The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-10
MAYOR 0E SOUTH BEND
Denies The Previous Report Of the
County Seat Trouble.
SAYS ALL WAS PEAoEABLE
Ho and The Citizens Feel Annoyed at the
Criticisms of Their Conduct and the
Term "Mob."
South BEND. wash. FEB. 5. isls.


To the Editor:
In your issue of the 7th inst. appears a
report of the removal of the county seat
Of Pacific county. from oysterville to
South Bend last Sunday, which contains
SO many misstatements and together with
your editorial comments is such a seri-
Gus reflection on the citizens of South
Bend that we cannot allow 1t to pass
unchallenged. 1t is quite evident that
your information was furnished entirely
from Oystrrvllle, and in justice to our
selves we ask you to publish correct
statement of the facts in the case which
are as follows
At the last general election the ques-
tion OF whether South Bend, Sealand or
Oysterville should be the county seat,
was voted upon. South Bend received 9Sl
votes, Sealand received 376 votes, and
Oysterville received 100 votes. The re-
suit of the election was canvassed by
the board of county commissioners, two
of whom were not favorable to South
Bend, and in accordance with the state
law governing the removal of county
seats, they issued an order that from and
after February g. 1893, South Bend would
be the county seat. On January 6, 1893
citizen of Oysterville procured an in
junction from the supreme court, re-
straining the auditor and board of county
commissioners from removing the rec
ords. On February 4th the Injunction was
dissolved by the court that issued 1t, and
In accordance with the order Of the com
missioners, South Bend at once became
the county seat. The board of county
commissioners instructed Mr.. Charles e.
Foster to supervise the work of removing
the records and furniture from Oyster
Vile to South Bend, and the "mob' con-
sisted of number Of citizens he took
with him to aid in carrying out these in
structions. AS the board of county COM
missioners were to hold o meeting on
Monday 1t was necessary that prompt
action be taken, and In order that there
should be no interruption to the machin-
cry OF the county government, 1t was
deemed best to make the removal on Sun
dny when there was no business being
transacted.
All Of the county officials. excepting
the auditor, were ready. and did remove
to South Bend, as was their duty when
they saw the order of the court dis
solving the injunction. The auditor. Mr.,
Barney. for reasons best known to him
self. declined to come and he was LEFT
severely alone no one attempting In any
way to coerce him to come or to take his
records
The statement that the purpose OF the
mob" was to secure. the official ballots
is an outrageous lie. Before leaving
South Bend it had been decided not to
bring the official ballots unless Mr.. Bar
ney chose to bring them himself, so that
no question could be raised in reference
to them.
The alleged mob consisted Of the best
citizens Of South Bend. their action
throughout was legal and orderly, and to
class such well known citizens as c. b.
Foster, NJ. d. Egbert. r. B. Dyer and A..
L. DEMO as a "mob" is gratuitous In
suit AS matter Of fact the illegality Is
all on the other side. A few citizens OF
Oystervilie aided and abetted by the
county auditor are trying by. trickery and
technicalities, to defeat the manifest win
Of the people OF the county. but despite
their efforts. South Bend Is and will re-
main the county seat Of Pacific county
Very respectfully,
THOMAS COOPER.
Mayor of South Bend.