Che » Proprietor. J. H. WETZEL. OUR CANDIDATES. The above are faithful! portraits of the two Democratic nominees, in county, for assembly. They are not published because we consider them ex ceptionally handsome, as we have met men of more impressive appearance, and probably some not as fortunate, vet neither need make an apology for their faces. They appear here not by the solicitation of either candidates bat at the wish of the Centre Democrat—beliey. ing that there is some satisfaction in knowing candidates from published por traits, thus assisting in extending their acquaintance with the re. ders and voters, so that when vou see them face two face you will be able to recognize them So that you may know of then, also, the following brief sketches are offered: HON. J. H. WETZEL. J. H. Wetzel was born in Cedarville, Ill, May 14, 1856; at the age of three years his father, John Wetzel, removed with his family to Bellefonte. He is one | of a family of ten children, nine boys and one girl. He attended the public schools of Bellefonte during the winter ; at the age of sixteen he began work with his father at carpentering which he con- tinued for three years when he prepared himself for teaching, attending the Belle- foute Academy, and Prof. Wolf's Acad- emy. In 1877, entered Franklin & Marshall College which be attended for two years and then accepted the Assist- ant Principalship of the Bellefonte schools which he filled for two years, during which time he also read law in the office of Alexander & Bower. In 1882 he went to Dakota, Ill, and attended the college of Northern Illinois of which his brother, Rev. F. Wetzel, now of Rebersburg, was president, as a student and mstructor; from that institu. tion he graduated in 1884. He graduated from the law department of the State | In Septem- | University of Iowa in 1886, ber 1886 he located in Nelson, Neb, where he opened an abstract of title of. fice; while in Nebraska he was county surveyor for three years, In 1886, he married Susan Yearick, daughter of ex- county treasurer Adam Yearick; he has | two sons and three daughters. In 18q3, he returned with his family to Bellefonte, where he has continued to reside and follow the occupation of surveying and engineering at which he is kept busy. He is now serving his eighth year as Boro. engineer of Bellefonte, | In 18¢8, Mr. Wetzel was a candidate for Assembly from this county and was elected by a handsome majority. In the | session of 189g he served with fidelity and honor. Being of a minority party yet the interests of his people were well cared for through his intelligent and prudent course. He stood aloof and free from every measuge or influence that was liable to be tainted with fraud or corruption in that session. In the midst of all, by vote and influence, he stood manfully for the best interest of the peo. ple and the state. He kept every pledge, and retained the confidence and esteem of Lis constituency, and to this day his name is known as a bulwark for manly integrity. In 180 he was unanimously renomina- ted, by bis party, but went down in the slump of that year. Again, the party this year extended the same courtesy in recognition for his services, He ls known to the public; further comment is useless, Elect him and no “Pullman specials” need come to Bellefonte to seize him, when the next Legislature assembles. Jo W. KEPLER. Herewith we present a type of energet. ie, progressive, sturdy young manhood; from youth he was an ardent advocate of Democracy and at all times one who was thoughtfully devoted to the study of Centre | | cahlic measures and national issue | Jorn WiLrLiaxm KEPLER was born on the Kepler homestead, in Ferguson town. ship, Centre county, Aug. 7th, 1872, | { which makes him a young man of 30 vears Heisa son of Hon. Jacob M. Kepler ,who resided for years at Tion- Forest county, Pa., where this outh spent his early life. At of 14 years he was graduated from the Tiovesta High school. From there he went to Randolph, N. Y., and became a studert in the Chamberlain Institute, | after which he entered the College of Commerce, in Buffalo, N. Y. When still in his teens he learned the “‘art preser vative” in his father’s newspaper office, | the "Tionesta Democrat.” The father betng largely interested in coal and timberland, that demanded his attention, he newspaper was turned over to his | son, who for several years successfully ‘edited it, and at the time enjoyed the | rare distinction of being the young- est editor in the state. The Kepler family returned to Fergu. son township, and bave resided there | sirge., In 158 Mr. Kepler was married | to Miss Maggie G. Goss, daughter of ex. | treasurer Cyrus Goss, and in their | family circle are two bright little daugh- ters, Mary E. and Kathryn, Upon their return to Centre county Mr. Kepler de. | voted his entire attention to farming and any one who drives by the Kepler farms in Ferguson township will admit that | the young man thoroughly understands the business. esta, the age In these days of commercial activity | the average young man becomes weary | {of farm life and drifts to the centers of | population to seek employment or en. gage in trade. With a good education, of marked ability, and with ample re | sources at his command he had every opportunity to engage in other pursuits, | but he chose farming as his avocation in life. He is not a theoretical farmer either, | | but one of practice, and in season can be | | seen either at the plow, or mowing the fields, or garnering the golden grain; | [ strong and stalwart in physique, always | | is doing his share of the work too. In 1900 Mr. Kepler was one of the democratic nominees on our county tick- et for this same office, and received a | larger vote than the head of the ticket, | but was defeated owing to the general | landslide that engulfed almost the entire | ticket. Modest and unassuming, commonplace in manner and address, sincere and ever | true in his friendships, large-hearted and | | generous, capable and efficient, are some | of his distinguishing traits. Abvove all is a manly fidelity that makes his word the equal of his bond. Just such men can truly represent the people and are nes. : ed in our legislative halls, ! The above are carefully prepared and accurate sketches of our nominees, There are scores of men just as good. These two men in one particular are strikingly strong; they are men of strong characters, firm convictions, truth. ful and most scrupulously honest, They never will bend the suppliant knee and fawningly beg official preferment from any corrupt political faction—for an office. They have openly declared they will, if elected, oppose all forms of cor. rupt legislation, the like of which dis graced the last legislature, and on all oc. casions use every honorable effort at their command to free this State from the blight of Quayism and machine rule. It that meets with your approval vote and elect Messrs. Wetzel and Kepler, who will sacredly keep every pledge. If you are not in sympathy with such sentiments, other candidates deserve | The meeting was opened | Dale, who asoounced Ex Gov, | 1200 would be near it, | parent lack of enthusiasm. | September frost—a disappointment. Gen, | Hastings escorted the delegation in car. your support, BELLEFONTE, PA., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. 1002. GRANGER PICNIC, This is the grangers’ week, at the Cen tre Hall Pic-nic ground. Sunday opened the program with barvest home exer. The day was a brought out a iarge attendance by private convey. The sermon for the occasion was preached io the afternoon by Rev. Ker. shoer of the Reformed church to a full cises 1a the Auditorium fine one, and as usual ances audience interesting, and the music excellent. Mooday was quiet with a few visitors and only the tenters about the grounds Tuesday the influx of strangers began with the arrival of the first trains, and those that followed during the day, It being republican day, there was some upoticable stir in political The morning train west, brought Ex Judge Samuel W candidate for Governor; lines Pennypack: r, Republican United States Ex Postmaster General Chas. BEwory Smith and others with a delegation of city reporters. Six bands were on the ground. of leading republicans, arrived later. The exercises were held in the Auditorium. by George D. H. Senator Boies Penrose Hastings as permanent chairman, who | | presided. The above distinguished gen. { tiemen spoke, also 8. R. Dresser, of Bradford, candidate for congress, and | Alex E. Patton, of Curwensville, candi. | date for State Senator, | variously estimated from 500 10 2000; The crowd is The small at cand, as the ap tendance, was as significas:, It was a riages to Bellefou'e Oa Wednesday the attendance was some larger, but the people seemed to be holding tack for Tharsday to see | Pattison. Wednesday was Prohibition day and among the principal attractions was Dr, | Swallow, the fighting parson of Harris. burg, who spoke at the afternoon session. We are safe in predicting that this Thursday will find the largest ga'hering ever known at the picnic Delegations from all parts of the county are assured. The grounds are in fine shape, and the weather most favorable for the encamp- | ment. A number of exhibits are on the | ground and the usual display of mer. | chandise in the buildings, with an | abundance of side shows, candy venders, | and amusements on the midway, A RERMIT'S WEALTH. At Philipsburg Saturday morning Geo. 8. Turner, an excentric old man, who bad lived as a hermit in a house on Ninth street, was found dead sitting upon a chair in the middle of the kitchen. The decomposed condition of the body indicated that death bad occurred a week or ten davs before the body was found. The Ledger says on his person was found a gold hunting.case watch and an open-face silver watch, $331.13 In cash, £400 in Clearfield fire brick bonds, $100 in Clearfield borough bonds, $500 in Clearfield Water company bonds, $500 in Wallaceton fire brick bonds; cer tificate of deposit County National bank $700, certificate of depgsit Clearfield county bank $1400. He was childless but his wife survives, confined, hopelessly mad, in an insave asylum. Several brothers are also living, the natural heirs to their brother's wealth which is said to reach $10,000, Oscar Mitchell, of Clearfield, Turner's attorney, took charge of the dead man and his effects, It's & woman's privilege to change her mind, even when she promises io obey. The services throughout, were | ¥ | and employees | Delegations | ciuct the®democratic ticket for President DIRTY POLITICS REBUKED | Gazette Defends Strohm by As- sailing Characters. | DIRTY REPUBLICAN LINEN That Needs Attention, for Charity Be. gins at Home—The Turning Down of Allison for Strohm an Endorse- ment of Machine Rule. Hon, Wm. A. Allison, in the last Legis. | latare, made a record that is beyond re. | proach, He opposed every vicious | measure like the “Ripper Bills,” fran. | chise steals, questionable appropriations; his name was never connected with bri | bery, legislative steals or corruption of | any kind that made that assemblage so | notorious He returned clean in con- | science and pure in purse, respected and { commended by his people. A man of his character is above that of a political | pettyfogger and schemer. His dignity {and manliness were such that if | his course with the approval | of his constituency he could accept an | endorsement in the usual form—a re. | nomination, if voluntarily and unani. { mously tendered him. The public gen- | erally expected that much, but a few | scheming, designing politicians deter. mined otherwise. Therefore we would | like to see a reasonable explanation, met | denied Mr. Allison, who was faithful to | every pledge Tell us why he was turned down ? | fiom ? Was such a remomination tendered him? If not, why not ? We know all about James B. Strohm, and his personality can be omitted. | The tuming down of Mr. Allison is an issue in the campaign and the people are | giving it attention as it implies directly | the approval of the vicious work in the | last Legislature which Mr. Allison, by | vote, opposed on every occasion, These allusions are annoying the edi. lor of the Gazette. He tried to answer | them last week by studiously avoiding | the point and praising Strohm. These legitimate facts in the campaign. | The people have a right to know them. | Because we have pressed this point, with. | out a single allusion to the character of Mr. Strohm-—without an unkind word towards his persovality or his private life—~the Gazette its desperation to avoid telling the truth, like a coward as La in sails another man to beg the question or | to divert attention from the issue, and unirulhfully accuses the democratic papers of abusing Mr. Strohm. We challenge the reproduction of a line, or word, to support editor Harter's exag- | Reration. | Then, posing as a self-righteous Phari- see who is above guile, this character-as. | sassin attempts to take the public in his confidence by a pretended apology, but makes the effort to stab another man in | the back, with a deadly dirk, when he | wrote the following, in the last issue of { the Gazette : when better party “Two years ago was nominated the lin the Democratic Kepler element protested | and positively refused to vote for him be. | canse—fhey sasd--his nomination was a | reflection on common decency. We have | | never said this much in relation to this | matier because we do not care to invite campaign of billingsgate and abuse, but if forced to it, we can give good and ample reasons justifying this Democratic protest. The party was not only dis. | gusted with Mr. Kepler's comination | but * = = » In reply to the above we will say, Mr, | where he has resided these many years, | These people know him from boyhood | and can best judge his worth as a citizen, At the fall election, 1900, at his pre. received 156 votes and Mr. Kepler 173, ~~was ahead of his party vote at home, and in the county had over thirty more votes than the head of the ticket, That Is sufficient to answer the charge of inde- cency raised towards Mr, Kevler by Mr. Harter, The attack also smatters of cowardice by pretending to say what “they say'’ wants some one else, in the eyes of the reader, to bear the brand of character assassin. This is the first in. stance of any paper iu the county stoop: ing to "billingsgate and abuse’ in this campaign and editor Harter is the of. fender, When we vote for men to the Legisia. ture they should frankly tell the people and that is just what J. W, Kepler and J. H. Wetzel will do if elected. But if the campaign is to be diverted from the vital issues, and characters are to be investigated, and compared, as the Gazette has started on Mr. Kepler, of a candidate on ticket for the career republican that will astound the public; so revolting shocking testimony in the last session of This is not a threat—hnt a warning. warrants we can a tale unfold reaking in filth that every defender of pure womanhood and sanctity of the home | will rise in revolt, Still further- as information to the | acters, { names | Ticket we Suggest your that you take the on Republican County {nee over the entries, there you can | see what “hey say.” If you want re. liable information on characters, there youcan find it. If you want to be fair, tellit to your readers. We think this suggestion, if you have horse sense, should silence your “mud during the balance of this campaign. Do you want the facts? Ask for them, Mr. Harter, and they | will be produced. Would he mot have accepled a remomina- | about Yet, we prefer to dis. | cuss the real political issues, especially : | from our contemporaries, the Gazette or | Republican, as to why this courtesy was | “Why was Allison turned down?” and “What will Strohm do if elected —will he | be for or against the Quay machine ?’ - Killed by Dynamite. On Saturday evening, Sept. 6, as Peter, | {the 19 year-old son of Matt Shedeck, a prominent coal past the a mile from power house near Karthaus, A vestigate, sack of cotton waste was | hanging on the wall and is supposed to have been set on fire by some one who bad previously left. The young man | proceeded to carry it out when some fire dropped, igniting the loose powder on the floor; this spread to a partially filled powder keg which almost instastly caus- | ed the explosion of quite a quantity of | powder and dynamite, entirely demolish. | | ing the building and fatally injuring the young man who died in three hours. He was carried so feet and fell in the river. Doctor Fiegal was called and made an examination but his injuries were such that medical assistance was of no avail Coal Near Beech Creek. The people of Glen Union, Clinton county, did not think ten years ago that coal mines would be opened near their beautiful village. Within three miles of | that place, in the vicinity of Shoemaker's coal beds have been found, Acres of the {land in that section have been found to | be underiaid with coal from 4 ‘0 § feet 7 inches in thickness. The work of open. ing the mines will be commenced soon. The coal bas been tested and found to be first class for steam purposes, The Pennsylvania Fire Brick Company at Beech Creek, has discovered a thirty. inch vein of coal in their clay mines. | They are making preparations to get the coal out for their own use ———————— George A. Jenks Very IIL. | George A. Jenks, of Brookville, the well known lawyer, is dangerously ill at | the Seventh Avenue hotel, Pltisbarg He { arrived there with his daughter and ber { children, going West, and became ill on the train. Mr. Jenks was solicitor gen. eral under President Cleveland, demo. cratic candidate for governor against W, A. Stone, and he received the democratic | Kepler is a citizen of Ferguson township | vote for United States senator in 18¢8, | during the Quay deadlock. He was a member of the Porty.fourth Congress, | He is recognized as one of the ablest at. torneys in the state, Burglars at Karthaus, The large store of Dr. W. 8. Gilliland, al Karthaus, was robbed early Tuesday morning 9. The burglais blew open the safe and took everything that could be used. They got 40 in money, 125 poc- ket knives, lots of checks, valuable papers, agreements etc. The noise awakened the people close by and they saw the fleeing cracksmen but could not identify them. Dr. Gilliland offers a re. ward of $100 for their capture, Couldn't Ship Their Apples. The Lock Haven Democrat says the scarcity of cars is working great hard. ship to Nittany valley farmers. Are rangements had been made to ship three car loads from Mackeyville to Pittsburg this week, but only one car could be pro. cured, After hauling their apples to the station, the farmers were compelled to han! them home again. There is a great fSemand for apples from Pillsbury. . When is to three fellows Later fh resist temptation, like Mr, Allison's was, | we will say, the cover can be lifted from the | assembly and a | condition of moral depravity revealed | will be the filth that in comparison the | court will rise a sweet smelling incense, | Itis not a biuff—for if the occasion | Gazette, since you are dealing in char- i to where the criminal records | are kept, run the names of each nomi- | batteries” | operator, was driving | the mine | be saw | smoke coming from it and stopped to in- VOL. 24. NO, 3& "7 FACT, FUN AND FANCY. Bright Sparkling Paragraphs—Select- ed and Original. Now, here's a pretty state of things It is, upon my soul, When we must pawn our diamond rings To buy a ton of coal. A ring candidate—the autumn bride Strange to say, gas bills are seldom | light ones. A man has to be an artist to draw good | poker hands, The weather man is seldom greeted | with a storm of applause, It sometimes happens that a man’s loose change is sufficient to make him { tight, | It is well to remember that the buzz. | Faw won'thurt you if you don’t monkey | with it, | Aleech may be an unpleasant sort of | creature, but at least it never gets stuck | on itself, It often happens that the $10 a week clerk dresses better than his millionaire | employer, | A married woman who weighs ¢8 | pounds is just as hard to support as one { who weighs 200. ——————— | Miss Charlotte E. Hawes, of China, to Tour Huntingdon Presbytery. | The Woman’s Foreign Missionary so- | ciety of Huntingdon presbytery has es. | gaged Miss Charlotte E. Hawes, of Wel | Hien, China, to visit among its organi. zations throughout the presbytery, Miss Hawes is the daughter of a former pastor {in Huntingdon. Her experience in China, particularly in the Boxer uprising | of 1900, gives her a thrilling story, and | she is a most enthusiastic and interesting speaker. The following is the order of | ber itinerary within Centre county, and near the line: September 22, Warriors- mark : 23, Spruce Creek ; 25, Peale ; 26, | Winburne ; 27, Pine Grove Bethel, dis- trict meeting; 28, Clearfield and Cur. | wensville; 29, Kermoore ; 30, Philips. { burg ; 9. Milroy; 10, West Kishaco- Quillas ; 12, East Kishacoquillas; 20, Port Matilda ; 21, Unionville : 22 Miles. burg ; 23, Bellefonte ; 24, Boalsburg; 27 State College; 28, Pine Tyrone, » 29, Grove ; Adjudged a Witch. In the Cumberland county criminal court Thursday Mrs. Sarah McBride, of Carlisle, was convicted of witcheralt alter aday's trial, The testimony was over- whelming against ber. This remarkable verdict, which recalls the rare old viue laws under which witches were burned in sanctimonious Salem, Mass., is said to be unique in modern criminal an. vals. The formal charges in the indict. ment upon which Mrs, McBride, a woman of 60, was tried, stipulated that she had indulged in fortune telling, pecromancy and false pretenses, A man and his wife claimed that they paid Mrs. McBride over $500, in return for which she gave information concern. ing the location of a $30,000 treasure hidden in their yard. The man dug for the money, but did not ind it. A num- ber of witnesses testified that they bad paid money to Mrs. McBride to have witches removed. - " A Plan That Failed. Au exchange tells of a lady who de. cided to scare her husband who was a hard drinker, so he would reform. To do this she procured costumes of a devil which she saw at a masquerade. The next time the erring spouse came home feeling happy she quickly domned the costume, and as he opened the door she | stepped forward and said in a sepuichral { tone: “Come with me, I am the devil.” | The result rather startled her, as the | answer to her greeting was: “Zatso/? shake, old boy, I'm your brother-in-law; | married your sister.” -~ A ———————— Sober’s Chestnut Farm. C. K. Sober, of Lewisburg, has a grove of fifteen thousand chestnut trees pear Shamokin, many of them nt taller | than four or five feet and each tree load. ed down with chestout burrs. They are all specially cultivated chestnuts and each tree has been grafted. He will have a thousand bushels; each burr is said to contain from eight to nine large sweet nuts and judging by the size of the burr they will prodace fully that many, Campaign Rates. The Centre Democaat will be sent to any address from date, for six months for a5 cenis. This is an unusual offer and will only be good until Oct 1st. Ir you want to learn something of the career of the republican nominee for Governor, turn to page 3 of this issuc.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers