The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-06-11
VIEWERS WORK !
DIVISION OF THE WARDS DIS
CUSSED AT LENGTH.
DEMOCRATS UP IN THEIR HATS.
"It's a Political Scheme" Their
Battle Cry-A Committee That
Agreed to Disagree-Maps
in Abundance.

The docile, good-natured, just, people,
loving Democrats we're out in force yester-
day to meet the viewers appointed by the
Pottsville court to determine the advisa-
bility of making a re-division. They
pushed themselves to the front on all
occasions and lost no opportunity to inn
press upon the minds of the viewers that
they had assembled to see that division,
if it should be decided upon, would be a
just one-one with which the people would
be satisfied
A stranger overhearing their protesta-
tions would be impressed with the idea
that the Republicans of the town are on
the "people be d-d" side of the house
and that the Democrats are the only beings
who cherish love for the people.
But the real reason for the large out
pouring of Democrats was to drown the
Republicans by sweeping all motions, in
case any should be made. When the
viewers told them that they had come to
town to hear the sentiments of the people
on the question Of dividing the wards and
not to act as presiding officers of mass
meeting, several Democratic Jaws dropped
perceptibly.
The viewers who are Col. ]. G. Frick,
D. Il. Mudey and A. B. Cochran, three
Pottsville gentlemen. Col. Frick, tall,
erect stalwart and with military bearing,
although his hair and beard are white as
The driven snow, was the commanding
figure Of the trio. COL Fr!'t is a veteran
of4he Mexican war and he serYed as
Lieutenant Colonel of the 3nn'an
iielonel of the 10th Penn'a., and Colonel
of the 9th Penn'a. Regiments, during the
civil war. Mr.. Mudey is an ex-Demo-
cratic Postmaster of Pottsvile, and Mr..
Cochran is civil engineer with reputa-
tion extending all over the state and many
old maps of this town bear his signature.
The viewers assembled at the Kendricl;
House and were sworn in by S. G. M.
Hollopeter, Esq, 1t was then decided, in
consequence of the throng assembled, to
have the hearing in Ferguson's theatre and
that place was started for at once.
Col. Frick called the meeting to order
and stated that the object of the visit of his
colleagues and himself was to inquire into
the propriety of re.division of the wards
of the city of Shenandoah. After reading
the order of the court Col Frck said that
the viewers were ready to hear statements
Mr.. Hollopeter took the stage and said,
substantially; Sometime ago, under the
Act of 1874, the requisite number of citi-
zens of Shenandoah presented to the Court
a petition, the synopsis of which has been
read by the chairman, in which it was
they now exist are insufficient for the con-
venience OF the inhabitants thereof. The
petition was signed by the requisite num-
Der of citizens and on this authority the
viewers were appointed by the Court.
ut is submitted by the petitioners that
the population of the borough is, in round
numbers, over 10000, and it is divided into
five wards, and that the voting population
principally in the First, Third, Fourth and
Fifth wards is SO large at the present time
as not TO accommodate the convenience of
the voters; and for that reason this petition
was presented.
1--WE shall show you that in the First
ward are assessed taxables amounting to
$685. the registered voters number 1872 and
at the fall election of 1890 over 44S votes
were cast.
During the hours between and 7
o'clock, p. m, there are great many
voters who are unable TO cast their votes on
account of not having sufficient time. The
people living here are dependent upon
their daily labor for livelihood and work
all day. They quit at four o'clock and by
the time they get home and get washed
they have so little time that they are pre-
vented from casting their votes, They find
il impossible to vote in many cases unless
they wish to stay away from work.
know of my own knowledge and even in
the little Second ward, men have been un-
able to get their votes in.
"In the Second ward the assessed taxa
bles number 437i registered voters, $685.
votes cast at last fall election 263.
"Third ward assessed taxsbles / ,O44 re-
gistered voters, ga votes cast last fall 40
Fourth ward assessed taxables, 725 re-
gistered voters 564 votes cast last fall, 36l
Fifth ward assessed taxables 1853; re-
gistered voters 1853 votes cast last fall, All
1--WE claim, as 1 have stated before, that
the citizens Of the First, Third, Fourth and
Fifth wards cannot be accommodated to-
day We claim that those wards should be
divided on such basis as may seem just
There is to be no gerrymandering, Every
one will haye their say and it is with you,
gentlemen of the commission, to say