The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-06
OFFER OF $500 sPURNED.
Representative L. O. Keefer Tells How
j. B. Meredith Tried to Bribe Him
to Vote for John wanAmaker.

W. H Thomas. of Connellsville, has
now had several weeks in which 20 reply
TO the general denial OF the Wessmoreland
legislators to his remark made 10 Clark T.
Baldwin, that two of the delegation had
been fixed for Wanamaker. and the
other two would be secured for the Quaker
importer. The assemblymen conclude
that Thomas prefers the policy Of silence,
and would much rather that the matter
se dropped.
b. O. Keefer. one OF the representatives
elect, however. is not of Thomas way Of
thinking He was approached by one
Meredith aud offered 500 before he was
nominated 10 vote for Wanamaker. Mr.
Kecfer is smarting under the asperslOn
cast upon the Westlnoreland delegation by
the voluble Thomas, and when the fouI
members met to answer the Connellsville
man he had prepared sharp and vigorous
statement. but was overruled by his col
leagues. who were content for the time be-
ing with a general denial
1t developed az the meeting that three
of the assemblymen had been visited by
agents Mr.. Keefer was far from satisfied
with the lie direct that was hurled into
Thomas teeth, and, having waited a rea-
sonable length Of time, he feels he owes il
10 the public and himself 10 tell OF the at
tempt 70 bribe him. He issued the follow
ing signed statement yesterday;
Mr.. EeeIer Issues a Statement
Owing 10 various reports which have
been pablishei in the Piftsburg news
papers relating to the bribery and at
tempted bribery OF members of the legis-
latLre from Fayette and Westmoreland
counties, 1 wish 10 make a personal state
ment Of the matter 50 far as it relates 20
me. Daring the latter part of March,
Is36, a gentleman, who gave his name as
J. B. Meredith called at the treasurer's
Office in Greensburg and asked for pri-
vate view with me granted it, when he
asked me II l were not candidate for the
legislature. told MIN / was
He then said that "he thought they
would be in a position 10 help me. Not
knowing NJ that time what he meant
said: Il would be glad for any help I
could get, when be said he would see me
later.
In few days he called again, but 1 was
not in the Office. a short time afterward
he telephoned me from Pittsburg one
morning 70 meet him that evening at the
Union depot. 1 consulted friend, who
advised me to go and see what he wanted.
! then relsphoned him that would meet
him that evening in the Union depot.
I went 70 Pittsburg that evening. and
found him waiting for me He said: u
suppose you want to know what 1 called
you here for:" / replied that / did. He
said: They wanted to help me in my
nomination, and if l would promise one
thing he would give me $500 TO pay my
election expenses.
/ asked him what he wanted me to prom
ise TO DO and he said: To vote for the
nan We name for the United States SEN
s.te Told him that l would not prom
ise to vote for a man for United States
senator whose name did not even know.
He then asked me what thought Of John
WGnamaker. / said: i do not know
much about Mr.. Wanamaker; that he
was probably very good man. but
could not consider his proposition; that
II were nominated and elected I would
have al oath to take at Harrisburg and
did not propose to commit perjury or ac-
cept bribe-
he replied, saying that If l took such a
se-iOns view OF it we would drop the mat
ter Since that time l have not been an
preached by any one with an offer of
money TO vote for any candidate for
United States senator B. q. kEEFER
VIII Swear to the Expose.
Mr. Keefcr is ready 20 make oath to the
above statement at any time. For several
days he has been III a: his home. which is
located about four miles in the country
from Irwin station The nearest Justice of
the peace is a mile away, 50 under the cir
cumstances Mr.. Keefer was unable to put
his recital il the form Of an affidavit
Il does not appear who Meredith is or
where he lives. bat il is known he has
had considerable business to transact for
TIE last year with the Westmoreland
county commissioners II is said a firm
which he represents has been doing con-
tract work for the county. Mr.. Keefer
understands that Meredith lives in Frank
lin county. While he never saw Mere
dith before he tried To bribe him. Keefer
savs he would recognize him anvwher..
Since March he had not seen Meredith
until about four weeks ago. when he
noticed MIN sitting in the commissioners
Office They mutually nodded. but did
not exchange "a word Mr.. keefer said
he did not care To know him
Country Treasurer SaInm says ne re-
members Meredith He called at the Office
last March inquiriHg for Gr. Keerer. who
was not in. he appeared the next day.
but keefer was still absent. Then he pre-
sented his card TO the treasurer and said:
"keefer doeSn't know me and never saw
HIM but wish you would give him my
card. and tell him that ! will call him bv
telephone some time in the near future" "
Mr.. Samm said Keeter consulted him
about going 70 PittS0urg 70 sec Meredith
when the latter telephoned Mr.. Samm
replied that there could lie no harm in see
ing what he wanted, and he advised Eeefer
to meet him.
As to reredith's Identity.
Meredith is supposed TO be one OF the
Business lea-ue-s, and, having work in
the county. undertook TO do a turn for
Wanamaker. There Is a certain county
in the state where an alleged Manamaker
agent eamped down and opened an insur-
ance and real estate shop. One of the
Westmoreland representatives could tell
OF meeting he had at the Logan House
with T. A Van Nalkenburg. bat he would
rather not talk about it unless Thomas
should '-blab'' further. The legislator
went 10 Altoona under the impression ne
was TO NEE, COMMITTEES 10 draft bill.
Feeling that something was necessary
TO stem the strong tide toward Penrose.
the WanaInaker people sent out the claim
that the Quaker would be nominated.
This is considered a stiff bluff to bolster
a falling cause The local combiners take
no stock IN the claims Of the Wanamaker
crowd, and they fill the Quayites with
merriment.
Wanamaker VIII Be = wiser man after
Jan ~. and the number OF promises
broken i liable % make him lose faith in
humanity. Those who are familiar with
the state cannot figure how WHnamaker
VIII get more than from 4j to - votes 4
week ago Senator Penrose said be was
satisfied that Waaamaker could not at
best secure the support Of sixty legislators.
HOW PETITIONS ARE SECURED
a speciIEan Of the Methods Used In