Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-03-11
A NATURALIZATION MILL.
CITIZENS PAPERS GRANTED AC-
CORDlNG TO THE DEMAND.
Voters Were Scarce in Wilkes Barre
Township on Election Day, and Peter
Quinn's Family Assumed the Power of
Comforting the Right to Vote.

Ouinn's Famiiy Assumed the Power of
Comforting the Right to Vote.
Up in Wilkes-Barre township, which
is located the other side of Luzerne's
county seat, lives man who for some
years has been known as shrewd poll
tician. His assistance has been be-
seeched by candidates of all parties in
local and county elections, and though
held in no especial esteem by his neigh
bors his influence was supposed to be
far-reaching and powerful. The candi-
date who stood well with Peter Quinn,
the township "boss," was considered
sure of a rousing majority, and until
lately there was no one to dispute his
sway. For years Peter has been engag-
ed in making and unmaking candidates
in the township over which he ruled,
and the people submitted quietly to his
dictates until he announced that he
himself proposed to enter the political
arena and become candidate. Peter
selected the office of school director as
the one most befitting his position, prob
ably because his qualifications for it
were less than for any other, but against
this presumption rose murmur of dis
approval which grew and grew as the
time for making nominations ap-
preached.
In politics Quinn was classed as a
Democrat, but among his acquaintances
they say it was hard to tell in what
party to find him on election day. How
ever, to the Democratic convention he
went, only to be rejected uncermonious-
ly, and a like fate met his candidacy
with the Republicans. Quinn could not
stand such ingrattude, and called upon
a few of his devoted followers, and the
"Citizens Party" was formed. Peter was
nominated unanimously, and when as
sured place on the ballot he began a
contest which aroused the politics of the
township to n fever heat, but the op-
position against him gained strength
daily, and the outlook was dark for the
"boss.''
Peter tried all his arts on the voters,
but the few who would listen to his
claims discouraged him. He still held
strong hold upon the ''foregn" vote, and
on this alone he relied for victory. As
election day came nearer he counted
noses, for and against, as nearly as he
couId fathom the feelings of the citizens,
and he found himself in the minority by
at least thirty votes. For day or two
he thought of Withdrawing from the
field, but this intention was abandoned
as he imagined how joyously such action
would be received. Victory was in sight
If thirty votes could be had. Could he
get them? was the question he asked
himself over and over. Again he count
ed the 'foreign" vote, still he was short;
but he made difcovery which set him
thinking harder than he ever thought
before.
In the township were fully fifty Poles
and Huns who were not naturaliZed.
Why not have them vote for him, he
said. But how? He told his son John
of the discovery. John is bright
young man who has imbibed the schem-
ing nature of his dad, and between the
When election day came Peters coun-
tenance wore a cheerful look, one that
surprised his opponents, and they sus-
pected tricl1ery somewhere. The op-
position had also counted the voters and
believed they could beat Quinn on
straight vote, and they could not under
stand why the ''boss" appeared so con-
fident. As the hours passed on the vote
of the township grew larger and larger,
and men came and went in groups, men
who could not speak English and knew
nothing about elections or school direc-
tors. But each of them carried brand
new naturalization paper and this was
thrust in the faces of the watchers by
Peters lieutenants when they chal-
lenged.
Finally the voting was finished, and
the result showed that Quinn was elect
cd by splendid majority There was
great rejoicing among the followers, and
In their estimation the "boss" was ten
fold greater than before. So far all
went well, and the Quinns, having grown
chicicSo III 1heir uellSnb, lOrpOb TO cover
up the schemes by which they won.
The man who had charge of the un-
naturalized voters was named William
Ambrose, a Polish saloon-keeper. He
had become dissatisfied with the bargain
he had been party to, and he took one
of the naturalization papers he had used
to p. M. Gilligan, of WilkesBarre, who
suspected it was not genuine. To de-
eide upon it Mr.. Gilligan showed the
paper to A. L. Stanton, ex-clerk of the
courts, whose name was affixed. Stan
ton pronounced the paper forgery, and
Immediately an investigation was began
which may cut Quinn's political career
very short and give him a term in the
penitentiary instead of on the school
board.
Ambrose had several of the naturai-
cation papers still in his possession,
which he turned over to Alderman
Thomas. With these as evidence Quinn