Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-05-23
That Council Question.

MEssRs. EDITORS:
As the time has nearly approached
when the voters of our town, called upon
by proclamation from our worthy Mayor,
are to elect 3 members of Council, to fill
the vacancies caused by the designations
Of J. B. KOontz, F. D. Bradley, and the
refusal to be qualified of Mr.. J. A. Will
liams, thought it would not be amiss to
give short history of the steps taken by
some of these wiseacres. that has made
necessary this election, so that the good
citizens of our town may know where
the responsibility of the expense and
trouble of this election properly belong.
As to the resignation of Mr.. Koontz, l
have not a word to say, as he resigned to
become candidate for the office of May
or, but not in time TO fill his place at the
regular election in April. At the first
regular meeting, after the election, our
Mayor put in nomination some half dozen
as good citizens as our town affords, but
they were all voted down by Burnett,
Bradley and Williams-AIessrs. Reid and
Wilson voting every time to confirm.
On the 22d day of April, the day the
law requires for the qualification of the
newly elected members, Messrs. Ace
Gregg, S. W. Cissna and J. A Williams,
members elect being present, Messrs.
Gregg and Cissna were sworn in, but Mr..
Williams refused to take the oath of Office
and left the Council chamber, and 1 am
told that his beautiful eountenance has
not been seen there since. AS Bradley was
not present at this meeting, the retreat OF
Williams left only Gregg, Cissna and Bur
nett. The Mayor then put in nomination
Mr.. George Dahl, to fill the vacancy made
by Koontz. Certainly Mr.. Dahl is mar
well qualified to fill the position. Gregg
and Cissna very properly voted to confirm
but Burnett utterly refused to vote either
way. Dahl was not present to qualify
so Council adjourned without further
action, until the 29th of April, the May
or and Council hoping to have quorum
at that time. On the Doth of April Greg.
| and Cissna were present; Burnett ant
Bradley absent (purpOsely, suppose)
adjourned to meet May 9th, at whicl
meeting Gregg and Cissna were present
Burnett and Bradley again absent.
learn that Bradley was on the street, ant
although notified to come in, refused.
On Monday, May 18th, the regula
meeting day of Council, Bradley gractousl
| consented to attend the meeting lon,
enough to declare Williams place vacan
and to accept his own resignation, which
was done. After this no quorum coulG
be had in the Council, only three mem
bers remaining, viz: Gregg, Cissna ant
Burnett.
Now, Mr.. Editor, was there ever NOR
cussedness manifested in like body o
men? Had Burnett resigned also, tn
| town would have suffered but little. VIII,
the rejection of all the Mayors nomina
tions? Because none were fit to hold tn
office? Certainly not; it was becaus
| they were too good. They well knew
their masters, the Whisky Ring and Gam
blers, to whom they were sold, would nc
like their action. They wanted men t
vote to repeal the 8 O'Clock ordinance. ]
looks as though the law and order men c
the town are forced to accept the cha
lenge thus given by these factious Coun
cilmen, who have seen fit to tender thei
designations.
Now, let the law and order men acceT
the challege, nominate a good ticket, g
into the fight and let us see where W
stand; the issue is forced upon US. II
after the action of these men-subjectin
the people to the expense of holding a
election, and the loss of time and labc
an account of the same-does not meet tn
utter condemnation of the people, at tn
polls, we will begin to think the peopl
are not willing to protect their own right
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