The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-16
Repub|ieanPrina1y E|ectionFund
Statement of Auditing Committee OF
Receipts and Expenditures
for 1896.
Complete Retaliation Ct the Persistentiy
Circulated Lies as to the nisposi-
tion OF this Fund and as to
the Amount in the
Chairman's
Hands.

While the party rules do not provide
for publication in the newspapers OF
statement of the receipts and expendi-
lures of the primary election fund, nor
WAS such course contemplated by their
trainers, il has become necessary in order
that the good name and fair fame of the
party be not tarnished by the wilfully
false and malicious statements as to the
misappropriation of this fund, made re-
peatedly both 10y word of mouth and in
public print, that such publication be
made.
Ever since the present rules were
adopted. SO far as the writer's knowledge
goes, and he thinks il covers that entire
period, the County Chairman's accounts
possibly with one exception-were each
year carefully audited and certified by
the Auditing Committee and the result
announced to the members of the con-
vention of Committeeman at their annual
meetings. These reports have always
been kept by the several chairmen and
every Republican in the county has been
and is st liberty to inspect them-
During Ex-Chairman Biesecker's hve
years of service in that position every
penny of this fund was paid out by check
and an itemized voucher was taken for
the same, and we presume his predeces-
sors exercised the same care and caution.
When his successor was elected he hand
ed him a check for the balance in his
hands, S367. 40, and took his receipt for
the same. These facts, as stated, are per-
sonally known to a very large number OF
the members of the party, as they have
seen and examined the audited reports,
and all who have received any portion oi
the fund know i'm what manner they re-
ceived it and for what services rendered.
Notwithstanding all this. men who
were fully acquainted with all the facts,
and who have been honored with Office
at the hands of the party, have malicious
ly and wickedly. in season and out,
for years past, attempted To bring
odium upon the persons whom the party
had entrusted with the management and
conduct of its affairs. 10y circulating all
manner of lying reports, charging thai
this fund was being diverted to other
uses than those for which it was intended.
Within the past two weeks. men " he
claim to he gentlemen and pose as christ
ians. some of whom have hitherto born
character a. truthful men, have ridden
up and down the county itterating and
reitterating these malicious falsehoods III
a bOotless effort To secure control of the
coanty organization. No later than last
week guerilla sheet published in this
town, in a lengthy illumination by q
well known attorney, falsely asserts that
there is a large sum at present in the
hands of the County Chairman.
With view to putting an end TO this
sort of falsehood and vita -rition the
HERALD secured the consent ii ES-
Chairman Biesecker 10 publish an exact
copy of his financial statement for the
year 1886, as audited and certified by the
Executive Committee. Mr.. Biesecker at
the same time proffere6 US for publica-
ton his audited accounts for all of the
five years he was Chairman, hut space
will not permit their publication at the
present time. They, however, can be
seen aud examined at any time by any
reputable Republican in the county. The
statement follows;