The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-09

the enemies of the party that bad
elected him, and, Notwithstanding the
fact that his name was never men,
tiotsed in connection with the speaker
ship excerpt IN derision, blindIy held
on to his package Of sawdus:, believing
it to be genuine brick Of gold. His
personal organ, locally known as the
"fake'i journal. in its exubersnce gave
birth to the following inspired article:
OUR PARDoNABLE PRIDE.
The spontaneous outburst Of popular
sentiunent from every section Of the state
fsvoriDg General ". h. koontz for
speaker of the House AZ Harrisburg. ~nd
the high praise given him by reputable
and Influential newspapers throughout
the state, cannot be otherwise than graft
fgiux 10 the people Of his home cuunty,
n ho know bow worthy be j. OF this
praise, and especially 70 those whose
votes made him 3 member Of the Legls-
iature- This popular outpouriBg Of ianda-
ton fer one who thirty years ago held q
seat il the House of the National Con-
gress. but VIII has not since Inquired 10
public life. comes Is voluntary tribute
from men IN different parts Of the state
who have known him ali these years as
man of u3bending honor, representa-
tive of high merit, and faithful ad-
herent Of genuine Republicanism.
The people OF Somerset county view
with psrdonable pride this broad recog-
nision Of merit and integrity in one OF
their citizens whom they take pleasure
in honoring. for they feel that there is no
Office in the git OF county or state that
General KoOntz would not fill with cred
II to himself and bis constituents
General Koontz did not seek seat IN
the State L,-gisls ture, and IL was only by
the earnest and persistent solicitation OF
many Of has intimate friends that he was
induced 10 accept it. The Office came 20
him As every official position should
eome--s voluntary tender from the peo-
ple-and he will. therefore. assume the
duties Of Office untrzmmeied by the
political meshes that have so often made
Legislators mere instruments in the hands
of political bosses
The selection of General Koontz 10 the
speakers chair would be 4 long stride in
the march OF reform, and this seems 70 be
the view of those who are urging his
election.
This was in December, '9S, less than
eighteen months ago, and what a
change time has wrought, ''Our Par
donable Pridep is again put to the test
Mr.. Koontz is again a candidate for
nomination TO the Assembly and is
repudiated by an overwhelming ma
jority of the Republican voters of his
county, running the lowest vote of any
candidate on the ticket save one-Mr.
Kooser. "The office came to him as
every official position should eome-a
voluntary tender from the people," he
said of himself in 1898. How is il
now? Defeated at the polls, repudi-
ated by the honest voters of the county,
he has instituted contest Of the nomi-
nation Of his successful competitors and
is endeavoring by legal teehnicalities
and by taking advantage Of the most
outrageous frauds ever perpetrated at
an election ia this section of the State
| to disfranehise hundreds of his fellow
citizens, in order that he may be de-
clared the nominee of party, msior-
ity of whose voters declared by their
ballots that they did not want him as
their candidate. "The spontaneous
outburst Of popular sentiment" is tC
be ignored, the wishes of the people sci
aside by this gentleman. "whoin they
take pleasure in honoring," if by any
possible hook or crook it can be dons
and he be allowed to fill an ofiice-tha
should come ''as every official position
should eome-a voluntary tender from
the people" To this low estate ha.
"Our Pardonsble Pride' descended
Pity It's, tits true. IT'S true; It's pity