The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-02

by majority OF the voters OF jefferson
township. all of whom Berkey aud his
fellow schemers have since attempted
TO o.sfranchise.
It is known that the Chairman's notice
of removal, forwardej by mail to the
| Committeeman of Lsrimer township,
was not received by the Committeeman
until the evening of the election, but in
the face Of all this, one Tressler, an agent
of Berkey's, opened an illegal voting
place. and Bsrkey and his fellow
schemers have since undertaken to throw
O1t the votes cast at the only legal voting
place in said districts
Il is known that Berkey without the
approval or consent ofthe executive com
mittee, which he was bound to procure
! in order to act within the party rules and
the law. undertook to appoint Committee
men in the districts OF o gle, Garrett and
/ Casselmau, aud that when the people of
those districts resented his unwarranted
cif i'm Of right TO appoint election officers
for them and elected officers OF their own
choice, he and bis fellow schemers
arbitrarily and Illegally undertook to
throw out the only votes legally east in
these three districts. and 20 count the
votes returned by the alleged officers of
illegally organized polling places.
Ii is known that corrupt political
agents procured by unlawful means the
resignation of the Committeeman of Ben
son borough, who had been elevated to
that position by Stalwsrt votes, and
[ a<.f 81
lowers to conduct the primary in that
district. When a majority of th. voters
refused to recognize this corrupt and
1 high-handed proceeding Bsrkey and his
fellow schemers undertook TO throw
out the vote cast at the only legally or
ganized and properly conducted poll in
Benson.
1t is known that in preparing the blanks
for the election the Chairman made no
provision for counting and returning any
votes that might be cast for candidates
for delegates to the State Conventiop, and
that in the large district OF Paint No. 2.
where the Committeeman who conducted
the election aud certified under oath the
result OF the votes east, no return was
made Of a single vote having been count
ed for delegates 10 the State Convention.
The reader should not loose sight of the
fact that the Committeemau of Paint No
2 is John w. Shaifsr, who was a mem Der
of the executive COMMITTEES, selected for
that position on account of his unques-
toned loyalty to former Chairman Berk-
ey and his fellow schemers.
II is known that Chairman Berkey re-
fused Stslwart candidates permission to
inspect the returns received by him. an
action altogether unfair aud unjustifabla
It is known aud can not be denied that
when the County Convention assembled
| Tuesday afternoon, April oath, Chairman !
Berkey refused in violation ofparty rules |
aud parliamentary usage 10 recognizs
Staiwart Committeeman, who arose for |
the purpose of placing candidates for |
/ Vice Presidents of the convention iu |
nomination.
1t is known that in violation OF law and |
parliamentary practice he refused 10 call /
the roll Of members OF the convention, /
and called upon all persons present hav- /
ing returns in their possession to step /
forward aud hand them over TO the Sec
retaries he had illegally and arrogantly /
appointed
It is known that in violation Of party /
rules. law and parlia mentary procedure
be refused to permit duly elected men,
ber of the convention TO file a protest
against the Chairs illegal and revolu-
tionary action.
Il Is known that when the roll call was
finally taken up the Chair declined IN
entertain a motion from duly elected |.
mnnher Of the Convention that the
official roll of members Of the Conven-
ton be made known to the convention
before the roll call proceed. and when this
arbitrary aud unlawful ruling was made,
majority OF the duly aud legally elected
members OF the convention, in strict con-
formity with law and party custom, pro-
cesded to depose Berkey az Chairman of
the Republican County Committee and
elected James NJ. Cover in his stead.
When the proceedings had reached this
point. Berkey and his fellow schemers,
including those sent here from Bed
ford county tO look after the interests Of
Congressman Thropp. were entirely un-
prepared To prncsed. and called uoon
Sheriff Saylor n preserve order among
the vast crcwi, nine tenths of whom
were ia full sympathy with the lawfpl
stal~art majority. and were crying for
a free ballot and a fair count" atthe
top of their voices
Meanwhile the only legally aud prop
erly organized convention had effected
an organization and proceeded to dis
charge the business for which il had been
assembled, ia strict conformity with the
law and the party rules. aud with abso-
lutte fairness 10 every candidate on the
ticket
The result Of the -convention's work
will be found In 8 tabulated statement
published elsewhere 10 this paper, where
in the voters can ace that every ballot
legally cast aud properly returned by the
officers OF election was fairly and honest
ly counted, and that ths stalwsrt canS,i-
dates were nominated by the votes of a
msjority OF those who participated in the I
election.
The deposed Chairman. with a miuori-
ty ofthe COMMITTEES, went through the
iArcieal proceeding Of computing the ro-
tnrns Of tue election. majority OF which
ne did not have in his possession: elected !
ed broiher-in-law Barron Chairman of
MS personal committed. passed resolu.
lions. recommended amendments to the ,,
party rules. and declared the result-all
his without the official returns, even
rom the district In which the big coal ,
own OF windber is located.
Tuesday evening Assemblyman Ken
isll hurried of TO Harrisburg where next
he filed certifcate sigred By /,