Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-11
.DIVLSIONZSTS
SCORE KELLY
ANDMACHINE
BRASS BAND LEADS PARADE
AT ONTARIO
SPECIAL TRAIN BEARS 500 FROM
covINA
t'Parker and Organization VIII Stop
at Nothing to, Prevent Split De-
clares p. q. sheppered,
Chairman

Special to The Herald.
ONTARIO, Dec. 1o.--Headed by the
Seventh regiment band, a torch light pro-
cession 100 strong passed through the
streets of Ontario tonight, the occasion
being a public demonstration to further
the interests of county division. Fol-
lowing the parade a mass meeting was
held in Odd Fellows hall. where speeches
were made by the leading division advo-
Gates.
In the light of tonight's events the
success Of the division movement is al
ready assured. If tremendous enthusi-
asm and intense interest count for any
thing, Pomona county will be estab-
lished by vote far in excess of the
required So per cent.
Shortly before o'clock the special
train bearing 500 divisiorists from Covina
and intermediate stations pulled into
the Southern Pacific depot. The visitors
we're greeted with lusty cheers by large
crowd which had gathered near the train.
To the tune of "a Hot Time in the Old
Town Tonight" the procession started
toward the center of the town. Red fires
burned along the way and the sidewalks
were jammed with cheering throngs.
Odd Fellows hall and an adjacent
room were filed to suffocatior when the
meeting was called to order. P. B. Shep-
pered OF Pomona was the chairman and
the principal speaker. In bitter Ian
guage Sheppered denounced the machine
of San Bernardino county, terming 1t
the most unscrupulous and damnable In
the state of California.
Continuing. he said 'This machine is
what we divisionists are fighting. This
damnabe machine. directed by Boss
Kelly, will not scruple to anything this
side of the bottomless pit to hold you to
San Bernardino county.
Tax Rate Cut
"If you men have not enough self
reliance to free yourself from boss con-
troll, you deserve such control.
I'm the new county your valuation will
remain untouched and your tax rate be
cut in two. In ten years Pomona county
will be the greatest citrus county in the
world. Who should rule it? Kelly and
Parker or the men who raise fruit? We
of Pomona and Covina are not seeking
to undermine the Ontario business in
terest: we are fighting for freedom here
and there"
A lively incident marked the opening of
the meeting when Shepperd was inter-
rupted by man claiming to be deputy
assessor of the district who took excep.
tion to the excorlation OF the machine.
Point blank the speaker asked the man
as to the assessment of the Gerber
ranch.
II refuse to answer" was the reply.
"Then shut up" Sheppered fired back
Take your medicine cried out one of
the audience. and the machine man was
hooted out of the hall.
f. w. Balfour of Pomona made a yigor-
Gus appeal for division. He dwelt mainly
on the proposed public utilities corpora
tion law. stating that its passage would
result in loss to San Bernardino
county of slOSO00 in taxes. On the other
hand he said, 1t will mean a saving to
the new county of $4,000 owing 20 the fact
that Pomona county will have solid pub
lie utility property.
Other speeches were made by Andrew
McAllen of Covina G. G. Caruthers of
Lordsburg and c. H. Converse Of Glen
dora.