Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-03-11
A Row Among the Democrats I'm
Reading.


They had high old time among the
Democracy of Reading on Saturday night.
We clip the following account from the
Times and Dispatch
Last Saturday night was the time fixed
by the constitution for the annual election
Of officers of the Democratic association
of the city of Reading Hon. S. L. Ancona
has been president of this organization for
the last two years, and, it seems, has car
ried matters with a pretty high hand by
rewarding his friends and Furnishing his
enemies in the distribution of official hon
ors. For some time there have been signs
| of an olHeute against his regency, and quite
| recently il became evident that he could
not be reelected to the craftsmanship with
out desperate etrggge. In orde to shove of
the election it was arranged to get two dis
| tinguished Democrats from abroad here on
election night to make speeches in the
Keystone hall. Col. Dccheu, the new
Democratic Senator, and another member
of the Legislature, were chosen for this
purpose. 1t was accordingly announced
that the election for officers would be past
ponetl-but late on Saturday afternoon, a
counter-notice was printed, signed by the
secretary, stating that the election would
be held as usual.
AT the hour of meeting, n large crowd
was assembled at the rooms Of the associa.
tion in the third story of the insurance
building. Ancona took the chair as usual
Upon n motion having been made to &C
into an election for officers, Senator Davis
opened the ball. by a dictatorial sort o.
speech, declaring it disCortcous to keep tho
distinguished speakers waiting ut the meet
ing already assembled at the Keystone
Hall, and moved an adjournment. ThC
vote was put, and though the noes were
in decided majority, the president declar
ed the motion carried. Then commenced
n grand row, and the meeting at once be
came what friend Ralston called an in
furated mob Dozens of members noun
ted chairs anL tables, all speaking at onc
in their loudest tones. The president wa
hisscd, and called upon to vacate the chair
This he peremptorily refused to do. Lout
. cries of Put him out - ''put him out !
rang through the room, to which III
President replied that "it would take bet
ter man than himself to put him out
! Charges of the misrepresentation of th
: associations funds were made and denied
4 Ralston made flaming speech, character
izing the meeting as an infuriatcd moi
. Among those who ''pitched in'' were Eva
, Mishler, Sol. Close, Shcrns Schroeder ain
, Albright, George Bushong, Presider
{ Ancona. Senator Davis, Ed Shalter, Becl
: (of the 1idU,) Hiram 5, Getz, jeff. Kele>
:, and dozen o. two others. Finally, o
l. the eve Of coming to blows, the anti-Ancon
} wing Of the party adjourned to the bac
. room. Here the "scceders'' organized /
Il calling Sheriff Schroeder to the chair, an
= held an election by ballot, resulting in ii
d d choice of L. II. Schearer, Esq, prosccutir
! attorney, as president, in place of Ancon
" The vote stood, Shearer eS, Ancona l.
= is but fair to say, however, that Ancona
~ friends did not attempt to storm the Ge
~ fortress, and took no part in the back-roo
!. proceedings. a full list of officers is give
i in our local columns.
What the result of this "row" will
!, remains to be seen. The impression
q q that the Ancona wing will back down, al
- that hencetorth the friends of Congressma
=, Getz will rule the roost among the unterr
:, fed Democracy ofold Berks.