The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-04-18
PLOT TO COMMIT
WHOLESALE
FRAUD UNEARTIlED.
Effort to Bribs and Steal Rspublissu County
Committee Beisg Hads.
BOLD ATTEMPT TO PRACTICE FRAUD
AT SATURDAYS PRIMARY
EXPOSED.

Within the pi.st few days the HERALD
has obtained Information Of a daring at
tempt that Is being made 10 corrupt me'a-
bers OF the Republican connty Com
niiitee. and that Chairman j. 4. Berkey
has carefully ls.id his plans 10 remove a
number of duly elected Committeeman
in order. among oibs. things. to secure
his re election AS Chairman OF the cleo
tion OF his br1ther-in-law. Mr.. Henry
F. Barron.
We have bslore Us the affidavit OF one
Committeeman setting forth that he was
paid certain amount OF money to resign.
We have information of the most relia-
bic character that well-kuown citizen
Of Somerset, who has been largely inter-
ested in buying up coal lands, has also
been trying his hand at buying up Re-
publican Committeemsn. offering price
for Committeeman eqraI to what he y
willing to pay for the coal under an
average sized farm.
Al the primary election OF 1879, John
Schlag. a Stalwart Republican. was duly
elected Committeeman OF Jefferson town
ship. Without rhyme or reason, other
than to accomplish his ulterior aims, j..
A. Berkey has attempted 10 deprive the
loyal Republicans Of Jefferson township
of their right to name their own COM
mitteemc1. and has notified Mr.. Noah
Bruner that he has removed Schiag and
has appointed Bruner in bis stead.
Chairman, Berkey is IS poweriess to re-
move Schlag, or any other Committee
man, as he is to turn day into night.
SchlaE viii hold the primary in Jeifrr-
son township. despite Mr.. Berkey's
efforts, IN strict accordance with the par
ty rules and the votes cast viii be hon
estly counted.
). f. Smith was duly elected Com
mitteeman by the Republican voters Of
Larimer township at the primary of 1893.
He is a stalwsrt Republican, will con-
duct an honest and fair election in strict
conformity with the party rules and win
not vote for J. A. Berkey. or brother-in-
law Barron for Chairman of the County
| Committee. This does not suit Ar.
Berkey and his fellow conspiratOrs and
he has undertaken, in violation of all
Law and all sense Of honesty and decency,
to remove Mr.. Smith and appoint Wash
iugton Tressler. The Stalwart Republic
cans Of Larimer township have deter
mined thai they will stand no such inter
ference with their legal rights and MIR.
Smith will hold their primary election,
hold it honestly and fairly, and the vote
cast at that poll will be counted in spite
Of the every effort of the conspirators
against the rights Of the people.
These are but few of the instances at
corruption and wholesale attempt al
fraud that have come TO our knowledge
The opponents Of Republicanism, OF
majority rule, the caucus b,lters and
party wrecke-s, who for years past
have be'n masquerading under the guise
OF reform nave had the mask taken from
them and their hideons hypocrisy ex-
posed in all lis nakedness.
They know that their candidates
Kooser, Koontz and Kerdall-are hope
lessly defeated, unless by corrupting q
sufficient number of Committeeman. who
wiz perpetrate sufficient fraud to secure
their election.