Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-02-14
COURT CHECKS
A Deep PLOT
Political Scheme Frustrat-
ed by Judge Ferris.
Sneaking Attempt to Gust
the Borough Council and
School Board Meets With
Failure.

proceedings were instituted in court
yesterday which had for their object the
ousting of Freeland borough council and
school board. The proceedings met
with deserved failure, for the court re-
fused to become party to the scheme
of the few disgruntled local politicians
who fathered the movement.
The matter was brought before the
court yesterday afternoon by Attorney
John Nj. Garman, who asked that the
county commissioners be compelled to
print the names of six Republican cti-
zens of Frecland on the election ballot as
candidates for council, also the names of
six Republicans as candidates for school
directors, to be voted for next Tuesday
by the citizens of the borough at large
1t was alleged that the annexation of
South Heberton, the division of the
North ward and the division Of the
South ward were all Illegally carried
out, and that the borough is entitled to
only six counclmen aud six school
directors, and that the Republican
party, having filed nomination papers Of
six candidates for each body, were en-
titled to have the same printed on the
ballot.
The case was presented to Judge
Wheaton by Attorney Garman, who was
acting for the little cotorie who are now
leading local Republicans. Judge
Wheaton, having case ready for trial,
sent Attorney Garman and County Soil
citor Clark, who represented the com
missoners, to Judge Ferris, before
whom the arguments were heard.
Though the matter was sneaked into
court, and every effort was made to
shroud it with secrecy, the Democrats
were not caught mapping. AS soon as
Attorney Garman brought the case be-
fore the judge, Councilman McNels
summoned Attorneys r. j. O'Donnell
and c. f. McHugh, who, assisted by
Squire Shovlin, promptly explained to
Judge Ferris the motives of the petit
TONERS and the political-ends sought
When they concluded the deep-laid
plot was shorn OF all its masks and
stood out before the court as miser-
able, contemplate political scheme
without a grain Of good in its entire
makeup.
Judge Ferris was not slow to see the
matter in the proper light, and in a
few words dismissed the application of
Attorney Garman and refused to order
the county commissioners to print the
names of the six Republican candidates
for councilmen and the six Republican
candidates for school directors on the
ballot.
Thus ended the gigantic conspiracy to
overthrow the will of the people as en-
pressed during the past three years at
the polls, and with its failure the beauti-
full aircastles which have been built
during the past two weeks in the rear
rooms of saloons by the Republican
leaders in Freeland fell to the ground.
and the visions of borough solicitorship,
treasurership, street commissioner and
other offices which had already been
parceled out to those on the ''inside"
faded away.
The Republican voters of Freeland
ought to feel proud Of the work per-
formed by those who have assumed the
local leadership of the party. They not
only tried to trick the Democrats, but
they also endeavored to trick their own
followers by nominating six men for the
council and six for the school board
without consulting any of their party
outside the little circle which has
grasped control OF the organization.
Days and nights have been spent by
the little "machne" perfecting the
plans and laying the. wires to explode
the bomb at time when the Democrats
would be powerless to name candidates
to contest the election. but every move