TOWN MEETING TIME [Feb.9, 1911 paper]
Changes in Date within the Territory now Embraced in Schuyler County.
Town Meeting Time is again at hard in Little Schuyler
which has the distinction with the counties of Yates, Tompkins Tioga; of
holding the local separate from the general elections. these four counties,
all of which adjoin, are by themselves apart his respect in the field of
Central-Western New York, and what to their political peculiarity, is their
varying town meetings, all however in the month of February. In Central-Western
New York in pioneer days, Town Meetings
he held in the opening months of the year, in order
that the settlers might have the matter attended to before
the lumbering rations of early spring; The rafts have long since ceased
to run river courses, and with them went the requirement for holding
n elections in midwinter, yet the voters of Schuyler, Yates, Tompkins
and Tioga continue, to brave such storms as may prevail Each their polling
places. The. Town Meetings were not always held on the second tuesday in
February within the territory now embraced in Schnyler county. In the days
of settlement, the date was the first tuesday of every month of March
When the chance was made ------ of the county in 1854 election
were held in feb. in 1872. The the town of Hector has voted at its
town meetings by districts since February 1878. The Town of Reading will
vote at town meeting by districts for the first time in its history,
February 14,1911. The Town of Dix will then decide upon the question of
hereafter voting by districts at Town Meeting. These facts show hat the
voters are not fully satisfied as to present local election arrangements,
and it would be much better to have the Town meetings merge with
the General Elections. In the General elections, men vote by districts
and registration is required. In the town Meeting, men vote without the
registration safe-guard to lie ballot box.
The Town Meetings of the days of settlement, combined
the features of both the caucus and the town election of the present day.
The freeholders then regulated all town matters, in one assemblage dominated
by no party spirit, for all were alike interested in the advancement of
the common interests. The main questions of that time were the laying oat
of highways, the division of towns and the location of county line All.
taxpayers were concerned in the completion of public improvements, the
location of schools and We up building of churches, and there was a unanimity
of action that achieved results. There was no personal graft among the
officials of the pioneers, to retard the progress of public affairs.
A town Meeting among the pioneers however, was not
always a scene of piece. John Dow, who was called the “Father of the Town
of Reading,” in 1852 wrote for the Dundee Record as follows: “A number
‘of us attended the annual Town Meeting acId at Mr. Tyler's, on the first
Tuesday of March, 18o3, at which Esquires Battles and Wells presided. Esquire
Wells ran for Supervisor, and his opponent was Solomon Wixon. The friends
of each grew warm, electioneering; challenged voters, talked loud, and
made much noise and confusion. Some made such disturbance that the Justices
ordered the constables to put them out. When out, and five of the district
striped and their opponents to fight. None accepted their challenge,
and after scolding awhile They put on their cloths. Esquire Wells
was chosen Supervisor. and Joshua $mith Town Clerk. The meeting was adjourned
to ------ when the rest of the town officers were elected.
&nbs;
NEXT
&nbs;
BACK TO THE TWIN TIERS MAIN PAGE
&nbs;