followed by Chas J Harrison, Of Som
erset borough, who read from manuscript a
five minutes speech eulogistic OF
Pitts. Frank Johns, Of Meyersdale,
Chairman OF the Democratic county COM
mittee, seconded the nomination OF Pitts.
SIR. Johns tried TO create the impression that
he represented the sentiment of Summit and
Meyersdale, but the vote showed that
those two precincts were about evenly divid-
ed
The roll Gil was then begun snd as il pro-
ceeded the dropping of a pin could have
been heard in any part of the crowded room,
50 great was the interest As the vote con-
tinned and the candidates kept neck and
neck the interest increased. The result
was not certain until the roll of Wellers-
burg borough, the last district on the list,
was called.
The total vote cast as reported by the
tellers, was Berkey, "a Pritts, 90. The tai
Les kept by the clerks and a number Of per
sons in the room all showed the vote to
stand Berkey, SO. Pritts, %. The Chair ac-
cepted the tally Of the teliers and declared
ar. Berkey elected By majority Of one vote.
Just about the time the Chair was about
to declare the vote an officious director from
Somerset borough, who had cast his vote for
Pntts rushed ap 70 the Chairman and an
noanced that the tally kept by him showed
q tie vote No attention was paid TO his idle
claim, however and the result WAS declared
by the Chair as the tellers reported it.
Mr.. Pntts developed great strength in
this his frzt canvass for Office, but the pOlit-
ical tactics Of some OF his avowed friends
will not rebound to his advantage