Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-03-30
No Reason or Excuse for the Unlawful
and Spiteful Acts Of the -
Council .~>.
Investigation increases indigna-


and also refusing to perform the
plain duty of declaring DR.. Wright
elected as alderman from the Second
ward, the community was greatly
startled, and the many false rumors
partially justifying the action were
naturally given considerable Gre
dence. It seemed to the public that
there must be some reasonable ex-
cuse for the councils acts, and there
was a tendency to find some excuse
for conduct that had the general ap-
pearance of being most unlawful and
detestable. A careful investigation
Of all the facts, however, shows that
the worst charges against the coun-
Gil were true, and that there was not
one single excuse or reason for their
acts that were grounded ON fairness,
law, justice or decency. Statements
as to this condition cannot be too
strong, and are justified.
First take up the Butler-Flynn
move. The facts are that Mr.. But
Ter left for California last November
for his health. At that time he left
with C. A. Lindbergh a blank resig-
nation, with instructions to fill it
out and submit it to the council if
any condition should arise during
his temporary absence that would
make it very important that the Sec
ond ward or the city have a full
council. After being away few
weeks, and learning that his tempo
rary absence from the council was not
liable to result in the neglect of any
ward or city interest, he sent to Mr..
Lindhergh for the blank resignation,
and it was forwarded to him some
time in December. Having spent the
winter months there, Mr. Butler was
about to return home, and wrote to
Mr. Lindbergh saying @":- and also
enclosed g. request to the city cOun-
Gil for leave of absence. He was
to return at once, but considered the
granting of leave of absence by the
council would Indicate consent to
his absence. The letter spoken of,
enclosing the request of a leave of
absence was received by Mr.. Lind
bergh on Thursday, the day upon
which the council meeting was held.
That evening it was presented to
them, but it appears that the deal
to Oust him had been arranged be-
forehand. No one knew that aEy
communication was to be received
that evening from Mr.. Butler, but
Flynn knew before the meeting that
Butler was to be fired, and was there
and took his oath of Office to the
honorable Office which had been
forced upon him. The council de-
clared that Mr.. Butler had left the
state, when every member knew his
absence was temporary. They had
allowed him to be away since No.
yember with no protest, but now,
just as he was to return, and just as
the council itself was to pass out of
existence, they declare his Office va
cant and select a man to act with
the council that is to assume duties
the first of April. Their interest to
have a full membership could have
amounted to nothing, as there was
no business to do but close up the
years work within the next few
days. Three OF the members, Rider,
Mcdonald, and Bottom were to re-
tire from Office at the first meeting
in April, and their act in selecting
the man for the next council was as
low an act of trickery as could be i'm
agined.
After the deed had been performed
reports were circulated that Buffers
removal had been expected, and that
George LaFond desired the place.
That was false. Mr.. LaFond and
other friends OF Mr.. Butler had no
expectation of change, and we
doubt if over three citizens of the
Second ward expected any change
1t was one of those cute tricks toim.
lpose on the public. Considering the
fact that Mr.. Butler will be in Little
Falls in few days, probably thu
. 9th of this month, no change wat
wanted, and the change that was
made was the most unsatisfactory
possible. w. A. Butler has been {
councilman for several years, having
! served in 1889, and also in 1891, 1885,
, and 1898. He has always been elect
ed when candidate, and his pres
ent term did not expire till 1895.
The facts in the Wright-McDonal.
case make as bad a showing for tn
' council. The returns from both pre-
r cincts of the Second ward were il
8 due form, were canvassed by tn
lcouncil, and all returns found col
rect and the candidates receiving th
Il highest number Of votes were b.
10 name declared elected to their r.
"A spective Offices. Mr.. Wright wa
3 formally declared elected as alle1
g man from the Second ward. The
81 later in the evening, after the Ru
81 81 Flynn deal had nerved them t
o2 most any outrage, they re-consi,
IS cred the resolution declaring the o
a ficers elected, and proceeded b
name to declare all elected exceI
= Wright. Nothing in the minut,
= show why the Wright decision WE
:. changed. It was simply PERSONAL
unsatisfactory to the council, an
they declined to perform their dut
and declare the result. The san
kind Of men In county Offices won
refuse to declare the election Of 8
Unsatisfactory candidate, and II