The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-07-16

Klotz ran as the regular candidate
and, though the vote of the majority
party of the district was distributed
among these three candidates, the low
est OF the three getting nearly two
thousand votes, the regular nominee
was elected, having a clear majority
over General Albright, the Republican
candidate. In this district, the Repub-
lican vote was virtually obliterated by
the action of the Republican legisla-
ture which passed the bill. The legis-
lative majority said to their political
friends in this district, "You must sub.
init TO extinguishment for ten years,
you can elect nobody, but we will take
all the Democratic majorities in Pike,
Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, Columbia
and Montour, and pile them into one
huge mass, and then they won't do
any mischief in neigtboring districts"
That is the way the bill was made.
II was very unnatural district very
little social intercourse between the
people of the eastern end of the dis
trict and those of the western end
very little of business relations be-
tween the two sections-almost as
widely separated as if the main chain
of the Allegheny mountains lay be-
tween as line of division.
What has been the history of this dis
trict? For the first four years a repre-
sentative in Congress was chosen from
the Lackawanna division of the district;
for the second four years, the represen-
tative was chosen from Carbon county;
for the third four years, the representa-
tive has been chosen from the county
of Monroe so that for twelve years
the congressman has been taken fl ON
the eastern side of the district. The
constitutional duration of the appor-
tionment would be ten years but, as
the Legislature and the governor did
not agree about new bill of appor-
tionment, the old bill continues, and an
other election must be held under it be-
fore a new apportionment can be made.
Now let us 60 back into little local
history of our own. The county of
Columbia was erected at the sessions
of lSl2-13; it has, therefore, had an ex-
istence about seventy-four years. Mon
tour county was cut from it in 1850,
but has always remained with it since
that time in the same congressional
district. From the year 1912 down to
the present time, the county of Colum-
bia within its present territory, has
furnished a representative in Congress
for barely two years. DIR. Leib, of
Catawissa, was elected, for single
term, in 1914, He was beaten for re-
election by the vote of Luzerne county.
This is the record of Columbia county
as now bounded Montour county had
DIR. Petriken as representative in Con-
gress that is the territory now COM
posing Montour-it was not then erect
ed into separate counts-was repre-
sented by DR.. Petriken from 1884 to
1888. Aud again, in 1856, John G.
Montgomery, distinguished member
of your bar. and a reputable and able
citizen of Danville, was elected to Con-
gress. He died before his service be-
gan, of the National Hotel disease, at
Washington, and Mr.. Leidy of your
town was chosen to fill out his two
years term. Since that time when we
were connected with Bradford, the
election of Strawbridge, Republican
congressman, took place; which with
Democrats, believe, does not count.
This is the record.
Neither county has been locally rep
resented during the last twelve years
while we have been with the counties
on the Lebigh and the Delaware and
before that time, throughout this long
period since Columbia county was
erected -three-fourths of century-she
has had Dr. Leib one term of two years
and the town of Danville Democrat.
,c representative barely six years. This
is the record of the past.
In 1856, when Montour county
named Mr.. Montgomery for represen
tative to Congress, what was done in
Columbia county? He had served the
winter before in the House at Harris
burg, while l was in the Senate.
knew him to be a man of thorugh in
tegrity his whole course while he was
a member of the house was without re.
proach, his record was clear and able
Although there were between our two
counties remains of old local feeling
what did we in Columbia do? Get uI
a candidate there against Montour
Allow anybody to come out in Colum
bia as a candidate against that fit man
No, we went to work among oul
people, and said to them "This man il
to be trusted he is fit for the place
he will do himself honor and will dc
you honor, if you agree to send HIM to
Congress" Accordingly, upon consid
Grafton, our people joined Montour
united our strength with hers, and W,
went up to conference with Luzernt
and Wyoming united. What was tn,
result? Mr.. Montgomery was nomi
I mated and elected. Afterward, wheI
his death opened vacancy, Mr.. Leidy
. was named to succeed him; the sam,
united action was repeated, and he was
Q elected and served. We have not haC
: any nomination in this congressional
. district for twelve years, because ou
two counties have been separate, pull
Q ing different ways; and we shall ge
I no representative for the remainn.
+ two years that we are TO continue il
:, this district, if our counties are apar
in action. Precisely the sane cause
that have produced results in six nomi
u nations are sufficient to produce tn
II same result in the seventh. If our tw,
counties go together, united, and sa,
to our brethren of the east "We ar
J. not this time divided, we are together
t it is high time that some semblance O
o fairpiay and justice in nominations il
o our district should have place, and W
n are here to ask what is our clear an
k reasonable right" we shall succeed.
r In what manner this united actio
l. shall be secured Is not for me to say
IS it is your own matter you are TO dc
v eide it for yourselves, and l am cor
' tent to abide by your judgment. Bu
l. l desire to say to you that, if at an,
time | shall represent any portion o
r the people of Pennsylvania in the Cor