Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-27
Big Row at Guthrie.
The Future Great in a Wrathy
State of Mind.
"OITY" DADS IN VERY BAD oDoR.

Citizens Hold q Meeting and Resolve on
q Clean Sweep, But Are Argued Out Of
It and Ask for New Election-A Story
Regarding the President and Huston
Moving on Hayti-Gen. swaim's Case
Again-Capital Notes.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 27.-The residents
at Guthrie, Oklahoma, are having a season
Of excitement over the doings of the city
council which was elected at the organization
of the town, and public meetings have been
held demanding their resignation and new
election. The trouble is that the councilmen,
"clothed with a little brief authority cut
such fantastic capers" as made the sovereign
citizen of Guthrie dive into the recesses of his
mind in search OF new and expressive cuss
words. The council did well at first and
brought order out of chaos in quick time and
few motions but having done that, and hav-
ing an eye to the main chance, they are now
trying to bring little profit out of the red
sand of which the territory and especially
Guthrie seems principally composed.
Looking Out for Number One.
The council are appointing officers at big
salaries, and it goes without saying that the
officers are men who can be trusted Among
bitration to settle disputes as to claims of
lots. 1t is charged that the councilmen took
time by the forelock when it came to getting
there" and did not wait for IL m. April %
That being the case the arbitrators ignore
that fact in deciding who owns a lot, and go
on the principle of first come first served
Arbitration came high, too, and the position
is a decidedly nice, soft one. Then the coun-
Gil is going right ahead to provide Guthrie
with the appurtances of metropolitan city.
They have granted franchise to a water
works company; also to build bridge,
grade the streets, etc, and are generally max
ing the money (which they raise by high
taxes and other means, such as heavy licenses
for doing business in the town fly.
Meeting and Protest.
The above facts are from letter written
to the interior department by Inspector
Picker, who goes on to say that petition
asking the council to call an election for a
new one was signed last Friday week by
about all the citizens of the place. indie
pendently of this tine citizens held a meeting
and had passed resolutions TO notify the pres
ent council that they were @fired," mayor
and all, and appointing a committee of seven
to call new election. There was much ex-
citement, and some of the cooler heads
CStlieu Oh Inspector ticket 10 Ualk TO the
meeting He did So and after much trouble
succeeded in getting the resolution reconsd
cred and committee appointed to ask the
council to order an election by ballot,
with registration of voters, ETC., and the in
spector says he has no doubt the request will
be complied with.
An Interesting study.
Maj. Picker says it is a very interesting
study to watch this pure democracy evolve
a government and set their machinery in
motion, but it will be done peaceably, orderly
and without trouble, if liquor does not enter,
and the United States marshals and deputies
are to be commended for their vigilance in
this direction New people are still arriving,
and the town las does also Oklahoma City,
continues to grow as rapidly as at the begin
ming. 1t is simply wonderful. The city
governments of all the other towns in the
territory OF Oklahoma are running smoothly
and the officers of the land offices are hand
ling the business in very commendable
manner.
A telegram from Chicago says that J. A.
Ellis, member of the Guthrie council, is
there, and declares that Inspector Picklers
story is grossly exaggerated.
A telegram from Guthrie says that another
disturbance occurred yesterday over an at
tempt to evict a settler from lot. The
troops were summoned and protected the
claimant No persons were injured