The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-01

Representative II. o. Keefer Tells How
j. u. Meredith Tried to Bribe Him
to Vote for John wauamakor.

to Vote for John wanamakor.
Pittsburg Dispatch Dec, "a.
W. H. Thomas, Of Connellsville, hS
now had several weeks in which TO repI
I TO the general denial Of the Westmorelnnd
Legislators to his romark made to CLARK II.
Baldwin, that two Of tho delegation had
/ been fixed" for Wanamaker and the
other two would be secured for the Quaker
importer Tho assemblymen conclude
that Thomas prefers the policy OF silence,
and would much rather that the matter
be dropped
g. o. keefer, one Of the representatives
elect however is not of Thomas way of
thinking. He was approached by one
Meredith and offered $500 before he was
nominated to vote for Wanamaker. Mr..
Keefer is smarting under the aspersion
cast upon the Westmoreland ,tegation bv
the voluble Thomas and when the four
members met to answer the Connellsville
man he had prepared a sharp and vigorous
statement, but was overruled by his col,
leagues, who were content for the time bel
ing with general denial. aS
1T developed at the meeting that tbrtj
OF the assemblymen had been vi ed Inv
agents. Mr. Keefer was far from satisfied
with the lie direct that was hurled int
Thomas teeth, and, having waited a rea
sonable length of time, he feels he owes n
TO the public and himself to tell of the at
tempt to bribe him. He issued the follow
ing signed statement yesterday:
MIR. Koefer Issues Statement.
owing to various reports which have
been published in the Pittsburg news
papers relating TO the bribery and at-
tempted bribery of members of the leqis-
lature from Fayette and Westmore]epd
counties, wish to make personal state
ment OF the matter so far as it relates TO
me. During the latter part of March
1876 gentleman, who gave his name as
j. Is. Meredith, called at the treasurer,s
oilloe in Greensburg and asked for a pri-
vate view with me- granted it, when be
asked me II were not candidate for the
legislature. told him 1 was.
He then said that che Thought tbev
would be in position to help me- Not
knowing at that time what he meant
said Il would be glad for any helm 7
could get, when he said he would see 1ne
later ---0
In few days he called again, but was
no0 IN the otace. A short time efterward
he telephoned me from Pittsbure one
morning to meet him that evening at tbe
Union depot 1 consulted a friend. who
advised me to go and see what he wanted
l then telephoned him that would meet
MIN that evening In the Union depot.
went to Pittsburg that evening. and
found him waiting for me. He said, 81 |
suppose you want to know what l oalled |
you here forP" I replied that 1 did. He |
said They wanted to help me in NV
nomination, and If I would promise one
thing he would give me $500 to paw INV
Election expenses"
asked him what he wanted me to prom-
se to do and he said; "To vote for the
man we name for the United States SEN
lte told him that would not prom-
se TO vote for man for United Statoe
senator whose name did not even know
he then asked me what l thought of .Tobn
Wanamaker. l said; II do not know
much about Mr. Wanamaker; that he
vas probably very good man. but 7
'ould not consider his proposition; that
were nominated and elected would
laye an oath to take at HARRISBURG and
hd not propose to commit perjury or ac.
ept bribe"
lie replied, saying that If took such n
erious view of 1t we would drop the mat
,,,rn e1ssi1o Z haTe n0J been ap-