Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-10-30
A DEMOCRAT SPEAKS
AN ABLE AND CANDID VIEW OF
THE JUDICIAL QUESTION

Monroe Discussed and Reasons
Why the People Should Re
sent Such Methods.
To tho voters Of Monroe COUNTY;
Born in Monroe County, though
absent for many years, I have not
lost interest in her welfare and
reputation. This letter is inspired
by what / saw and heard during the
late canvass in this County, for a
nominee for the sacred Office of
President Judge.
We are told that "party fealty"
enjoins upon ali true democrats to
support the so-called nominee.
Party fealty ordinarily is all right
but there are conditions where it is
not binding. What is party fealty
or adherence to the rules of the
party when compared with principle
with honor and honest methods
The basic principle of our govern
ment is the will Of the people.
Shall we preserve this dear heritage
of our fathers or shall we tamely
submit to the despotism of corporate
greed?
Republics have risen and fallen.
We are a great people. Shall we
maintain our position among the
nations Of the world or shall we
blindly follow the course of the
republics that departed from the
Lord | We never violate the laws
of God without In some way getting
into trouble. It is sure to come
sometime in some way or other.
Spain once the mistress of the world
now has fallen We are moving at
a rapid gait and where we shall land
it is not safe to predict.
AS to our national existence have
always been optimistic and believe
the candid sober thought of the
people will yet lead us to our high.
est destiny.
Great political reforms are mp to
us" Shall we show ourselves equal
to the situation and prove that we
are worthy sons of our ancestorsP
Mr.. Stead the great editor of the
Review of Reviews, in an article on
Turkish cruelty in Macedonia, de-
clares that "Hell has burst through
the upper air" and because of the
old worlds inability calls upon the
new world to "precipitate the effec-
tive Intervention. "
He says that John Bull cannot
interfere for the blood of the Beers
would cry up against him.
Can we interfere? Would not the
blood of the Filipino cry up against
us He'll has not only burnt through
the upper air of Macedonia, but it
has also burnt the upper air of our
political field.
How degra led, how fallen from
the pure standard of our fathers
What would the honest sturdy
pioneers of Monroe County say
today if they could have witnessed
the debasing scenes of the late
primary election
have heard it said that money
was used freely throughout the
county for the purpose of procuring
votes, and that boys under age were
led to tho polls and voted.
In Middle Smithfield the spectacle
was debasing and degrading. Men
on their arrival at the place of
voting we're assaulted by a species
of 'oathauling and build ozing" and
with the liberal use of stimulants
we're made to vote against the
candidate of their choice. A man
said in my presence that he had
been offered money for his vote and
another man said that his son under
age had been pursuaded into voting.
Whittier are we drifting?
Voters of Monroe and Pike Coun-
ties, what are the requisite qualifca-
tions for man to sit upon the
Bench? Ponder this question we'll
before you vote.
The present occupant Of the Bench
has been tried and found faithful
and competent and devoted TO the
Interests Of the County. Then why
not retain him? Why change a
certainty for an uncertainty
AS a judge, Mr.. Erdman has
shown himself impartial, non-parti-
san, treating all political parties
with equal fairness and justice. The
CONTINUED on Second PaRo)