Potter County Journal

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Cfftttitn |0ttriral
ESTABLISHED 1848.
A fiROir OF LETTERS.
COUDERSPORT, PA., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1898.
VOLUME 49, NUMBER 31
Political  Matters Discussed  by  Sev= eral Republicans.
DECLARATION    OF     MR.    DODGE
Shiti,i:l<' House. Feb. 4. ISi)8. Kiurnii lArn'KH ,T(trRNAi,:—In your issue of the 2d inst., I noticed a criticism, and un interrogatory as to whom 1 would represent, if elected t<) the office of Representative. This criticism was called forth. I suppose, on account of my opposition to the un¬ timely introduction of a certain res¬ olution.
1 stated to you. on the morning of my announcement,   that  if elected, that upon strictly   i)arty   measures. I   would    rejn'csent   tho    interests of the   majoritji   of   the   Republican party.    • casting   aside   all    person¬ al   feeling,   or   personal   interests. You now assume that T am not  wil¬ ling   to     represent     the   majoritji. You are assuming too much.   I allege that you  are  assuming    what   you hnau- ioitltingah(nit.  Now, thaty/o;/and tin   praple of   Potter    county,   may know just where I  do stand   I make this declaration:     I am  opposed  to being represented vipon the floor  of the U. S. Senate by a traitor to the Republican   part}'.    lam opposed to being   represented by a man whose tools  attempt  to   effect   a   combine with the  Democratic   jjarty,   to  de¬ feat the election of a regularly nom¬ inated candidate of the  Republican party.    I am opposed to the  rotten ring-rule of the Quay regime at Har¬ risburg.      If the    Republicans    of Potter connt3'^, want a man of  wax. to represent them npon the  floor  of the House of Representatives,   they n'iH not vote for me.
If the Republicans of Potter county want a man who will act as the subservient tool of a corrupt regime, they ;/;/// not vote for me.
Trustin<if that //-r/. and <dl others, will now uiiderstad. where I stand I am, Yours   for the Right.
Geo. W. DoiMiE.
land performed their duties as dele¬ gates to the State Convention .in ad¬ vance of their authority ?
I understand they have not been elected to represent the Republi¬ cans of Potter county as yet. Not¬ withstanding that fact I also under¬ stand they attended a meeting held by the Business Men's League at Philadelphia on the second instant and assisted in placing a man by the name of John Wanamaker in nomination for Governor. • If I am wrong about this matter please set me right as I am asking for information only.
Very truly Yours,
A VOTER.
HR.   DODGE'S   LETTER.
A communication from Hon.  Geo W. Dodge   in this  issue places that' last week a very important item
THE LITERARY CLUB. j The  Ex^Chairman as State Delegate.
In the rush  of business   for  the |     it is contended now  by  ex-chair¬ man   Swetland that   he  should   be
Oswayo,  Pa., Feby. 7th, 1898. Editor of Potter Co. Joiknae:
Can you tell me the reason why Charley Stebbins and the Business Men's Ijcague turned down Hon. J. Walter Wells and put in his place Hon. George W. Dodge as their candidate for member of assembly? I was one of Mr. Wells" strong sup¬ porters. I was also a Wanamaker man and anti-Quay man, and I can see no good reason why they should have treated Mr. Wells in this way. I understand they say he is unpo]Hilar: if that is so what has made liim unpopular? He received a very large majority when elected thus showing him to have been popular at that time, and he has IxH'U with us ever since and done every thing we asked him to to do for us. If this is the reward one gets for standing by the anti- Quay principles I am no longer an anti-Quayite. I say Mr. Wells was our logical candidate and should have been our choice instead of Mr. Dodge. Please give me your opin¬ ion of the matter and oblige, an ''old   iicpubliean. "'
Hebron. Pa.. Feb. 4. 1898 EniTOR  ¦•.Idiu.NAi..'"—J   have neutral in   the  Potter  county   fac¬ tional  fi^ht.   but   I   now   desire   to make some inquiries about the reso¬ lution which was before tljc   County Committee last   Tuesday.      If  Mr. Dodge opposed the  passage   of the resolution, does not that mean  that he does not care to receive  instruc¬ tions from the Republican voters of our county ?    Does   not the  biased coiLstruction placed upon this affair the   •'Enterprise"   indicate that {utterworth, Stebbins & Co., sanc- "tibu the plan of not allowing the vo¬ ters to give instructions  as to U. S. Senator—whether Quay    or     anti- Quay ?    For one I cannot see \vhy it is not fair for the voters to  have an opportuuity to express their  choice j for this officer, as well as other offi-1 cers, and I   should   be   pleased  to! know the   difference   between
NEWSPAPER   VERACITY.
''I never believe half I read in a newspaper. ' How often the above remark is heard ! How we wonder why it is so ! Surely, newspapers were invented to inform the public, to instruct the people and to be a record at once interesting and re¬ liable ! Why are they not so regard¬ ed among men ? One would think that papers could not thrive which falsified and deceived, that people would not buy deceptive and un¬ reliable news. Yet they do. and laughingly, lightly boast that the paper they subscribe for and read is wholly unreliable especially in political matters. The people are not to be blamed for having formed such an estimate of new^spapers for they are too often deceived by the paper that should be bound to hold up *'the truth the whole tr«th and nothing but the truth" for its rea¬ ders ; but they are censurable for winking at the unblushing effront¬ ery with which some editors mis¬ lead their readers.
A public speaker who would fal¬ sify from the platform as some edi¬ tors do regarding passing events would be the recipient of some veg¬ etable boquets, with a lively sprink¬ ling of stale hen-fruit. No other profession would be allowed to mis¬ lead the people as newspapers do. We should say some newspapers for there are those to whom a reputa¬ tion for fairness and truth is more valuable than a temporary advan¬ tage in politics or a sensational de¬ nouement. For example we have but to refer to the accounts given in two Coudersport papers of the de¬ liberations of the Republican County Committee. Both papers, desiring disaster to the Republican party, falsified the account of that meeting without the semblance of any de¬ sire to tell the truth to their readers. It was well known by the editors of both papers (or should have been known) that the name of Quay was not once mentioned in that com¬ mittee meeting. It was no more mentioned by implication than was that of Wanamaker, Dalzell, Hast¬ ings or any other man who might be a candidate for United States Sena¬ tor. Why eould not those two pa- papers have told the -truth ? Why did they not jjublish .the resolution ottered and let the reader see for himself what it was and what it meant ? It did not suit the purpose of the Drmocrat and the Enterprise to tell the truth; it seldom does. The cause they represent will not thrive been | ^j., truth, it dare not go tothe people for their decision. Hence the reso¬ lution was voted down by the in¬ fluence of the. element that depends on the said newspapers to misrepre¬ sent the facts to the people.
But the reaction will come. When the two papers politically allied, shout "'Quay, Quay, wdiere there is no Quay"; when they twist and dis¬ tort and color and misconstrue every sentiment and every action of those who are not intent on the de¬ struction of the Republican party, journalism is being prostituted and the people insulted, to the end that every lover of fairness and truth will rise up and smite the unright¬ eous demagogues to their undoing.
gentleman squarely before the  peo¬ ple on an issue   entirely  legitimate in the selection of a representative who will   help   to   elect ,a United States    Senator.       His   frank and manly avowal of his position i*egard- ing one of the candidates for United States Senator must  command the respect of men generally,  whether they agree with him or   not.     No one can doubt Mr. Dodge's sincerity in assuming  the  position  antagon¬ istic to Mr. Quay and while   we   be¬ lieve he made a mistake in opposing the submission of  the   question to the voters at the primaries, we res¬ pect Mr. Dodge for  possessing the courage of his convictions.     But if he cannot under any  circumstances conscientiously support Mr. Quay, if elected   member    of   assembly,   he must of necessity oppose any   meas¬ ure which would be likely  to place him in the emba,rassing position of either being comijelled to   vote for Mr. Qua3% contrary  to  his   convic¬ tions of right, or disregard  the  in¬ structions of his constituents.     For this reason he voted down the reso¬ lution
We arc accused by him in that communication of "assuming too much,"'but after mature reflection we are still unable to see how Mr. Dodge could oppose the effort to have the county committiee provide for placing upon the caucus ticket the names of any candidate for United States Senator who might care to submit his name to the Republican voters of Potter county, and still maintain that he is willing to be guided by the wishes of his constituents. What better method for ascertaining the wishes of the ReiDublican voters could be substituted for voting at the pri¬ maries ?
Again, he speaks of the resolu¬ tion as untimely, but it seems to us that it was the duty and the busi¬ ness of that committee to make pro¬ visions for voting upon all relevant questons at the primaries. It is possible that the chairman alone has the right and the authority to print upon the tickets the names of any candidates who might properly be indorsed by the county conven¬ tion, such as senator, congressman, governor, or United States Senator. But even if the rule does not clothe him with such authority, certainly the committee have the right to des¬ ignate how the ballots are to be pre¬ pared and if so, the resolution was timely and eminently proper as well as eminently fair.
The Journal believes in the larg¬ est measure of political liberty for the people and will ever maintain that they should be given the privi¬ lege at all times to exj^ress their choice ij^ the selection of all public officers dnd in the present campaign we favor,the submission to the Re¬ publican voters of Potter county the question of their choice of a candi¬ date for governor and for United States Senator, believing that the delegates to the state Convention and the member of assembly from this county should be guided by the will of the majority.
OFF FOR ALASKA.
At a meeting of the   directors of the Klondyke Mining and Prospect- news was neglected, for   which   we i selected as delegate to the  Republi-1 ing Company   held   at  the  Crowell beg the pardon of   those  interested | eaii State Convention becau.se it has  on Monday afternoon it was decided
of!
in the educational  meeting held at i heretofore been the custom to send
the Court House on the 29th of Jan-'
uary.
The meeting had been   called at the suggestion of the C.   L.  S.   C. and   the   members   of   that    most worthy body, were present in force. It was most gratifying to see like¬ wise a large   number   of   men  and women who are not directly connec¬ ted with.any  litei'ai'y   organization. At three  o'clock   the meeting was called to order by Arthur B. Mann, who   nominated   W.   I.   Lewis for chairman.      He   was    unanimously elected and Mrs. Fannie Knox and M. J.  Colcord  were chosen secre¬ taries.       Jas.  L. Knox stated  the object of the meeting, which briefly summarized   was    the   organization into a corporate body for the purpose of   acquiring  and    maintaining   a building suitable   for   holding the meetings of all literary  societies  of the town.    Mr. Knox  recommended that the permanent   club be char¬ tered and capitalized with shares at such par value as   to   be   well  dis¬ tributed and owned   by   the mem¬ bers.    He also stated that the  va¬ cant lot owned by  him on  Allegany Avenue,   opposite Mrs. Gordnier's could be had at a fair   price   to be paid for in stock of the organization, if such an   organization   is formed that can take the local title.
N. J. Peck stated^ that the main building of the Baptist church would be donated to the C. L. S. C. or any organization formed, provided the necessary funds for building the new edifice be raised. Mr. Dornan offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee consist¬ ing of Messrs. J. L. Knox, W. I. Lewis, and N. J. Peck and three ladies to be named by the chairman with authority to draft articles of incorporation, negotiate for the pur¬ chase of the lot, the feasibility of moving the church &c. Chairman Lewis appointed Mrs. R. L. Nich¬ ols, Mrs. W. W. Thompson and Mrs. A. L. Olmsted to serve on that committee. After some discussion as to what opportunity would be given to the members of the differ¬ ent societies to be heard regarding the building to be secured and some general expressions of interestinthe cause the meeting adjourned.
The meeting was an earnest of what can be accomplished here in the line of literary culture and edu¬ cational advancement. We believe that few communities contain a greater proportion of people with literary tastes and a desire to see our young people given an inspira¬ tion and abundant opportunity to develope literary tastes. We trust w^e may be able to announce speedy progress of the scheme to provide a suitable place to congregate the va¬ rious societies in this town.
James J.  Corbett  has  announced
his determination to fight   no more.
this I He is disappointed in  not securing
d of bossism and that of Quay or other politician.
Yours truly,   Inqcirer.
Austin, Pa., Feb. 7th, 1898. ToEiDiTOR OF Potter Journal: .Have not Messrs. PayneandSwet-
another trial at Fitzsimmons and be¬ lieves he can become a great actor. He asks the public for sympathy and says be will have nothing fur¬ ther to"^ say of the ring. He will have sympathy if he will stop talk¬ ing.
QUAY STRONG IN POTTER.
The Opposition Fear a Square Fight in That County.
By Associated Press.
Pittsburg, Feb. 4.—United States Marshal Fred C. Leonard, of Potter county, is back at his desk in the federal building. In reply to a question as to the action of the Pot¬ ter County Republican Committee in refusing to permit a popular vote for United States Senator at the primaries in that county. Mr. Leon¬ ard said today: ''The anti-Quay people fear a square fight in Potter county. Their candidate for Legisla¬ ture openly opposed the taking of a popular vote at the primaries. That means that they fear to go befoi-e the people on a square issue. Sen¬ ator Quay would carry Potter county easily on a direct vote, and I think will do so in auy event. "—Gazette & Bulletin.
It is a significant fact that so many are trying to disclaim connec¬ tion with the Business Men sLeague.
THE TELLER  RESOLUTION.
After a debate, animated at all times, and occasionally acrimonious which occupied the greater part of that week, the Senate on the 28th by the decisive vote of 47 to 32 passed the Teller concurrent resolu¬ tion. The resolution is a practical re-affirmation of that of Stanley Matthews in 1878, and is as follows:
"That all the bonds of the United States, issued or authorized to be issued under the said acts of Con¬ gress hereinbefore dii*ected, ai'e payable, principal and interest, at the option of the government of the United States in silver dollars of the coinage of the Uuited States containing four hundred and twelve and one-half grains of standard sil¬ ver; and that to restore to its coin¬ age such silver coins as a legal ten¬ der in payment of said bonds, prin¬ cipal and interest is not in violation of the public faith nor in derogation of the rights of the public   credit.''
Quay and Penrose voted against the resolution.
On Feb. 1st it was defeated in the House by the decisive majority of 182 to 132.
The criticisms made on Senator Quay's action in voting to expedite the disposition of thc'resolution were un¬ fair and udeserved as it was no indi¬ cation of his favoring the measure.
the last count}'^ chairman as  a  dele¬ gate to the State Convention.
To maintain that position the let¬ ter of W. B. Brightman wi'itten in 1897 is quoted by the Swetland or¬ gan with comments and the com¬ ments given by that paper at the time. That the custom is broken is past dispute. Let us see who is re¬ sponsible for the infraction of a cus¬ tom that has hardly been accorded the dignity of a precedent.
Referring to the Brightman letter they quote, we find that he com¬ plained of the ruling made by this same Swetland which in effect ig¬ nored all claims of ex-chairman Brightman and compelled him to take his place with other candidates for State delegate. For, notice the wording of Mr. Brightman's letter in which he refers to the custom of selecting the ex-chairman as a dele¬ gate to the State Convention '" with¬ out any previous einnouncement on his part.'' Mr. Brightman contended then and it is plain now that chair man Swetland's ruling whei'eby ' 'candidates for delegates to the State Convention as well as candidates for chairman of the county commit¬ tee must announce their names with the chairman and have their names printed on the tickets to be voted at the primaries,'' abrogated the cus¬ tom of permitting the ex-chairman to go as delegate.
This ruling of the chairman clear¬ ly took away the power from the county Convention tg continue the custom, and therefore was the first infraction of the rule. Mr. Bright- j man was, under that ruling of chair¬ man Swetland, compelled to an¬ nounce his name, pay the chairman the fee of $5.00 and take his place on an ev'en footing witu other candi¬ dates.
Not content with that much of the breach of an observance he now in¬ vokes for his own benetit, Mr. Swet¬ land and the faction he led, placed tico candidates in nomination against Brightman and Eaton, and but for a compromise, would have fought Mr. Brightman to a finish in the face of a right which Mr. Swetland now contends should have been ac¬ corded the ex-chairman. Mr. Bright- man was left on the ticket, not by rea¬ son of his claim nor by any courtesy of the Swetland faction but by his own friends in recogition of his past services as a hard working Repub¬ lican.
How Mr. Swetland can now ex¬ pect to profit b}^ a custom he was so palpably responsible for break¬ ing is beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. Neither his re¬ cord as a Republican nor as the chairman in the last campaign can entitle him to a reward heretofore accorded such men as have recently served the party in the position he accidently occupied in 1897. More¬ over, the claim he now sets up comes with bad grace from a man just returned from a .state Conven¬ tion not called by the people, and which dictated the gubernatorial candidate in advance.
to enter into a contract with E. B. Jepson, of Roulet, M. D. Benson, of Ladona, and H. C. Kaye, of Em¬ porium, to go as representatives of the company on an expedition to the gold fields of Alaska. Gen. Manager Chas. E. Briggs, will have charge of the expedition. The company will leave Coudersport Monday, Feb. 21, and go to the Copper River district for the first season. In the event of that not proving satisfactory the company expect to cross the mountains to the head of White River. The fortunes of these boys will be watched with interest by many personal friends and a large number of investors who will follow them with the earnest wnsh that they may return laden with the yellow metal or with title to some fabulously rich claims.
FRAZER IN JAIL AGAIN.
David Frazer who was under arrest for forgery in 1896, and was taken to W^illiamsport as a witness escaped from the Lycoming Co. jail and was afterwards sentenced to 18 months in the Eastern Penitentiary by Judge Metzgar of that county. His term expired last Satui-day morning and he was released only to be re-arrested by Sheriff Gillon on the charge of forgery made by parties in this county. He was brought to jail here to await trial at the March term of court. It was a great surprise to Frazer who was making great calculations on his freedom.
A Good Hotel.
One hundred and twenty tran¬ sient guests registered at hotel Edgcomb last week, half of which were drummers. There is no bet¬ ter or more popular hotel in the country than Hotel Edgcomb, as is attested by the patronage accorded it.—Gahton Dispatch.
ROMANCE  IN   REAL   LIFE.
John Card, of Roulet, wanted a wife. His business kept him at home, and he knows the value of ad¬ vertising. In cultured Boston abided Fate in the semblance of a comely woman of mature years and she saw the advertisement. Being a woman of good sense and business habits she at once begun neg»tiations for a matrimonial alliance with the Roulet store keeper. She now holds the trump Card, for on Saturday last she met Mr. Card at the station at Roulet and the pair were well pleased with each other, so they hied them to the county seat and after getting the neces.sary premit from Prothonotary Lewis Rev. Marshall was called on to tie "the tie that binds.'" This is one case where advertising brings prompt returns.
Democratic Nominations.
The Democrats of the Boro held their caucuses in each ward on Thursday evening of Jan. 27. The following nominations were made:
First ward—F. L. Andrews, Council; O. H. Crosby. School Di¬ rector ; John Metzgar, Assesor; S. P. Olmsted, Judge of Election ; F. E. Neefe, Inspector: F. E. Neefe and Frank French, Conferees.
Second Ward—H. A. Scoville, School Director: W. S. Patterson, Council 3 years; John Ryan, Jr., ' Council 1 year ; C. C. Breunle, As¬ sessor : Wm. A. Shear. Judge of Election : C. W. Niles. Inspector ; L. F. Andrews and A. P. Breunle, Conferees. The conferees named Wm. Shear, for Justice. H. C. Olm¬ sted, Auditor, Robt. Stroup. Over¬ seer of the Poor.
The Ads Are Read.
The postal authorities at Wash¬ ington sustained Postmaster Cum¬ mings in refusing to i^ass the El¬ mira Advertisers through the Mans¬ field postoffice. Tho postmaster at Elmira has also been instructed not to receive Advertizers for trans¬ missions through the mail|>. if the paper contained any guessing ads or the awards of the guessing contests.
Associated Press News.
If the Associated Press is to serve the people by furnishing re¬ liable new^s it should call off" some of its staff', especially those in this vicinity. The dispatch to the Ga- zett & BuUetin on Feb. 1, was ou a level with the one from Austin re¬ garding the fire last year. There is not a word of truth in the dis¬ patch referred to as any one of the county committee will testify.   Here
it is :
By Associated Press.
Coudersport, Feb. 1.—At a meet¬ ing of the Republican County Com¬ mittee held here today resolutions were offered to instruct the Chair¬ man to have Senator Quay's name printed upon the ticket for United States Senator, and to instruct the representative elected to vote for Quay for re-election. Both resolu¬ tions were lost b3^ a decided majority.
This is the resolution :
Resolved, That candidates for U. S. Senator, by conforming to the provisions ol Rule 10, may have their names printed on the ballots to be voted at the next primaries, aud the candidate recelying the highest number of votes be deemed to have carried the county; and the member of the legislature elected at the November election shall thereby be In¬ structed to support in the nest legislature the candidate so having the highest number Of votes for the next U. S. Senator.