The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-02
MAJORITY CAN NOT BOLT.
Attempt TO Deprive Republican Vo-
ters ofa Free Ballot and Fair
Count Checkmated.
KLUKLUX METHODS WON'T GO.
FAIR AND HONEST MAJORITY OF VOTERS
DECLARE FOR ENTIRE sTALWART
TICKET
Revolu tionary Action Of Former Chairman
Bsrkey Condemned by all Fairminded
Een.

Routed and humiliated by pronoune-
ed majority of the Republican voters
who participated in the primary election
on Saturday. April 2lst, the defeated can
didates, with the assistance of former
County Chairman j. A. Berkey, have
engaged in desperate effort to defeat
the expressed will Of the people or to
destroy the Republican party organizA-
ton of this county.
True Republicans have and will con-
tinue to be guided by higher motives
than the political aspirations OF any man
or set of men, aud they have resolved
that the sovereign voice OF the people
when once honestly and fairly sscer-
tanned shall govern their future political
actions. They have resolved u retain
their sacred rights as gI7r4nteed them by
the Consultation aud fdcdAmsntal law
of the State, ths heritage OF every
qualified voter n cast an honest ballot
and to have it fairly counted, aud they
refuse absolutely aud unqualifisdly to
recognize the actions of unscrupulOus
and despotie agents Of dishonest aud
desperate clique, who in utter disregard
of law and the rights OF the majority,
have undertaken 10 rob the people Of the
right Of franchise. The majority will
never submit to having their God-given
rights refused them by the INSCRIPTIONS
agents OF baser men or of havia : defsat-
ed candidates declared the nominees of
their party in defiance of law and com
mon decency.
The Stalwart Republicans Of Somerset
county and all who believe in a free
ballot and fair count, in clean politics
aud common decency, know their rights
under the law aud they have the courage
and manhood to maintain them.
The unlawful aud abhorent Kluklux
methods so long prscticed by the Demo-
Gratis of the South can not obtain reeog-
milton among the intelligent and incor-
ruptible Republicans of Somerset eoun-
ty, sud those who have attempted to in-
troduce them in order that they might
override the expressed will of the people
and the law, have already found them
selves stranded high up on the beach of
public disapproval, with their every un-
fair and Illegal move checkmated.
The unblushing action of former Chair
man j. A. Berkey throughout his term OF
Office. shows clearly that bold scheme
had been Matched prior to the time
he issued the official call for the primary
election to deprive the Republican voters
of the County of a free ballot and a fair
count and if the action OF th. Democratic
County Convention. which left open its
legislative ticket until after the RspubIi-
cans had held their primary, is capable
OF fair interpretation, it must be that Mr..
Berkey had made arrangements to fuse
with that party, in case his attempts to
rnle the organization over which be pre-
sided failed.
1t is known to all men that Bsrksy de-
lsyed calling the primary rntil the last
possible day permissible under the party
rules, and then issued the call in the
most obscure way possible; it is eq ually
well known that he withheld the names
OF announced candidates, some of whom
had paid the required fee weeks before.
until the last minute, when they were
published in the same obscure manner.
IL is known that in violation of party
rules and precedents he solicited psrsons
in the various districts TO announce their
Manassas candidates for Com mitteemen.
and that he caused their names TO be il
legally printed on the ballots.
Ii is known that in violation of party
rules and fair play be withheld the tick
cts and blanks from Stalwart man bers of
the County COMMITTEES until the morning
OF the eletion, when his agents delivered
the ballots and blanks to Com mitteemen
with instructions from Bsrksy to reeeive
and count only such mongrel ballots a.
bore the signature OF the Chairman. All
right here we wish to erect attention To
the fact that had the Committeeman OBJ
served The arrogant aud unlawful in
stractions OF the Chairman. not less than
10 votes in Somerset borough and $50 in
Somerset township. all of which bore the |
names OF Messrs. Koontz aud Kendall |
for Assembly. aud Francis J. Kooser for
Congress, would have been thrown ont
and not counted. Il was not only illa0al 4
but altogether senseless aad unfair for /
the Chairman 70 undertake 70 deprivet tha
voters Of any district, especially those
lying adjacent to bOroaghs. such as SOM
erset. summit, Eiklick, Quemahoning
Hack and BrothersvalIey, of their
right to vote aay ticket save the ones he
designsted for such districss. A voter
had perfec, right 70 vote any oaner
with the names of ali the candidates in
serieed thereon and the election board.
we're bound 10 receive and count such vote
had IL been offered. In Addison townsbin
ne Committeeman is alleged 10 have re-
seived Ten ballots printed on white paper.
lix OF which, containing the names ofthe
candidates, were thrown oat.
While the four remaining ones, bearing
he names Of the insurgent candidates.
we're counted.
IL Is known that by unlawful means
md fraud the resignation OF the dulv |
'lected Committeeman Of New B.ltimors
vas procured and Berkey attempted 70 I
PIP 'int a non resident Of that borough in
lis place.
Il Is known that the Chairman on the
light precsding the primary caused a I
io'iee Of removal fron ofliesto be serve