The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-16
A Plain Statement Of Facts By County
Chairman Berkley.

Tho publication Of certain state
inents and ailidavits in the Somerset |
Standard of June 10, 1897. concerning |
the announcements for the approaching |
Republican primary election requires cor |
rection in certain points, and | beg to
submit to your consideration the follow
ing:
In the first place, l refused no mans
announcement fee on the ground that
would not call primary, nor did ever
say to any person there would be no
primary. What did say in several con-
versations was that hoped such an ami
cable arrangement might be made among
the candidates as would avoid the neces-
sity for holding primary.
After the bitter strife of last year my
sole thought was that this year should
heal the breach and not widen il: that
mems passions should be cooled instead
of super-heated again in vicious contest
for nomination to such modest offices as
Jury Commissioner and Poor Director.
But when it became certain that no such
arrangement could be made determin-
ed in accordance with precedent and
rule l3, of the Rules and Regulations Of
the Republican party of this county,
(which rule reads as follows:
('Rule l3. The duty OF the chairman shall
be . 70 make assessments ON candi-
dates To defmy expenses ofannouncing can
didates for Office, pay expenses of convention
OF return judges, make arrangements forgcn-
eral election campaigns, and assess nominat-
ed candidates for all necessary legitimate cN-
penseS.")
that the candidates who wished To be
announced should, share and share alike,
assist in raising the necessary funds.
Having for some years paid the Chair
mans checks l well knew that the bal
ance on hand was insufficient TO hold
primary according to usual custom. Ac-
cordingly | did not receive announce
ments fees from candidates and after
wards demand propOrtionate shares as al
legged by the Standard, but from the very
start, on Tuesday, May 18th, told each
and every candidate who wanted TO an
nounce that | would receive announce
ment fees from and announce as candi-
dates only those who would agree by
June 5. 1897, to pay their proportionate
shares of the deficit. l also stated plain
ly to each candidate, or 10 the person who
wanted to announce a name, that on Sat
urlay, June 5th, the last day for announe-
ing, | would have ready full statement
showing amount in hand and the
amount necessary 10 be made up so that
all could see what the proporiionate share
a IA
as they saw fit.
The first man who paid me $40 accord
ingly was David Cover, to " hom made
a full statement and gave written re-
ceipt, with agreement on my part if he
would not by June 5th pay his proper
tionate share / would return the money
and not announce his name. Yet he
| Cover swears that / never made de-
mand from him. challenge publica-
ton of the receipt. Mr.. Cover spoke To
me several times, intervening date of
payment and June 5th, and in the last
conversation told me that ''he would pay
nothing extra, as there was not enough
| in the Office"
The same arrangement was made with
Mr.. /. j. Bear, who was in Somerset on
June 5th, but failed to call on me.
On Monday, June 9TH, he offered To
pay the expense of holding primary in
his own township. | told him that would
be unfair and that l would treat all can
| didates alike.
The next candidate desiring 10 an
nounce was John II. Shaffer, who called
on Tuesday, May 18th. made him the
same statement of deficit, etc, in the
presence Of Josiah Swank Shaffer said
he would see about it and left TO consult
with his friends. He returned later ac-
cOmpanied 10y y. f. Berkey and said
Here is $40 for my announcement fee for
Jury Commissioner will pay no more"
] told him that l would not receive his
announcement fee on those conditions and
would not announce his name as a can
didate. He pushed $40 bill under the
cashiers window of The First National
Bank and walked out.
Practically the same conversation was
had with Messrs. Isaiah Good, (who paid
for himself and Chas. +. Cook. III. +. Bar
ron, p. L. Miller, 5. U. Shober, (who
| paid for Mr.. Foustl and J. A. Berkey,
Esq, (whO paid for a lam 5. Miller. }
They all left their money on the
bank counter as did Mr.. Sbe.ser. In
subsequent conversations fessrs. Shober
and Barron agreed in saying that
neitheros'.iem would as Chairman pay
tfc deIicit out of his Own pocket.
Adam 5. Miller never rendered me $40
as he has sworn he did. lie called twice
and said he was ready to announce-as
he alleges-but he never offered to pay
any money.
| :. L. Shober is i'm error when he says
that he saw Mr.. FOust tender me $40
Foust said that he was ready to announce
but made no tender of announcement fee.
ON the other hand the candidates whom
/ have announced at once acquiesced,
| when made the same statement as to the
deficit, that the Chairman should not be
called upon to pay this large sum of
money out of his own pocket, and
promptly arranged for the payment of
| their proportionate shares of the expense
ofholding primary.
on Saturday, June 5ih. only one OF the
would-be-candidates called upon me.
He inquired if l had prepared state
ment, to which I replied afiirmatively
and exhibited to him a statement exactly
as it appears here:
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES.
]. Committeeman and clerks, q at
s. 550---.-,-..-.-.....-..... .........-.-.-.. s 20 20
| Tickets. blanks and StationcIy-.- % On
| ;. Mileage for return Judges - ~ g7
| 4 Rent Tor rooms for election ---..-.- G9 75
| }. Incidentals. postage, computation
| clerks, janitor, etc---...-.--.........- - 80
Total .--,.... ....-..-..----... .-.... i9s "a
| By amount received from my prede-