The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-11

method of campaigning that ne has
thus early adopted.
THE fake organ takes up q half
column Of its valuable space last week
in an attempt to prove that the HER
AID is inconsistent because Chairman
Bieseekor refused to announce J. d.
Hicks as a candidate for Congress in
1892. and Chairman Berkley did an
noance him ia 1895. The HERALD took
the position in 1892 that it was incon-
sistent with the party rules TO announce
a candidate for district Office who is
not resident Of the county, and il has
not changed its views. Had it had con-
troll Of the matter it would not only not
have announced Mr.. Hicks, but it
would also have refused to announce
w. III. Koontz and several other deputy
Democrats whose names will appear on
the ticket. Chairman Berkeley placed
a m Dst liberal construction on the rules
relative TO announcing candidates when
he agreed 10 take the announcement Of
Mr.. Koontz and the other Democratic
aides who have on more than one Oeca-
sion placed themselves outside the party
fold, aud, having done this, we pre-
sumo be thought no objections could be
made to allowing Mr. Hicks or any
other Republican aspirant in the con-
gressional or senatorial district to an
nounce. When Mr.. Biesecker refused
to announce Mr.. Hicks name in 1892
the ''faken organ, its owner, General
Koontz, and all who are now opposing
the action of Chairman Berkley, were
loud in their condemnation Of Chair
man Biesecker; but the conditions were
altogether different. In 1892 on the
last hour of the last day for annOunc-
ing candidates, one e. J. Harrison wait
ed on Chairman Biesecker and proffer-
ed him his Harrisonis) check for the
announcement fee and demanded that
the chairman announce John Hicks,
Of Altoona, for Congress. Mr.. Harri-
son did not exhibit to the chairman the
slightest authority from Mr.. Hicks for
making this extraordinary demand and
the chairman very properly refused to
comply with it. This year Mr.. Hicks
called upon Chairman Berkeley in per-
son two weeks before the last day for
announcing, paid his announcement
fee and otherwise complied with the
party rules, and Chairman Berkley reg
istered his name as a candidate; and
still the "fakirs" are not happy. They
kicked in 1892 because Chairman Bic
seeker refused to announce Hicks, and
now they are tearing their hair because
Chairman Berkley has done what they
denounced Chairman Biesecker for not
doing.
We would have refused to receive the
announcement OF Mr.. Koontz on the
ground that he is not a Republican and
has on more than one occasion attempt
ed to set the party rules at defiance. In
1882 General" Koontz led the revolt
in this county that resulted in the de-
feat of General Beaver and the election
of Democratic Governor; and while
many of those who followed him in
that revolt have long since returned
to the party fold and have been consist
ent and valuable members of the party,
he never has. In 1856 he openly op-
posed the election of the regular Re
publican nominee for Congress in this
district, caucused with the Democrats,
and worked and voted for the Demo
cratic candidate. In 1855 he opposed
the election Of the regularly nominated
Republican candidate for Congress in
this district. In 1890 he not only voted
and openly labored for the election of
the Democratic candidate for Congress,
but he secretly solicited Republicans to
vote for the Democratic candidate for
Governor. In 1896, when, on account
of the free-silver craze, it was vitally
important that the Republicans should
control the lower house of Congress, he
used his every effort to defeat Congress-
man Hicks and secure the election of
the Democratic free silver candidate.
Only last spring be was one of the lead
ers in an attempt to overthrow the
party organization in the county, held
"fake" primary and "fakep eonven-
tion, set up "fake" candidates for coun-
ty offices, and sent flake" delegates to
the State convention; and when, after
full and fair hearing before one of the
ablest law judges in the State his va
rious procedures were declared by the
Court 10 be flake" illegal and void, he
pat forth every possible effort, through
his "fake" organ and otherwise, to
b ing the Court, of which he is part,
into ridicule, contumely and contempt,
and TO shake the confidence Ofthe peo-
pie in the integrity of the Court, their
one great safeguard. This year, in the
spring Of lS9S, be, in company with a
hsh dozen or more Of his satellites, at
tended meeting in Philadelphia cali
ed for the purpose of forming distinct
party organization and making John
Wanamaker a candidate for Governor,
with the avowed intention of running
him as an independent candidate this
fall. At this meeting Mr.. KoOntz pre-
sided. lie appointed a committee, of
which he is a member, to conduct Mr..
Wanamaker's campaign, and is pledg-
ed TO support Mr.. Wanamaker in his
independent candidacy. Yet this man,
with this political record, would ask
the honest, loyal Republicans of Som
erset county TO make him one of their
representatives in the State Legisla-
ture, and in his personal "fake" organ
would talk about adherence to party
rules, and would denounee Chairman
Berkley for allowing Mr.. Hicks to reg
lister as candidate after allowing him
Koontzj to do so.
----
Ranks Of Naval Officers.
Promotion is being talked OF, OF course,
for Commodore Dewey for the victory
gained over the Spanish fleet at Manila
on Sunday, If the later aud complete re-
ports shall confirm the earlier word a. to
his conduct Of the battle. The rank he
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