Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-10-19
DEMOCRATIC TESTIMONY.

ic ard such 1t has always been con-
ceded in the years when the two
great political parties have b5en ar
rayed against each other upon ma
tional questions
The vital question for the decision
of the voters of the Congressional
district this year is the selection of
a Congressman to represent it in the
House of Representatives at Wash
ington. The office of Congressman
is a national one. Yet at this time
and in this district the consideration
of the election of a proper candidate
does not and should not depend up
on national issues. By reason of the
candidacy of Howard Mutchler and
Russell c. Stewart the issue is
purely a personal one with each vo-
ter and should be determined with
out regard to party or politics.
The district thus being Democrat
ic the only hope there is to elect Mr.
Stewart, the Republican candidate
as the Representative in Congress,
is to secure q sufficient number of
Democratic votes for him. In re-
cent years the Democrats of this
district have not hesitated to cast
aside their party candidates elect
Republican where their party candi-
dates did not come up to the stand
ard demanded by them in it's pres
ent representatives and servants.
This condition was never so strong
and prominent as in the present
contest for Congress. Howard
Mutchler, is the Democratic candi-
date and Russell G. Stewart is the
Republican candidate. Both were
born and have always lived in this
district. Their lives, character,
ability ard public services are and
can be known by every voter.
There IS no occasion for any citizen
to cast his vote without a thorough
understanding of the comparative
worth of the two candi ates.
Mr.. Mutchler has been since man.
hood a politician, living as far as
possible by it's fruits He has by
political methods, known as Mutch-
lerism, built up powerful machine
in this county of which he is the alb
solute boss. He has driven from
party activity Democrats who are
his intellectual and influential and
moral superiors. No Democrat can
hope to secure party nomination
for Office important or petty, with
out his consent. No business en-
terprise can hope to secure recogni-
ton or public franchise in this coun-
ty without being first compelled tc
ask for his support. He stands to
day not as the candidate for Con
gress of the Democratic party OF
this district, but is the candidate OF
himself and his machine. He secured
the five conferees from Northamp.
ton county not from the Democratic
county convention, which in the
past has selected Congressional con-
ferees. But he directed the county
committee which was his own crea,
ton, TO appoint the fire cOJerees Of hi
OCR choosing, six months before the
meeting of the congressional con
ference He was not apublic candl
date for the nomination. No Demo
crat in this or in the other countie:
composing the district knew of hi
candidacy. The secret was his ant
that of his self-chosen conferees
When the conference met at Easton
Mr.. Barber, of Carbon, who ha'
served two years as CONGRESSMAN
with credit, was ruthlessly turne,
down. Senator Shull, of Monroe
was ignored, and with the aid 0
the conferees of Pike, induced by
transaction that will never see th
light of day, Mr. Mutchler force
his own candidacy upoL the Demo
: cratic party. He now asks the pan
=. ty to ratify his nomination thus il
regularly and selfishly made. Th
nomination being irregular, Nj
> MutchIer does not stand as the pal
ty candidate, and the Democrat
voter is released from any part
duty to support him. Mr.. Mutct
ler's candidacy must then stan
solely upon his personal fitness fC
the office, and weighed in this ba
> ance he has and will be found wan
ing.
The other candidate before Il
people is Russell c. Stewart. NJ
Stewart is a lawyer of sound jud
a ment and large practice. He h
ID performed public service to the sa
v isfaction of his constituents. I
" was district attorney of Northam
y ton county for three years and
= such he earned the confidence of Il
people. His character is beyol
as cavil. His ability to adequately al
~ ~ satisfactorily represent this impoI
st ant and large district in Congress
of not questioned.