The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-07

the Eteto anu LcatF ne
Absolute aad UndIsputed Control
sspecsa. correspOndence-l
Harrisburg. Feb. 27.-Republieans OF
four counties. through their respective
examinations. last week went on rec
ord as stapdinz ~ the stalwart leader
shin of the Republican party in this
commonwealth As this action is the
FIRST taken n the contest for the con-
trcI of the next legislature, which Wili
be called uDon to eleft a successor TO
Colonel QUAY in the Uaited States sen
ate the outcome must be regarded as
especiaily important al this time
The most pronounced stalwart VIC
tory and one which has far reaching
significance was that won in Jefferson
county where q clean cut contest was
decided BY a popular vote. II was not
merely half hearted support OF the
present Republican leadership nor
nerfunctcry Endorsement OF Colonel
QUAY. but fun. positive and emphatic
declaration from the Republicans OF the
county that they are in favor OF major
ftv rule and have no sympathy with the
fnsurgeut movement
.I,-l,t -son and Indiana counties com
nose a state senatorial district They
do not elect delegates to a convention.
hut they vote directly for the candidate,
and the candidate for state senator Sc
curing the majority of votes IN the
two counties wins the nomination Jei-
farson on Tuesday last led on. and had
the honor Of being the first county IN
Pennsylvania to pass upon the United
States senatofship. So important was
this fght 20 be that William Finn, the
Pittsburg boss and contractor, invaded
the county with his agents. and did his
Utmost 70 cary the election
jefferson county has had the sena-
tor for eight years Under the rota-
fion system the Office now goes TO In
diana county. John s Fisher was
named bv the stalwart Republicans as
their candidate The insurgents and
bolfers named DIR. Morrow, and both
rames we're submitted to the voters OF
jefferson county. Money was sent into
the county in large amounts-The same
kind Of political management that is
used in Pittsburg TO keep Finn in
nozver and in contracts was used in
Jefferson. The result was a most pro-
nounced victory for the stalwarts. Not
only did they choose Mr.. Fisher as
their candidate for state senator, but
they named their choice for congress.
and elected their delegates to the state
convention.
Nothing could he fairer than the
svsteu in use in Jefferson county All
Republican voters are called upon 20
70 TO the noils and make their direct
choice between candidates. It is sim
plv question of majority rule. and the
majority in Jefferson county has been
cast overv neimingly for Senator Quay.
There is no use in mincing words about
the matter. The fight was between
QUAY and his opponents. his opponents
have simply been slaughtered. and Mr..
Finn has been sent back to Pittsburg
defeated in the very first engagement
of the legislative campaign.
The majorities for the out and out
ouay supporters were in many cases
larger than the total vote pnlied for
their insurgent opponents. The i'm
rortarce of this victory for the stall
wart Renuhlican element is emphasized
ny TIE fact that II was announced after
fhe last insur~ent conference in Phila
delphia. that Finn n-d undertaken the
canrraet 70 manaee the anti-ouay CAM
r7ign in seven counties-Jefferson. In
diana. Mercer. Armstrong. Lawrence.
f'f.irl anu Aafa Nl-i--diii ElNdA NteAlfi-n
were made rs to what Finn was going
70 90.
THE ISSUE PLAINLY PUT.
That there could Re ~ mistake as to
the issue raised bv the Finn campaign
OTIS. they sent to every Republican
voter in the county a circular letter
through the mails. which was headed
"Republicanism versus Quayism." II
was an appeal direct to the people. and
the people gave their answer on Tues
da~ last at the polls. Fisher won by
majority Of over $500 over Morrow.
This was .he principal issue involved
as the state senator 20 he elected next
November will not only have an oppor-
tunity to vote to elect Colonel Quay's
successor. but also for the successor to
Senator Penrose- W. O. Smith. Quay
leader of the county. defeated Alexan-
der Fruit for congress by SEQ majori-
". and the national delegate and all
the deleTs les TO the state convention
are supporters of Colonel Quay. and
they were elected hv majorities rang
inc from l.500 to 1000
As Jefferson county is in the sena-
torial district in which Attorney Gen.
eral Iohn p Elkin resides. this distln-
suishei son Of Indiana was warmly
congratulated by local Republican
leaders who called upon him here upon
learning the news from jefferson
county.
ROUT OF PARTY WRECKERS.
Editor A. T. Moorehead. of the Indi-
ana progress. in discussing Mr.. Fish
er's victory for senator in Jefferson.
said:
''Tke Finn forcas were routed horse.
foot and dragon. They marched up
the hill with tom toms loudly beating
and banners proudly flying but they
retreated down the hill with such un-
due haste and in such disorder that the
provision train and supply wagons were
lost in the Big Sandy. The general
issimo of the Finn campaign mana
gers. owing to the fatigue incident to
the forced marches up the kops and
kopies Of that county now lies hors du
combat. II was q memorable contest.
and will live long in the political his
tory of our neighbor county. Ii is the
opening gun of the campaign in the
state. II is the first county to be in
vaded by the Finn outfit. Il was the
first primary to test the strength be-
tween straightout Republicans. who
believe in majority rule. and the poIit-
break up the Republican party. Fisher
stood for the rule Of the majority and
for straightout Republicanism. Finn
represented the party wreckers. He
asks the people TO win at the primaries
n they can, but If they fail he wants
them TO Join the with Democrats and
defeat the party to which he owes his
allegiance. The issue was fought cut
along these lines. The result is vim
cication OF the regular Republicans
Il ought to be al inspiration TO Re-
publicans who are fighting the same
kind Of hatties in other counties. The
people believe in majority rule. They
believe in party organization. and viii
not support the men who are endeavor-
ing to break down the party that has
Gone so much for the development of
this country Mr.. Fisher is to be con-
graduated on the splendid vindicatioa
he received from the Republicans Of
Jefferson county. Indiana county viii
co better"
Indiana county will vote upon the
state senatorship az the coming pri-
maries, and. as in jefferson, the rules
call for popular vote There will be
no reason TO charge the so-calied ma
chine with the victory which is assured
Mr.. Fisher. as the people will ballot
with the issue squanely defined. Mr..
Fisher viii probably carry Indiana
county by at least $500 majority, and
ii is possible, since the outcome Of the
Jefferson county fight, that the Finn
men viii conclude TO save money and
Eot make fight. Their campaign in