Daily Republican., 1881-04-04
A ROW IN BR0WNT0WN,
LIVELY TIME AZ THE SCHOOL
MEETING SATCRDAI.
A Decided victory for those op'
posed 10 the Eleventh Ward
had Blood aDd BIusteTinE
BravadO In the borough
of the Brown Family.


have lust voted for school purposes de-
pends upon the success of the annexation
scheme This was said ~ IN" school
meeting in Bruwntown late SATURDAY
afternoon. Hugh johnson, we'll
known citizen Of the place, was the
speaker, and aS he came slowly over
the sentence he balanced % lead pencil
on the tip end Of hiS finger and uSed II
az an illustration. The meeting was
held in the BrOwntown school house.
1t met Mt 0 clock with Thomas j. Sui
livnn in the chair, and Frank +. Brown,
acting as clerk. a recess was taken
until O'Clock that laboring men could
attend. When again called to ORDER
the meeting had received such addi-
lions that the school house was packed.
Short shritt was made of the business
of the meeting. Joseph Forthenbakcr
was elected clerk Of the district to sue
Cred Mr.. Brown, and the amount 10 be
raised for school purposes was fixed al
$3.50. This was the last business before
the meeting. Some discussion arose
about the amount, but no contest was
made over the sum. Thus far there
had been no expression OF sentiment
with reference to the proposed gerry.
mander. Every one carefully avoided
allusion to the subject, as i'll it lay the
spirit of discord. The money had Just
been voted, and the chair was declar-
ing the meeting adjourned when Mr.:
johnson got up, and, balancing his lead
pencil on his finger used the words
credited to him at the head of this
l. To- had "a sarcastic
ring in hisvoicc, and hc spoke clearly
and distinctly.
OPPOSED TO ANNEXATION.
The effect of his words was magical
To talk about annexation among large
crowd of Browntown people is like wav-
ing crimson in the face OF bull. Eve
rybody showed u great disposition to
talk at once. They carried out the bent
of their inclination and talked at once
The Eleventh Ward scheme has never
since il was originated in the tertil
brains of the Lees and Turner'S and
McIntyres, of Wilmington Democracy,
received such an ovrrthanking a. 1t did
from the forty Browntown"rS gathered
there in the school house. There was a
popular whirlwind Of indignation and
much hard talk USED againt the infa-
nous plan.
After much talk and the use OF some
profanity, the matter was put to vote,
Mr.. Trump was the man who called on
this expression Of sentiment
"All those opposed TO being added To
the city, say yes" requested Mr.
Trump.
"All those in favor say no, W
"No," piped in voice from the cor,
ner of the room The man who voted
thus was named Hancy, and h" is a
grorrryman on u small scale. He origi'
nallv signed rcmonStranCc against
annexation hut shortly afterwards his
name was found on the petition for it.
This action of Haney called down
upon his head much ridicule, and he
was accused of sudden changes Of views
because certain other people turned.
AFTER MIR. BROWN.
But the biggest share of this kind OF
talk fell upon the shoulders of Mr.
Frank Il. Brown. He was accused OF
favoring the scheme from improper mo
tivos. Replying he declared that 1t was
not true. He had supported annexa-
tion because he knew 1t would increase
the value of property held by his
mother nd brothers. He owned NJ
ground in the place and did not care
whether the bill passed or not 50 far a.
he was concerned.
"What made you 90 to Dover"
asked Mr.. Trump.
Replying to this Mr.. Brown said thai
he went at his own expense with hi
petition for annexation and laid it be
fore the Legislature. Before this
he hadn't seen the bill itself but whilt
there he read it carefully, and was a&
founded to learn that it was n kind Of
political grab-bag, by which party
power might be secured. He had pre-
viouSly thought the hill mere project
of some philanthropic individual tt
benefit Browntown, without respect Il
party, and the revelation consequent or
his examination of its features was tt
him peculiarly distressing. Had h,
known all about it he would have had
nothing at all to do with it.
This was an unfortunate admission or
Mr.. Browns part. 1t was shown thai
oven after he had returned from Dovel
that time he published a card stating
that he would 80 To Dover again as HI
was heartily in favor Of the annexation
scheme.
"Why did You do this when yot
lust admitted that before you wer'
disgusted with the bill?" asked som'
one.
Mr. Brown made no reply.
ALL ARGUMENTS AGAINST ANNEXA
TION.
) After this the discussion took n wide
range. One man sharply told Mr.
Brown that he had gone to Dover en-
I tirely unauthorized, relying solely upoi
r his prestige as an influential member OF
. Browntown to secure the favorable con
, sideration of the Legislature. A strong
+ point was made by quite number o
! the labOring men present who in speak
: ing of the subject said that when they
bought the lots, some years ago, upor
which they have built homes for them
selves and their families, they did 10 OF
the positive assurance of DR.. Brown
that here In the suburbs they could liv'
cheaply and have little gardens of thei
r own, but that If the city was now gOinl
:, alton is on assessed valuation, In tn,
to swallow up Browntown they woulc
a be eggregiously taken in,
j, Eyes" interpolated Mr.. Johnson, a
< this pont, ''lts u damnable piece o
e business-a sinful and iniquitou
a scheme"
t Many argued that the addition o
Q Browntown to the city would be los
Q ing game. They would not get stree
\ there for ten years.
AS TO INFLUENCE.
The statement made that those pres
ent at the meeting do not represent tn
!. views of the property owners is discred
tied. Messrs s. N, Trump, VIM. Hawk
I 7. j. Sullivan, HSgh johnson, Joh
:, Edwards and - Keenan, were pret