Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-06-14
POLITICAL.

At Harrisburg, Saturday, the hearing
in the Somerset county case was contin-
ued before Judges Simonton and Weiss.
Gen Koontz and S. A. Kendall were
En0mnated by the KepuDncans or me
county for Assembly, but Quayites Row
and Sanner put up a contest. The
Quayites are muking pretty mess of
this thing.
Sarvers Station Republicans organic
ed Mckinley marching club Saturday
evening. They will have drum corps
and torches and, if enough funds can be
raised, uniforms viii be bought also.
In the Lebanon county case, Judge
Endlichs conclusions of law state that
the resolution of the Lebanon Republi-
can county committee of March 10 'is
invalid and void and establishes no pre-
requisite to the registration of any
member of the Republican party as a
candidate to be voted for, " or to
have his name placed upon the official
ticket to be used at such primaries.
The relator having complied with all
the lawful requirements contained in
the rules of the party preliminary to
registration as a senatorial candidate to
be voted for at the ensuing primary
election, is entitled to be registered as
such and to have his name placed upon
the official ticket The relator is EMIT
led. to the writ or rperemptory mandamus
to enforce said right, as prayed for by
him"
The candidate who takes such a
pledge upon himself gives upin advance
that which the constitution imperative
ly requires him, when in Office to retain
and exert for the benefit of all whom he
represents right to his own honest
conscientious and responsible judgment;
and he thereby repudiates in advance
the duty, which in securing him that
right the Constitution imposes upon
him, of exercising that Independent
Judgment upon every question upon
which he may be called upon to act
What is the sense in discussing
measures in the Legislature if the judg-
ment of the dividual legislator upon the
propriety of their adoption or rejection
may be controlled from outside or in
any way except by the free exercise of
his discretion? 1t necessarily fol-
lows that the subscribing by a candi-
date for the Legislature to pledge like
that required by the resolution of Mar
10, 1900, is inconsistent with the duty
of the legislator as prescribed by the
oath imposed upon him by the Consti
tuition
If it be further true. as indeed; was
earnestly contended by the respondents
counsel, that the pledge exacted is to be
regarded in the light of a consideration
required by the party from an aspirant
for Office for the use of its machinery in
his nomination and election, then it is in
still worse case. In that event it is not
only an understanding renouncing con-
stitutional rights and repudiating consti-
tutional duties incident to the Office de-
sired, but distinct promise, made by a
would-be legislator. by way of equival-
ent for the assistance of a political or
ganization in procuring his Office, TO
hold his vote as a legislator, upon all
matters at the disposal of the party or
ganization, which if far beyond anything
implied in ones seeking and accepting
party nomination. That such prom
ise is the promise of valuable thing
cannot be doubted 1t would not be
sought for if it were not