The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-28
THE TAIL CAN'T
WAC THE DOG.
Chairman Berkey Delays Calling
the Primary Until be has His
Slate Arranged for the
County Committee.
DIRECT VIOLATION OF PARTY RULES.


Chairman Of the County Committee J
A. Berkey. it seems, has failed to prom
from past experience, aud still labors un
der the delusion that the stall should was
the dog
As President Of the nalodorous "Me
hinley League" Mr.. Berkey last spring
called secret meeting of his iasurgenl
friends to meet in this town for the pur,
pose Of comparing notes on the politicz
situation" The failure OF that irsoIenl
attempt to dictate 70 the Republican vot.
ers whom they should support for Office /:
matter OF resent history The untram-
meied voters nominated their candidates
BY overwhelming msjorities and elected
Them a. the November election. thus re.
ouking the Mckinley League" and its
orators who stRmpsd the eoanty with the
avowed purpose Of learning the people
how to vote inteliigeutiy."
Most men. at least those possessed of an
average amount OF common sense and
good judgment. woald have been over
whslned with the castigation visited
upon President Berkey and the "MeKin-
| ley League" by the voters, bat it has re-
mained for Mr.. Bsrkey in his capacity as
Chairman Of the County Conruittee, a
position bought AZ the sacrifice Of tEe Do
liticAl manhood Of = number OF Commit
teenen who were persuaded to violate the
trust reposed in them by their constitu-
ents, 70 offer further insult to the voters
Of the county by attempting tn take from
them the privileges coniided to them,
nOtoniy By the rules governing the par
ty organization. but by twenty-five years
Of continuous and uniform practice. in or
der that he may be continued as Chair
man OF a political organization with
which be is not in harmony, and 10 dis
rupt which he has for years past exertsd
his best efforts.
In the call issued by the County Chair
man, and published last week in three Of
the most obscure local newspapers, the
voters are called upon 10 furnish the
Chairman with the names of candidates
for Committeeman in all of the forty
three voting districts in the county
at least twenty days before the date set
for the primary election. April 2ist.
We repeat that this is not only an sf-
front 70 the intelligence Of every fair
minded Republican voter in the county.
bat it is in direct violation Of the rules gov
erning the party OF yanizstion- Ever since
the present rules were adopted the voters
Of the respective districts have selected
their candidates for Committeeman Rsu-
ally on the day Of the primary. without
any suggestions from the County Chair
man. It has uniformly been held 70 be
not only violation Of the party rules.
bat altogether unfair. to print the names
Of candidates 70. Committeeman on the
ballots, that right being reserved for the
voter TO exercise his individual prefer
ence. Rule reads as follows:
ssThe voters in election precincts IL ad-
dition TO voting Tor candidates for notnin-
alton shall also vote for and elect Judge
of Election for each of their respective
districts, who shall be the Committeeman
for said precinct for the ensuing year,
Provided, That no person shall serve as
Judge for two succeeding years"
The clear intent Of the above rule is,
and it has always heen so held. hat the
right Of electing Committeeman is mat
ter for the voters Of the various districts,
and one with which the County Chairman
has no concern whatever
It has frequently happened that the
voters of many districts have selected
and elected Committeeman without the
Knowledge of the parties. but Chairman
Berkey appears to be willing to deny
them that privilege and declares that all
candidates for nomination must an
nounce their names through him mot
later than twenty days before the day Of
the primary election" he ve-y wisely
refrains from informing the limited num-
Der Of voters who read the journals In
which his call for the primary appears
in what manner candidates for election
Committeeman are elected. not nomi-
nated-shall announce their names.
The purpose and utter INSCRIPTIONS
ness Of Chairman Berkey's proposition
must be clearly manifest 20 the most OBJ
tuse mind. For weeks past he has been
engaged IN writing personal letters TO bis
intimate political friends and fellow
Mckinley Leagaers." calling upon
them TO select candidates for Committee
man in their respective districts ana for
ward the same to him in order that he
could have their names printed on the
ballots. When personal letters were
found ineffective, il is reported, be has
driven TO election districts for the Pur-
pose Of setting up candidates for Com
mftteemen-
But Chairman Berkey will have his
pains for his trouble and the Republican
voters Of the county will continue to
abide by the rules and practices govern
ing their party organization; viii select
and elect county COMMITTEES Of their
own choosing. and the committee 80
elected will choose Chairman who be
Iieves in the right of majority rule, and
one who will Loyalty support the candi-
dates Of the party.
No. no. Mr.. Berkey; the tail isn't ZIG
eaough 10 wsg the dog in Somerset
County.