Franklin County: D. O. Gehr to Simon Cameron, July
20, 1859
Summary:
Gehr discusses local politics and his distaste for Alexander K. McClure.
July 20/1859
Chambersburg
Honorable
Simon
Cameron
I send you the Valley Spirit in which a reply to a communication in the
Repository & Transcript of last week eulogistic of Alexander K. McClure supposed to be written or dictated by
himself. If this reply doesn't put a quieter in blowing
his own trumpet then I will come to the understanding he is lost to all feeling
and shame. We propose to make an effort at our coming County convention to elect
conferees favourable to another man either Mr
[unclear: McNeght] near Greencastle formerly a member of Indiana County
Pennsylvania (now a resident
of our County) or F.S. Stumbaug of Chambersburg, the former probably is the
strongest man. We have but a faint hope of success, as it has only been within
the past week to get his consent and the [illeg.]
[page 2]
scoundrel
Alexander K McClure has been [deleted: working] quietly working for the Senatorship for the past Five Months
& holding out the idea publicly that he would not think of accepting a
nomination if tendered, I wrote to a friend in Adams County if they intended
proping their claims, (hoping they would), (being entitled to the nominee) the
reply I received was, that they would adhere to these claims & the right
to the nominee for that office had they an available man who desired the
nomination or who would be induced to accept but as yet all such have declined,
and the [deleted: probability] fear was that Alexander K. McClure had been working with some of the leading men for some
months to keep every person off the track & give the conferees to him,
our primary meetings for electing delegates to the County convention will take
place on the 30th inst. the County convention Tuesday following I shall try & be a delegate
& with some other delegates get up a feeling which will go a great way
in [illeg.] his defeat in October.
Yours Respectfully
D. O. Gehr
