There's plenty of news coverage these days about the upcoming "Super Tuesday," with primaries in many states to determine who will be nominated for the presidential election this November.
Back in early February 1908, Oneontans were looking forward to a "super" election of their own on March 9, that of the first mayor and aldermen in the new city of Oneonta. When the village trustees sent the charter along to Albany in mid-January, they expected a quick passage of the legislative bill so citizens could choose their new leaders.
Once introduced in Albany, however, the bill's passing the Assembly and Senate came to a halt rather quickly.
The bill had to go through a public hearing process through both chambers, and it first got delayed in the Senate.
George H. Carley had been the owner and editor of The Freeman's Journal in Cooperstown since 1902. He was also the chairman of the Democratic Committee in Otsego County. Carley attended the public hearings in Albany.
Mr. Carley told The Oneonta Herald that he had no objection to Oneonta becoming a city. Carley's concern was the proposed number of representatives on what was then the county Board of Supervisors. The charter called for six city representatives, and one for the town of Oneonta. Carley cried foul, stating that Oneida, Little Falls and Jamestown, also fairly new cities, had two representatives on their county boards, and Corning had three.
"The Freeman's Journal, in the interests of the taxpayers and citizens of twenty-three towns of Otsego County, pronounces the proposition to give Oneonta seven supervisors unjust and unfair," Carley wrote in the Feb. 13 edition. Each town in Otsego County had one representative. The headline over the article asked in bold print, "Shall Oneonta Rule Otsego County?"
By Feb. 20, The Oneonta Star, one of the staunchest advocates of the charter, said that Oneonta wasn't seeking unfair representation and that if people of the county were truly opposed to the number of proposed supervisors, an amendment would likely be made to the bill.
The Freeman's Journal wasn't alone in its concern for Oneonta's large county representation under the proposed bill. The Gilbertsville Journal, Morris Chronicle, Cherry Valley Gazette and Worcester Times all weighed in with their editorial comments, and some readers had made rounds in their communities with petitions, presenting them to their local newspaper.
Oneonta compromised. After public hearings before Assemblyman Charles Smith in March, both legislative bodies agreed that the new city would have three county supervisors in the city and one for the town.
Before the compromise, James F. Thompson of Oneonta spoke in the Assembly hearings and felt that Oneonta was entitled to six supervisors for the city. Thompson said that "opposition to that number existed only in the minds of the editors of scurrilous newspapers published at Cooperstown, who were actuated by personal motives, and were trying to stir up a sentiment against Oneonta."
After completion of the public hearings, The Oneonta Herald reported that the bill passed the Assembly on Thursday, April 2. The bill passed in the Senate around that same time. It then awaited signature by Gov. Charles Evans Hughes. That took place in May.
The delay caused the elections for the new city to be scheduled in the general election in November, a presidential year.
Meanwhile, Oneonta continued preparations to become a city. Citizens were invited to view the new Municipal Building, today's 242 Main St., on March 3. The Oneonta Herald reported that there was a large attendance, and all who inspected it were surprised that such a nice building could've been constructed at such a moderate cost "" $50,000.
However, there was one thing missing, according to The Herald. "With the furniture in the building, the general good impression received would have been enhanced."
On Monday: A gasoline tank truck accident in West Oneonta was a motivating factor in forming a new fire department.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.
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