Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-14
GALyEsTON'S MAYOR.
The Election Of Monday Terms Out to be
a skillfully Executed Piece Of
Legerdemain.
The Election Was Illegal, Atkins is Act
ing as Mayor and the Question is
More Muddled Than Ever.

GALVESTON, TEX, May 1S.-This
community Is still wrestling with the
mayoralty question. Notwithstaud.
ing two expensive elections have been
held there are people who continue TO
regard the matter AS unsettled. An
interview published in the News this
morning with Alderman Sherwood,
chairman OF tho committee OF the
whole of the city council, caused gen
eral surprise. Mr.. Sherwood says he
did not from the first consider
the election on May IL legal one, a
vacancy being a necessary qualifica-
ton to make the election legal, which
qualification, says Mr., Sherwood, did
not exist. According to Chairman
Sherwood the election OF May IL,
which resulted IN amajorlty for II. IT,
Fulton of SIS over Atkins, will only
be utilized as matter OF evil
dence before the city council
to enable 1t 10 determine who was
elected on the 9Th OF April. This in
genious idea was not publicly ex.
pressed by any member of the city
government prior 10 the election
which has Just been held, hence the
voters were, apparently, of the unRni-
nous impression that Mondays strug.
gle was both final and legal.
Touching Sherwood's opinion, the
Evening Tribune, the recognized or.
gan of Fulton In this contest, says,
1.-THE board OF aldermen will declare
the result In legal form, not upon the
vote polled May IL, but upon the vote
cast and counted April 6. Eminent
legal talent is said 10 agree with
this position. A unique condition
OF affairs 10 likely 10 develop out OF this
discovery. In order for the council TO
declare Fulton elected ON the 9th OF
April IL will have TO throw out the
Eleventh ward returns OF that election
as IL did In the Cuney.Allen alder
manic contest.
According to Mr.. Sherwood, whose
position 10 concurged in by several
other aldermen, the election OF May
L Ia simply to be utilized by the coun-
oil as basis upon which to arrive at
conclusion AS TO what actual vote
was cast in the Eleventh wRrd on
the 9th OF April. Having
reached its conclusion the council
will then cast the Eleventh ward out
and declare the result Of election held
April 9th. In the meantime Atkins
continues to act as mayor, and 1t IL
conjectured that he will strenuously
object TO the result of the recent cleo
tlons being used to cast out the re.
turns from the Eleventh ward In the
April election.
Capt. Atkins says he has never yet
broken his promise and Is willing TO
abide by the result OF last Monday q
election. That Is, lie il willing that
Mr., Fulton shall be seated ON Mon
days result but ia silent as TO Mr..
Sherwood's plan TO use Mondays re.
suit simply as testimony upon which
the returns of April q shall be over
thrown.
Whichever way you look at 10 tho
contest presents n maze of difficulties
bespeaking blunders at every step
These symptoms of prolongation OF
the contest serve To disheRrtep the
community. Three members OF the
city council are absent. Immediately
on their return the question Of making
the final returns on the election for
mayor will be taken up.