Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-02
THE FIRST GUN FIRED.
The Campaign Opened at Freeland-
Ii. Reynolds, John s. McGroarty.
Jn0. Nj. Garman, Philip v. Wea-
yer. Z. f. Boyle and
John Brady.

saturday afternoon the streets of Free
land presented an animated scene, when
the large flag of the Jeffersonian Demo-
cratic Society was flung across the street
from their rooms, denoting to the public
that from then on to the closing of the
polls on the 4th day of November next,
fight will be made on all honorable
grounds to elect the nominees on the
Democratic ticket. We say honorable
grounds, for if the speeches delivered at
the meeting on Saturday are criterion
to go by, then the campaign will be car
ried on by the Democrats without the
aid of mud singing, or touching on the
private character of any of the Republi-
can candidates on the county ticket.
AT 7.30 the opera house was filled with
an anxious audience. The platform
was occupied by the officers and the ex-
ecutive committee of the society, as well
as the visiting speakers.
The meeting was called to order by
John ID. Hayes, president of the Jeffer-
sonan Democratic Society of Freeland,
who introduced the Hon. Eckley B..
Coke as the first speaker. Mr.. Coke
was received with rounds of applause
lie began in a conversational tone, and
said he desired to address them not in his
usual style as fellow Democrats, but as
fellow citizens, as citizens of all parties
had shown a disposition 10 throw off the
yoke of slavery that hnng over them,
and had determined to give the people
an honest government. He contrasted
the two conventions held at Harrisburg
and Scranton, and stated that at Scran-
ton all was for harmony, and each dele
gate voted as he desired, without intimi-
dation. He urged his hearers to ponder
upon the Australian ballot system, and
not be content until that system was
adopted, and appealed to his hearers
that if they wanted it, to vote for Patti
son and the Democratic candidate for
Representative. Then said he, when
you go to the polls no one but yourself
and your God will know how you vote
But at present you are at the mercy of
every petty boss, for they have only to
scan the tally lists and the marked ballot
to know how you voted, and often your
discharge follows.
Mr.. John B. Reynolds was the next
speaker, who complimented the Jeffer-
sonian Society of Freeland for the
energy shown by them in the campaign.
He spoke upon the issues of the day,
and said that for the present the tariff
was Il dtdNl lSolt ttS Will IL
Senate they could overthrow anything
that Congress thought fit to pass in the
interest of the laboring people, He con-
cluded by saying that if elected to Con-
gress by the people of this district. he
would try to have them not regret their
choice.
John S. McGroaIty, candidate for
County Treasurer, was the next speaker,
and was loudly applauded when he ap-
peared in front of the platform. Mr..
McGroarty said he had often before
spoke to Freeland audience, and while
he could do justice to his subject on these
occasions, he found it difficult to address
the people of Freeland and Foster town
ship, now that he had come before them
to ask their suffrage. But, said he,
"why should | not come among you,
was born in Foster township, and surely
if man cannot stand on his native
heath where else should he stand ?"
He thanked his many friends of Free
land, Foster and Halle townships for
the unbroken support they had given
him at the convention, and concluded by
asking all present to support the Demo
cratic ticket on election day.
Mr.. John M. Garman, Attorney-at-
Law, of Nanticoke, was the next speaker,
and he handled his subject in a mastery
manner, touching upon almost every
thing in connection with the campaign.
He was listened to very attentively and
was applanded at the close of his speech.
Hon. P. f. Boyle, candidate for Rep
resentative, was next introduced and
spoke few words of encouragement in
behalf of the ticket, and pledged him
self that if elected he would give them
no cause to feel ashamed of him.
Philip V. Weaver, candidate for Regis
ter of Wills, took the floor, and, in his
usual happy style, spoke at length upon
the questions before the people and
hoped that every Democrat in the
Fourth district would be loyal to the
ticket, and that when the returns were
counted the district would not be behind
its sister districts in its feality to the
party.
Mr. John Brady was next introduced
and spoke at great length upon the
schemes that are being resorted to by
the Republican party to try and ALLEVIATE
the labor vote from Pattison and Black.
He gave a full expose of the convention
held in Philadelphia last week by
Messrs. Rynder and gang of would-be
labor leaders, and advised all working
men to vote for Pattison and Black, and
that through that, ballot reform would be
an assured fact. Mr.. Brady was listened
to very attentively during the delivery of
his speech, and at its close the applause
was deafening.
Taken as a whole, the meeting was a
success, both as to number present and