Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-21
THE NEW FIRM OF TURNER & JOHN.

people: We do not know that MI
Johns private or public economy is il
question just now. For the sake OF ar
gument. we will admit that Mr.. John
exceedingly economical. Economy is
good thing, much to be commended in
public officer. and the Intelligencer ap
plauds Mr.. Johns tight grip of thu
purse strings; but there is another "tigh
grip OF which the I~ntelligencer doe
not approve-the tight grip of Mr.
Henry Turner on the ballots deposited
at the last city election, to the obstruc
ton of justice, in a case where he i!
personally interested. 8.
Mr.. 7. b. Clagett, q gentleman of up
right character, who has lived many
years in this city. enjoying the respect
OF the community, and the satisfaction
which IN from an unsullied reputa'
ton. was Mr.. Turner'S opponent at the
election above alluded to. 1t appeared
on the face of the returns that Mr.. Tur.
ner was elected by one vote. Mr.. Clag-
EFT, having evidence of a number oi
fraudulent votes cast for Mr.. Turner.
contested his election, Mr.. Turner, as the
city register, having possession OF the
ballots necessary in evidence to pr owe
his right to the position which he holds.
To the order OF the council. and to the
appeals of equity and decency, Mr.. Tur-
ner has turned a deaf ear, and refused
to produce these ballots. hoping by his
perversity and sbstlnacy to wear out the
contestant in the case, and to defeat any
Investigation of the election.
1t 10 a very plain case, and the people
understand it perfectly we'll. They fully
appreciate, that with one fset in the
grave. a bent, white-headed old man,
Nj. Turner is willing to hold an Office,
his right to which is legally and in due
form contested by a gentleman who
would lose forty Offices before he would
do a mean act or take an unfair advan-
tage. MIR. Turner may not see 1t this
way, but 1t is the way in which the peo-
pie regard it. If Mr.. Turner is elected
by legal votes, he should hold the Office;
but If MIR. Clagett received the majority
OF the legal votes cast. he should have
the place. This is q question of right
upon which no honest people a differ.
nor is it more a question OF debate that
Mr.. Turner should be the last man liv-
ing to obstruct a fair, free and impartial
OF the matter.
MI. John is mayor OF the city and
president OF the council, of which Mr..
Turner IS an officer. They belong to
the same political party and are personal
Mr.. 'Shewalter, Mr.. Clagett's
thinks he can prove that there
were over sixty illegal votes cast for the
ticket at the election at which
Messrs. John and Turner were alleged
to have been elected. Mr.. John was
by a majority OF Sc votes. Mr..
John has, thus far, failed to aus Mr..
Turner to produce the ballots, and has
absented himself from the last two
meetings of the council. The inference,
as we have before remarked, is irresisti-
BILE, that Mr.. John Tears an examination
Of the ballots. because It might be shown
that his W majority was composed Of
votes. He does not, of course.
tear that his Office will be taken from
him, as his opponent is not contesting
his election, and would not take the
place but If he is not personally uneasy
about the result. why has he been un-
willing to the ballots to be laid
before the council? We will not insult
him by surprising that he cannot have
them produced if he so desires. His Of
fetal record regarding the revenues Of
the city will avail him nothing here. He
is making another record of which we
are inclined to think he has No cause to
feel proud. Fair play is everywhere d
jewel, and until Messrs. John and Tur-
ner conclude to give Mr.. Clagett fair
play, they may rest assured that they
gaining nothing in the esteem OF their
neighbors. We are tsld that Mr.. John
has said that MI. Turner ought to have
the Office. How does he knowp Has
he examined the ballots, and taken evil
dence as to the voters? II not, how can
he come to such a conclusion /? Be-
side. as the president of the body which
ought to pass on this question. how does
he reconcile it with his duty to express
IN opinion regarding it while it is
pending? p
This matter has passed beyond q par
tisan question. 1t is now a question Of
law and evidence. 1t is a question OF
equity, too. and no man who stands in
the way of its fair and impartial settle
ment Is a good citizen. If a man, by
bold e%ffrontery, a hold an Office to
which he is not entitled, then there is an
end to popular liberty, and the offices.
as in feudal days. belong to those who
can grasp and hold them by the strong
arm. With such procedures. elections
become a farce and a aham-a burlesque
Of the broadest character. 1t may be
said, and no doubt is said, though we
have not heard the sentiment, that it is
useless to make trouble about snch a
small matter as the registers office OF
the city OF Lexington. The office is, IN
truth. a small and Insignificant one, but
it belongs to the people. 1t is theirs to
give, under the law, by a majority OF
qualified votes. 1t belongs TO no man
by heredity. by long possession, or by
capture. and whenever the people fall
so low as to count trouble and expense
against the vindication of their right at
the ballot box, they will no longer de-
serve to be free. 1t is the duty Of the
council to try this case. 1t is the duty
OF Mayor John and the council to compel
MIR. Turner to produce the ballots.
Failing In this it is the duty OF the mayor
and council to punish MIR. Turner severe
ly for his contempt Of their mandate. No
councilman that sits in the city hall with
out an effort to procure the ballots, or
to punish Mr.. Turner for his refusal ia
produce them, is doing his duty. Tenn