The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-04-25
COUNTY CONVENTION.
James n. Cover Elected Chairman
Of the County Committee.
Chairman J. A. Berkey Deposed by Ma
jorify Of the Duly Elected Commit
teemen Who Declared for
Fair Play and Against
Corruption.
TICKET NOMINATED SATURDAY IN
D0RsED WITH R0UsING CHEERS.

DOhSED WITH kOOSlNS ChEEhS.
The Republican County Convention Of
return judges was called TO order at Ills
o'clock yesterday afternoon by County
Chairman J. A. Berkey. As soon as the
Chairman raped for order an insurgsnt
Committeeman arose and nominated ID.
l. Witt. of JennertowD, and W. J. Davis,
of Elk Lick. for Vice Presidents. Com
mitteeman George r. Wilt, Of Summit
township, Stalwart to the backbone,
nominated r S Shaffer. Of HoOversvilie
borough, and A. II. Long, of Wellers-
burg borough, bat Chairman Berkey re-
fused to recognize him as member of
the County Committee, and declared
Witt and Davis elected.
The Chsirman then, in viOlation.of ala
precedents, proceeded to appoint Samuel
L. Shober, John G. Emert, Rufus E.
Meyers and J. II. Bowman, of Stoyes-
town, secretaries or clerks of the Con-
vention.
The Chairman next directed John A.
Lambert, one OF the Secretaries of the
County Committee, to call the list of
voting districts and requested the Com
mitteeman. or any other person having
ing the returns from the district called,
TO deliver hem to the clerks. When the
name of the Committeeman from Ad-
olson WAS called, he handed over
his returns, but when the next man
on the list-the Committeeman from
Allegheny township-was called. be de-
clared his unwillingness to surrender
the returns of his district until he knew
that the convention was legally and fairly
constituted. When Benson borough was
called John r. Scott, Esq. who held the
credentials of the Committeeman from
New Centreville, asked that the name of
the Committeeman of Benson be called,
as their was a contest from that district.
The Chairman refused to recognize Mr..
Scott. who held duly executed proxy
from the Committeeman of New Centre
vile. When Confluence borough was
reached Geo. r. Scull, Esq, presented
duly executed proxy from the Commit
teeman of thst precinct authorizing him
10 participate in the convention. but the
Chairman refused g recognize him.
When the roll call was completed the
Secretaries had received the returns Of
duly elected Committeeman from only
nineteen out Of the fourty i've election
districts in the County.
Without having received the returns
from a majority of the districts the
Chairman announced that the next husi-
ness before the Convention was the cleo
ton Of a County Chairman. An insurgent
placed the name of Henry +. Barron. Ber-
keys brother-inlaw, in nomination, aud
Stalwart nominated James ". Cover.
At this juncture Committeeman Witt
presented a resolution to the effect that
the convention establish by vote of the
duly elected Committeeman present what
members were legally entitled to a seat
in the convention. The Chairman re-
fused TO have oneof the Secretaries read
the resolution, declaring it out OF order,
and directed that the roll call proceed.
Mr.. Witt then asked that he be permitted
to substitute q list of the duly elected
committeeman. but the Chairman said
that the official list had been made up
and that the roll call would proceed.
Secretary Lambert called the names of
the Committeeman as prepared by the
Chairman but the clerks refused 10 record
the votes of of the six committeeman
who were duly elected according TO party
rules
Before the roll call was completed Com
mitteeman Witt again secured the floor
and read the resolution which he desired
TO offer. The resolution recited among
other matters that the Chairman Of the
County Committee in violation OF rules,
and in order % osubvert the viii of the
majority, had removed duly elected CON-
mitteemen and ,Sithout authority had ap-
pointed pers ans to act in their stead; that
the votes cast at the voting places con-
Quoted by these Illegally appointed Com
mitteemen were Illegal and void, and not
entitled 10 be counted according TO law
and the rules Of the party; that cne Of
these Illegally elected Committeeman
had leff his polls. remaining away for the
greater part Of the day. leaving the same
in he hands Of az unsworn person:
that twenty Democrats had been
permitted to vote in a certain district
contrary 70 law; that thirty. three
votes were illegally counted for candi-
date for Assembly in another district;
that three hundred votes lad been il
legally counted. aud that these irregular