The Portland daily press., 1899-01-19
THOSE ANTI PETITIONS.
Don't Contain As Many Names As
Represented.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS RE-
GARDING ANNEXATION.

Petitions sent To Legislature Contain
Instead of 500 Names Few Over 900
--Persons who signed Anti PETIT
ton Under misrepresentation.
Since the petition, which was circu-
lated by the anti annexationists Offering
was sent on to the officials at Augusta,
an examination has tsen made Of the
papers and some interesting facts have
been learned. At the time the papers
were sent on I'll was stated by the anti.
annexationists that there were $50 names
on the same. BY actual count. however.
II Is learned that there are only 3lS
names. In the first place 1t should BE-
stated that a petition was circulated by
several city officials and politicians ask
ing that the legislature should ignore en-
tirely the whole subject Of annexation.
10 this petition there were secured ITO
names after much hard work. Those
working the sche,ne evidently became dis
couraged at the results being accom-
piished, for 1t was only a short time after
the above named petition had been sent
on that another one was started which
asked that the legislature pass another
enabling act and allow the citizens to vote
again at special election to be held
separate and apart from the regular
spring or fall election.
After much hard work this petition
was closed and forwarded to Augusts
with 3i2 names signed to IT. By care
full comparison Of the two lists 1t has
been found that with the exception
of 10 names the two petitions are identi-
cal. The two petitions were supposed to
contain $50 names either opposed to an
nexntion on the one hand and on the 9th
err hand asking for an enabling act, by
striking out i54 names that appear on the
petition against annexation and adding
the is to the petition in favor OF an en-
abling act, the latter petition only con
tains 32S names.
The anti-annexationists have gone at
the work again within the past few days
since they have become aware OF the faot
that the annexAtionists were doing some
solid work and have been endeavorins
to swell their list In favor of an enabling
act They have been meeting with some
|
coming to the front ~ we'll as they had
Teen in hopes.
The annexatlonists have been working
along slowly during the past three days
and the results thus far are very en- cour-
aging. Some over 400 names have been
sec ured to date and others are coming.
Among the signers are large number
of people who voted against annexation
last spring who are now anxious 10 be
counted among the number who are IN
tere sted In the immediate annexation Of
the city to Portland.
1t has been charged that number Of
persons have signed the "anti" petitions
upon 1t being represented that they were
signing petitions in favor OF annexation
Statements have been prepared similar
to the following and will be sent TO the
Legislature; 1000
Deeriug. January 10, 1899
Dear Sir-I desire to state to whom II
may concern that l signed petition re-
mon strnting against annexation by act
of the legislature under "A mistake. / IN
derstood at the time that l was signin &
to help annexation, being told 10 was
petition for annexation.
To the committee on Towns.
Palmer ). Clarke.
A similar statement has also been
signed by Mr.. George +. Clarke.