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Terms, 82.00 a Year, in Advance.
Bellefonte, Pa., Oct. 23, 1896.
P. GRAY MEEE, Ep1ToR.
Democratic National Ticket.
FOR PRESIDENT
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN,
of Nebraska.
¥OR VICE PRESIDENT
ARTHUR SEWELL,
of Maine.
Democratic State Ticket.
FOR CONGRESSMEN AT-LARGE,
DeWITT C. DeWITT, of BRADFORD.
JEROME IT. AILMAN, of Juniata.
FOR ELECTORS AT-LARGE,
THOS. G. DELAHUNTY.
THOMAS STERRETT.
A. H. COFFROTH, Somerset
LOUIS M. IRELAND.
FOR DISTRICT ELECTORS,
John H. Keenan, John M. Carroll,
Albert M. Hicks, Chas. J. Reilly,
James J. King, J. P. Hoffar,
Thos. McCullough, Lucien Banks,
John Hagen, A. J. Brady,
Michael Delaney, George W. Rhine,
John B. Storm, John C. Patton,
Thos. A. Haak, William Weihe,
Samuel W. Black,
Judson J. Brooks,
John J. McFarland,
C. H. Aikens,
Chas. F. Reninger,
Chas. H. Schadt,
Thomas R. Philips,
Chas. D. Kaiser,
John K. Royal, Seymour S. Hackett,
William Stahler. . Harry Alvin Hall.
Democratic County Ticket.
FOR CONGRESS.
J. L. SPANGLER.
{ JAS. SCHOFIELD,
{ ROBERT M. FOSTER.
For Sheriff —W. M. CRONISTER.
For Treasurer—C. A. WEAVER.
For Recorder—J. C. HARPER.
For Register—GEO. W. RUMBERGER.
elma iP. H. MEYER,
ForCommissioners— | DANIEL HECKMAN.
For Auditors— ! PEARED
For County Surveyor—J. H. WETZEL.
For Coroner—W. U. IRVIN.
For Assemhly—
The Bunco Ticket—whose Candidates
Are They ?
It was only necessary to go up to the
court house, on Saturday night last, and
look over the audience, drummed up to
hear DWIGHT M. LOWERY denounce all
who do not believe in the gold standard,
as ‘‘Anarchists,”’ ‘‘repudiators,’’ ete., to
fully understand the influences that are
back of the Democratic bunco steerers of
this place and the men whom they call upon
to make up such crowds as they can get to-
gether. Eight-tenths of the audience were
Republicans. Their special train from the
College brought down 152 persons, 21 of
whom were Republican voters, one Demo-
crat and the balance of them College boys.
The little applause given the speaker was
from Republicans. What dirt was thrown
and what insults given ; were thrown at
and given to the Democrats. As captain
BAYARD boastingly remarked, on Monday :
‘It was one of the best Republican meet-
ings held this year,’’ and while it made no
votes for the Republican ticket, any one
with half an eye, or with the least amount
of discernment, could see that the sole pur-
pose of the meeting was to encourage the
Republicans and do as much injury as possi-
ble to the Democratic ticket.
If further evidence of the purpose of the
PALMER & BUCKNER ticket, and who is at
the bottom of it in this county, is needed,
it is furnished by the following list of
names from this county that we find was
appended to the papers placing that ticket
in the field. It was supposed that only
disgruntled Democrats were asking for a
new ticket. The facts look otherwise. In
fact two Republicans to one pretended
Democrat is the political proportion of
signers from this county and we presume
it is the same all over the State.
We have divided the signers into col-
umns representing. the former political
views of the backers of this bunco business,
and our readers can judge for themselves
as to the kind of a ‘‘Democratic’’ move-
ment it is. The names, as given, are tak-
en from the papers on file in the office of
the Secretary of State at Harrisburg :
FORMER DEMOCRATS. REPUBLICANS.
Charles Smith, i William Shortlidge,
S. M. Buck, I Robt McCalmont Jr.,
W. Fred Reynolds,
Geo. W. Jackson,
Ellis L. Orvis,
i John F. Walker,
Isaac Underwood,
Jno. A. Wagner,
John Blanchard, Thos. Fleming,
J. D. Shugert, J. W. Undercoffer,
J. H. Shugert, Archibald Allison,
John 8S. Lane, John C. Kurtz,
Edward L. Powers, J. 8. Yarnill,
J. W. Gephart, Frank Wallace,
John J. Walsh, C. C. McKinley,
J. Will Conley, Amos Mullen,
A. Brockerhoff, “| John D. Sourbeck,
Emanuel Noll, Fred Sourbeck,
Henry Brockerhoff, | Wm. H. McClure,
J. H. Anderson, + E. H. Richards,
H. E. Jenkins, ; John L. Kurtz,
J. L. Runkle, |W. T. Fitzgerald,
Harry C. Taylor, ‘David Haines.
— Wilber Dawson,
PROHIBITIONISTS C. H. Diehl,
AND DOUBTFUL Chas. F. Cook.
VOTERS, S. 3 Miller,
: . C. Brew,
Lavia Batley; Edmund Blanchard,
WE feobins, Jas. E. Williams,
Harry Keller,
W. F. Reeder,
L. E. Jodon,
I. 8S. Longacre,
Thos. Donachy,
Isaac Dawson,
Samuel Shirk,
H. B. Pontius,
Lewis Miller,
O. R. Johnson,
| Jas. H. Miller,
W. T. Hillibish,
Benj. Bradley,
| John Waite,
| L. C. Bullock.
Honest Democrats of Centre county,
look at the above list of names. You
know the men. You know their politics.
You see that two thirds of them are radical
Republicans who have no idea of voting
anything but the straight Republican tick-
et. Will you allow yourselves to be bun-
coed by so transparent a trick ?
J. M. Neubauer,
IS IT TO CO ON AS USUAL?
The people of no other State in the Union suffer as much from bad government as
do the people of Pennsylvania.
Extravagant legislation and corrupt official service are but a part of what they
have to endure as a consequence of Republican rule. The expense of highly salaried
offices and profligate appropriations, heavy as it is, does not begin to cost them as
much as they are robbed of by the corporations and monopolies that owe their facilities
of plunder to the favoritism of Republican Legislatures and Governors.
It should long ago have attracted the attention of the peoplethat the larger the
Republican majorities in the State have grown to be, the more reckless the State of-
ficers have become in the betrayal of the public interest.
It should not have escaped the notice of the tax-payers that the greater the
numerical strength of the Republicans in the Legislature, the more extravagant have
been the appropriations and the more licentious the squandering of the state revenues.
The voters should not have been blind to the fact that the more unlimited the
power given the dominant party in the legislative and executive branches of the state
government, the more unrestricted have been the privileges and immunities granted to
corporations and monopolistic combines that are despoiling the people.
All these abuses have sprung from an entirely natural cause, for when a set of
corrupt party managers and mercenary Legislators see that the people do not care how
they betray the public.interest and squander the state money, but rather appear to
approve of such misconduct by increasing their majorities and making their power in
the Legislature almost unanimous, it is natural for them to believe, and in fact they
can’t do otherwise than believe that they have been given unquestioned privilege to
commit every form of extravagance, and to indulge their disposition to plunder with-
out liability to be called to account for it.
Thus it was seen that after the HASTINGS administration was 'put in control of
the state government by a majority of unexampled size, and the Republican suprem-
acy in the Legislature was made more complete than it ever was before, both the Legis-
lature and the Governor started on a career of unprecedented extravagance and reck-
less expenditure of the state revenues that surpassed the wildest dreams of plunder
previousty entertained by the professional politicians and ringsters who had derived
their subsistence from official spoils.
They doubled the number of officers about the State capitol, with the sole object
of furnishing places for party workers.
They created new offices and new departments for which there was no public
necessity, and filled them with incumbents whose only claim to such preferment was
their service as henchmen to the party bosses.
They brought into existence a new batch of judges which the judicial business of
the State did not need, putting in operation an unnecessary court at an annual cost of
nearly $100,000 in salaries alone, and setting up an appellate tribunal whose chief
function will be the encouragement of litigation.
In addition to the creation of new offices, the salaries of old ones, whose emolu-
ments were amply sufficient, were largely increased. :
Shameful extravagance was practiced in the alleged improvement and adornment
of the public grounds and buildings at Harrisburg, and in the embellishment of the
Governor's mansion, a notorious party worker being put in charge of this department
at a large salary, with a corps of assistants to increase the expense of that service.
To these unbridled measures of extravagance, intended chiefly for the emolument
of political tools and party parasites, was added the most disgraceful subservience to
corporations and moneyed interests.
Street railway companies were given larger privilege to fleece their passengers and
oppress their employes, a wrong which led to riotous disturbance in Philadelphia, sus-
pending the business of the city for an entire week and causing a serious destruction of
property.
Corporations were confirmed, by legislative and executive sanction, in all the
privileges and powers required for the successful enforcement of their extortions,
whether by the company store system, by discrimination in railroad freights, by re-
striction of the coal product for the purpose of increasing the price of that indispen-
sable fuel, and by various other forms of corporate rapacity.
And as a crowning disgrace to the State and outrage upon her people, the entire
state government, including the Governor and the Legislature, yielded a ready sub-
mission to the interest of the Standard oil company, handing over to that insatiable
monopoly every right and privilege that was wanting for the completion of its power
to rob the State of the benefit of her petroleum resources, and to enable the monopoly
to raise the price of the product, of which it was thus given complete control ; and
this was done by these unfaithful servants of the people with an alacrity and zeal such
as is displayed only when men are paid a money equivalent for their service.
In these disgraceful details we have not given an exaggerated picture of the conse-
quences that have attended the big majorities given by the people to the party which
has construed this confidence as a license for its Legislature and administration to
squander the public revenue and to betray every interest that is valuable to the
people.
HASTINGS’ big majority and the overwhelming party preponderance in the Legis-
lature confirmed them in the belief that the people approved of their looting the trea-
sury and committing every form of legislative and administrative profligacy.
Have the people had enough of this, or will they give this licentious party a
further license to go on with its squandering and plundering by sending to Harrisburg
the usual majority of Republican law-makers ?
The voters of this county helped to commit these raids upon the treasury and
outrages upon the people, by electing two representatives who voted consistently for
every swindle and theft that was proposed ;
and these same two men are asking to be
returned. Those in favor of such legislative robbery, as we have alluded to, will vote
for CURTIN and WOMELSDORF. Those opposed will support FOSTER and SCHOFIELD.
rsp = =——
A Sentiment Against Him.
There is a very well defined and highly
commendable sentiment among the voters
of both parties in the county against the
candidacy of ABE MILLER for Sheriff.
Aside from the natural objection that
would arise on account of his admitted
‘‘incompetency’’ for public office there is a
feeling among the people that such a chron-
ic seeker after office should not be encour-
aged in any quarter.
There is no doubt that MILLER’S selfish-
ness has had much to do with weakening
him in his own party and it is but a
natural result of the methods he has re-
sorted to to capture places for himself. His
idea has invariably been, MILLER always,
the party never. Not once has he stepped
back to make room for another man and
when such a thing has been suggested he has
heaped the bitterest kind of abuse on those
of his own party who have dared to inti-
mate that others should be given a chance.
MILLER has never been the least bit con-
siderate for those who have not been for
him. He has fought them to the bitter
end. Yet he claims the support of every
Republican now because his selfishness and
overweening greed for office have secured
him a place on their ticket. He urges
men, whom he has repeatedly abused, to
support him. Will they do it?
Mr. W. M. CRONISTER is the man to
whom MILLER’S vindictiveness has driven
many supporters. He is a clean cut young
man, raised on a farm“and prominent be-
fore the public becanse it is known that
the same integrity and thrift that has made
him a nominee for sheriff will make him a
most exemplary official, if elected. His
record is open as a book. There is nothing
in his past that need be concealed for fear
of its injuring his chances for election. He
is amply qualified for the office of sheriff
and is the proper man to elect.
Vote for Mr. CRONISTER.
¢
ES
What Courtesy Will Do.
In GEORGE W. RUMBERGER, the Demo-
cratic nominee for Register, is seenan ex-
cellent example of the opportunity of a
courteous, obliging official. We do not say
that he was an entire stranger to the peo-
ple of Centre county when he came out for
office, three years ago, for such was not the
case. Yet he knew only those people who
came in contact with him in various mer-
cantile ventures, as a country school teach-
erand as Commissioner’s clerk. In the lat-
ter office he first came before the public
notice. His ability as an accountant, his
affable nature and his readiness to accom-
modate those who had business in the court
house to look after made him many friends,
but it was not until he became an elective
official that the real excellence of the man
became known to the county in general.
As Register, Mr. RUMBERGER has indeed
been a success. By very nature he is de-
signed for the office. He handles men with
the most pleasing tact and transacts the
business in his department with dispatch
and sa*isfaction to all. Being a scholar, a
fine penman and accurate at figures he has
every quality to equip him for Register.
But above all there is that, pleasing person-
ality that makes every one feel at home in
his office ; that open, courteous manner that
makes him approachable at all times.
Are you going to vote for Mr. RUMBER-
GER? Thousands of others are and you had
better do the same.
——The death of the late WiLLiaM B.
MANN Esq., a nestor of the Philadelphia
bar, and a man whose mellow old age af-
forded him opportunity to convert the
many political enemies of his active life to
friends of his declining years, will be a
source of sorrow in Bellefonte. His eulo-
gium of our lamented CURTIN made him
Ioved here.
The Why of It.
The contest for Treasurer is waging
warmer in the county than that for any
other office. In fact it is currently re-
ported that county chairman GRAY intends
leaving the rest of his ticket to look after
itself and try to pull HARRISON KLINE
through. For what purpose this is to be
done no one has a satisfactory explanation,
other than the one so, freely given that
KLINE is the best man on the Republican
ticket. We have nothing tosay against him,
but this being the case, there is no reason-
able ground for a Democrat deserting Mr.
WEAVER, the regular nominee of his party
for the office.
HARRISON KLINE is not, has never been
and is not likely to become a well known
man in Centre county. He enjoys a little
notoriety, gained by giving away potatoes
that he had no use for, nor no place to
store, last spring, and with this he is be-
fore the people of Centre county asking to
be made Treasurer. Why should it be
done? Or rather, let us ask the Demo-
crats of Centre county why CAL. WEAVER
should not receive every Democratic vote
in the county ?
He is as good, if not a better man than
his opponent.
He has been a life long Democrat.
He has supported the party’s nominees
at all times and done what he could to up-
build the party.
His record is as clean as it is possible for
that of a mortal’s to be.
He has worked himself up in the public
estimation by dint of personal exertion.
From early boyhood he has been thrown
on his own resources.
His mother died while his father was
away fighting for his country and young
WEAVER was left a homeless, friendless
orphan, to struggle for himself.
He is now a candidate of the Demo-
cratic party for county office and hopes that
Democrats will prove the friends that he
so sadly lacked in his youth.
Mr. WEAVER has been deputy sheriff of
the county for three years. His record is
without a blemish and his acquaintance
with the routine of county affairs makes
him far superior to KLINE as a qualified
nominee.
Mr. KLINE has been a life long Republi-
can. He has been vindictive in the pur-
suit of partisanship and has never done
anything to help a Democrat to office.
Why then should a Democrat cut Mr.
WEAVER to vote for KLINE ?
We challenge anyone to disprove our
statement that Mr. WEAVER is as good a
man as his opponent and that he is better
qualified to fill the office than Mr. KLINE.
Will They Get It?
The Republican party managers about
Bellefonte are counting on the great gains
they propose making, ‘‘on the other side.’
Referring, of course, to Penns Valley. Just
what has put such a notion into their heads
is very hard to tell. From a glance at the
political situation in the county there is
only one logical conclusion and that, quite
the reverse of what they expect.
We need go no farther than their ticket
for the best explanation of why they should
be disappointed in the claim for a gain ‘‘on
the other side.”” Not a single place of im-
portance was given to the Republicans ‘‘on
the other side,’’ from whom they now ex-
pect so much.-
Among the good men of that locality
who were turned down at the dictation of
the Bellefonte managers, who now expect
them to turn in and roll up this gain, were:
W. B. KRAPE, of Gregg township; L.
SCOTT BRICKER, Boalsburg ; GEORGE M.
MUSSER, of Miles township ; the late GEo.
M. BoAL, of Potter township ; CHas. P.
LoNG, of Gregg township ; M. M. MUSSER,
of Haines township; and HARRY S.
STUART, of Harris township.
It is the duty of every political aspirant
to abide by the decision of the convention
in which he contests, except when that
convention gives evidence of partiality and
manipulation. If partiality was not shown
in the Republican county convention then
there is no sach a condition. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that ‘‘the other side’’ polled
614 votes for Governor HASTINGS, when it
came up with eight good men the conven-
tion turned them all down but one and
said : Here you take the chance for Audi-
tor, that is enough for your having polled
one-seventh of the entire Republican vote
in the county.
If the aspirants from ‘‘the other side’?
had not been good men, if it had not been
the long adopted policy of the party to
make up the ticket as fair as possible on
geographical lines then there might be
some excuse for its partiality. Undersuch
circumstances there is none and weare ata
loss to know from what quarter they ex-
pect their gains ‘‘on the other side.”
The managers here must expect the men
‘“‘on the other side’’ to act like the dog that
licked the hand of the master who kicked it.
——In the beautifully mellifiuous lan-
guage, that characterizes the writing and
speech of the editor of the Gazette, that
paper has charged the WATCHMAN with
supporting the Democratic county ticket
in order ‘‘to hog in all the county printing
for the next three years.” The WATCH-
MAN never finds it necessary to explain its
position to Democrats. It is a Democratic
paper and that is all that is necessary, but
as to this ‘‘hog’’ charge we would like to
refer all of our readers, those of the Gazette
and the editor of that paper to the county
statement for 1895. It will be seen there
that the Gazette received $232.10, as against
$195.50 paid the WATCHMAN; for printing
during the year ; this too, with a complete
list of Democratic officials in the county.
———Subscribe for the WATCHMAN.
.for McKinley frightens nobody.
Quay’s Bluff.
It don’t require people to have very long
memories to understand how little reliance
can be placed upon the predictions of Sena-
tor QUAY. Last week, in New York, he
gave out the statement that McKINLEY
was certain to receive the votes of 270 elec-
tors. To men who believe in Mr. QuaY’s
political sagacity we say, don’t bet on it.
When he wants to tell what the Republi-
can party of Pennsylvania will do, he can
generally guess pretty close, but when he
attempts to foretell the action of the people
of the country, he generally proves a
“‘false prophet.’’
A single instance, under almost the same
circumstance that induced his prediction of
last week, will show how he can be mis-
taken, or else how he intentionally would
fool others. It is but four years ago that
Mr. QUAY, as the spokesman for the chair-
man of the Republican national committee,
sent out the word from New York that
there was no doubt-of the result—that
Victory was assured and that HARRISON
was certain of re-election. Hundreds, de-
pending upon his judgment, bet their mon-
ey and lost. At that time QUAY and DAVE
MARTIN\were friends, and were both con-
nected with the national Republican com-
mittee. On the strength of QUAY’s assur-
ance of success, MARTIN went from New
York to Philadelphia to give the tip to the
boys to take all the bets they could get and
that it would be safe to give odds if even
bets could not be had. His friends relied
upon his judgment. They bet, they lost,
and many of them, to this day, have a lurk-
ing suspicion that there was either some
kind of a bunco game in it, or that Quay
knew nothing about the situation, that he
was supposed to know all about.
Where is there a town in the State that
does not have a victim of QUAY’S presi-
dential predictions of only four years ago.
And yet there are men who talk about
his prediction now asa guarantee of the
MCKINLEY success.
Meyer and Heckman.
Within two weeks the tax payers of Cen-
tre county will be called upon to chose three
men to make upa board of Commissioners
for the ensuing three years. While the
office of Commissioner is one of the smallest
in the court house in point of emoluments
it is by far the most important in point of
direct interest to the tax payer. If the
Commissioner’s office is economically man-
aged every other department of the county
government is similarly affected. If there
are practical business methods guiding the
business there are lower taxes for the peo-
ple.
The Democratic party has a record in this
capacity of which it can well be proud,
while the only Republican experiment
within the’last quarter of a century proved
such a failure that the county finances have
not recovered yet and the people are still
suffering, to a certain extent, for the ex-
travagance of the board of Commissioners
of which HENDERSON and DECKER were
the leaders.
In this contest we present the names of
PHILIP MEYER and DANIEL HECKMAN,
both of them farmers and both known as
practical men. They are before the people
with records as private citizens of which
they can be proud. And it is certain that
if they are elected to the offices to which
they aspire both men will carry with them
that same wholesome desire to struggle for
the right that has characterized them in
their every day life.
Both Mr. MEYER and Mr. HECKMAN
are farmers and are in entire sympathy
with the farming classes, in fact so much so
that we are willing to vouch for either one
of them that they will permit nothing
‘within their control that will have a ten-
dency to raise the taxes on the already
overburdened farmers. These gentlemen
will not build the new court house that
Republican grand juries have been trying
to urge on the Commissioners for several
years. They will not make any useless ex-
penditures at all. Both of them are poor
men and know, full well, the value of a
dollar.
Will you vote for them or will you vote
torepeat the dose the county had to take
in 1887 ?
——1If the Sheriff of Centre county should
die in office the Coroner would be called
upon to serve as Sheriff during the unex-
pired term. Didn’t you know this? While
such a condition would be very greatly
regretted the Democratic party has always
thought it best to be prepared” for any
emergency and has been very careful in the
nomination of Coroner. This year Dr. W.
U. IRVIN, of Julian, in every sense qualified
for the office to which he aspires, is the can-
didate. Dr. IRVIN will makean acceptable
Coroner and “should the more important
duties of Sheriff devolve on him, by any
unforseen calamity, he would be thorough-
ly competent to assume them. The Re-
publican convention seems to have over-
looked this feature in its nomination. Vote
for Dr. IRVIN.
—Those who are telling the tale say that
it is well founded that WANAMAKER will
put money into this county to insure
WOMELSDORF's election to the Legis-
lature. JOHN wants his vote for United
States Senator.
——Everybody is on to Quay’s before-
the-election bluff. His claim of 270 votes
Quay has
always been a good political prophet—for
the Democrats. About this time four years
ago Quay claimed that Harrison’s election
was a certainty. Butit wasn’t. And six
years ago, even after the polls closed he
sent out a telegram from his Beaver home
that Delamater was elected. But Pattison
and the Democrats swept the State.
The Nailing of a Goldite Lie.
The goldites in this county have been
particularly persistent in their attempt to
win people away from BRYAN-SEWALL
and the people’s cause and every successful
attempt is heralded abroad. The work has
not stopped here, however, for in many
cases they announce this or that man as
having gone over to McKINLEY and then
try to make capital out of it on which to
persuade some one else to drop his alle-
giance to the poor and play lickspittle for
the rich.
One of the most brazen attempts of this
sort is the story being circulated that ‘Mr.
O. P. KREAMER, of Milesburg, an old line
Democrat, cannot stand BRYAN and has
joined the MCKINLEY forces.”” Now read
what Mr. KREAMER has to say of this him-
self, then judge of the cause that must fight
its battles by such lying calumnies.
Milesburg, Pa. Oct. 21st, 1896.
MR. P. GRAY MEEK,
Dear Sir :—I have always been a Democrat
and if I live to see November 3rd I will vote
the Democratic ticket. I am for BRYAN and
the whole ticket and am not a flopper to Mc-
KINLEY’S or any other party. Will you
please state in your paper thatit isa goldite
lie of the blackest hue.
O. P. KREAMER.
Sm ———
It is not altogether likely that the silver-
ites will give up the contest because Gov-
ernor Hastings has said that there is no
hope for them.
Col. Spangler and Labor.
His Record Against the Iniquitous Pluck-Me Store.—
Miners Always Paid in Cash. Every two Weeks,
Check Weighmen at all His Tipples. Has Always
Been the Friend of the Miners. Proven by Corres-
pondence.
JAMES McCaxx, EpwArp MULHERN
President, Vice President,
SAMUEL J. MITCHELL
Secretary and Treasurer.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF LA-
BOR,
OFFICE oF SEC'Y AND TREASURER, District No. 2,
Gearhartville, Clearfield Co., Pa.
: Oct., 2,96.
DISTRICT OFFICERS ASK FOR INFORMA-
TION :
Mr. Robert McGowan, Esq.,
Dear Sir : Please let me know Col. J. L.
Spangler’s position in.regards tothe com-
pany store question. And whether he is in
now or at any previous time had a store of
his own or allowed one of his bosses to have
one. If you have had any dealings with
Spangler or know nothing about it, please
write in detail as there is some talk up here
about him running a pluck-me in Barnes-
boro or Spangler. Hoping to hear from you
soon, I remain fraternally yours,
SAMUEL J. MITCHELL,
Sec'y and Treas:
LOCAL OFFICER’S REPLY.
SPANGLER, PA. Ocr. 8, 1896.
Mg. S. J. MITCHELL, Sec’y. and Treas.
Dear Sir and Bro.—In reply to your in-
quiry of the 6th inst., would say that Col.
J. L. Spangler has never had at any time
any connection with company stores at
Hastings, Spangler or Barneshoro. At one
time a store was started by one of his boss-
es, but as soon as the miners notified him,
he immediately ordered it closed. He has
been away from the mines for about two
years. About eight monthsago we asked
him to define his position in regard to the
pluck-me question, as there was some talk
of c8mpelling the miners to deal in any
store located at Spangler. I enclose you a
copy of his reply. This letter was read at
a meeting of the miners, and pleased the
men very much. There are check weigh-
men on all his tipples, and his men are
paid in cash every two weeks. I do not
think that any of the miners in this sec-
tion has any ill feeling towards Mr. Spang-
ler, as he always treated them as an equal
and they got anything they asked for.
Very truly yours,
ROBERT MCGOWAN.
FRIENDLY OFFICES OF COL. SPANGLER TO
CORRECT ATTEMPTED INFRINGEMENT
OF COMPANY'S POLICY.
SPANGLER, PA., APRIL, 4, 1896:
JL. SPANGLER, Esq., Bellefonte, Pa.
Sir :—We have been instructed by
L. A. 1505, I.0. K. of L., in regard to the
company store evil, which certain persons
are trying to fasten on the miners of this
place by going around the Sterling mines
No. 11 and others, and getting men to
promise to deal with them, and sign an
Iron Clad so that they can stop what money
the men will have due them through the
Sterling Co., and believe you to be a friend
of the miners, and Sterling conipany always
having a good name of dealing justly and
honestly with their men, we hope you will
use your influence to get this evil stopped.
You will confer a great favor on the miners
of this place, and if at any time they can
return the compliment I assure you they
will do so. Hoping we will hear from you
soon, with a favorable reply, we remain
respectfully,
JAMES O’FARRELL, M. W.,
ROBERT MCGOWAN, W. G.,
- JAMES GLANCY, Recording Sec’y.
Committee.
REPLY OF COL. SPANGLER GIVEN EIGHT
MONTHS AGO.
PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 1896.
MEssRs. JAMES O’FARRELL, ROBERT Mc-
GOWAN AND JAMES GLANCY, Commit-
tee, Spangler, Pa.
Gentlemen :—I have your letter of re-
cent date in reference to certain efforts that
are being made to secure the store trade
from the employees of the Sterling coal
company.
I wish to say that I have delayed answer
to your letter until I could havea personal
interview with Mr. William P. Duncan
who has absolute charge of the mines in
Cambria county. I have had no connection
with the active management of these mines
for over a year, but in, talking with Mr.
Duncan to-day, I can say to you that no
employe of Duncan & Spangler is required
to deal at any particular store. Thisisa
matter for the miner himself. The firm has
no store of its own nor any connection with
store business. It is your privilege to elect
to deal wherever it suits you best. For
further information I trust you will call on
Mr. William P. Duncan when next he vis-
its the mines. I will use my influence to
correct any violation of the general policy
of the firm.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) J. L. SPANGLER.