Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-06-11

session to discuss so important public
matter as shortages" Then, with
benefcent air of Cpl go see,' he
went on down street.
The JOURNAL waited some time for
the procession to move toward the
Council Chamber, but it did not come.
The great paper followed Mr. Raley's
track to see what had become of him,
or, rather, where the procession would
form, or, if formed, how it had got past
a given point in less than no time.
Opposite Michael & Burton's store the
JOURNAL stopped. No sooner said
than done-across the street came
Councilman Theo Gunnett-clever,
smiling "Tip.' Mr.. Gunnett fell in at
once with the JOURNALS views as emf
nently correct-when the procession
hove in sight. Mr.. Gunnett and the
JOURNAL brought up the rear, and to-
gether, with equal step and rhythmic
sway" all marched to the Council
Chamber.
Here an imaginary census was taken
and fancy rollcall developed the
presence Of Councilmen Wittlg, Raley,
Lammert, Gunnett, clerk Stevens and
bailitf Spltznas.
The clerk was hospitable and agree
able, but the councilmen were "offish."
They stood and talked, and talked and
stood, all the time getting visibly
more distant from the JOURNAL. Mr..
Wittig appeared to be the most exer-
cised about the enormity of tolerating
an unbldden guest, and the awful
danger to which somebody's private
character might be subjected by the
presence of that personality, lately so
frightful to few people-the press.
Councilmen George Jones arrived
and became listener.
By the time Mr.. Jones had absorbed
the details of the probable disadyant-
ages to the alleged short-stops, Mayor
Wilson, as good citizen as there is
in Frostburg, stepped in the door and
appeared to hesitate as he contem-
plated not only a part Of the play, but
perhaps an actor whose name was not
on the bill. His hat and umbrella
were laid away, however, and erelong
he joined the earnest caucus.
While all this amusing play was 60
ing on the JOURNAL examined the
new and elegant table Council had
generously provided for "the press"
but which, alas was not to be ded-
icated at this meeting. The drawer
was opened, the JOURNALS seat at one
end pre-empted, and some discussion
held with mir. Stevens concerning the
proper place to locate it.
Right here the JOURNAL pauses to
ask Council to set the table immediate
y in front of the Mayors desk.
Then Mr.. Gunnett, apparently COM
missioned to communicate to the
great paper that the meeting was not
really a meeting at all, but just little
rehearsal, or private pantomime pre-
paratory to a meeting that would be a
meeting from way back, and don't you
forget 1t came across the hall with
countenance aglow with smile bright
as a morning glo1y. He began his
address. Then came the clerk, coun-
cilmen Lemmert and Jones and the
Mayor. Mr.. Raley remained in the
back ground, and Mr.. Wittig-"O,
where was he ~ He had surrendered
the Council Chamber to the JOURNAL !
No meeting for him with the press
present.
The JOURNAL had told Mr.. Gunnett
it was going to the Council Chamber
to see if Council would dare to exclude
the press, and all knew the JOURNAL
stood on ground that could not be
desecrated. Hence, the gentlemen
were told that the JOURNAL was there
standing on its rights both as paper
and citizen, and that they had no
right whatever under the organic law
of the town. which they had sworn to
observe as their guide, to transact any
public business with the public ex-
cluded.
1t was held, however. by the clerk
and councilmen that the meeting was
not a meeting; that no minutes were
to be kept, and somebody preached the
sophlstry that it was 'a meeting of the
committee of the whole" as though such
a committee were provided for in the
charter, and, even if it were, that it is
not as public body in procedure as
any other popular representative as
sembly.
These excuses, of course, wont hold
water for second, but, in justice to
the Mayor the JOURNAL must say il
believes him when he said he ''had no
objection to the JOURNALS presence
Mr.. Lammert, we think, really felt the
same way; Mr.. Jones looked like he
did, and we know Mr.. Gunnett would
have voted "stay," had the issue been
referred to him.
To relieve all concerned of all en-
barassment occasioned by the mis-