The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-11-18
FIRES A BROADSIDE.
AID. GONNERMANN TAKES THE
BAT FOR ONCE.
ANSWERS SOME OF HIS CRITICS
The FIRST Ward Alderman Has an Inning
in Explanation of the Criticism
Launched Against him at the
Last Council Meeting

/ GudU l. WOulu LOU Say duy LuluR III Tile
matter that transpired in the meeting
of the city council last week and have
SO stated several times to my friends
who have met me and congratulated
me on the stand I have taken. [ dc
not and never have liked newspaper
notoriety. But as want. the public to
know just where / stand in this matter
I have been advised by both political
parties to explain. 1t is not a matter
of politics with me, nor dol care what
a mans nationality, religion or. politics
may be so long as he is a good man
and one who works for the interest Of
the city. If Mr.. Boyle wanted to be
faithful in the employ of the city he
should have said to DeFrang: Now,
come. The council directs us to dc
certain work. The city treasury is
empty, and the city has no funds on
hand to do much more work with We
will try to show a disposition to help
along. We will do the best we can,
and if we cannot keep up with the work
the mayor can call a meeting and we
can explain our situation"
But instead of doing this, what does
he do? He was either in the city
clerks Office, engine house or certain
blacksmith shop taking matters easy
at an expense of $50 month to this
city. Is that getting value for our
money? No fair minded business man
would allow such actions in his private
business. Do you suppose that the
Balm Wagon works, N. R. Aliens Sons,
the Brass works, or any other business
would be allowed to run in such way?
If they did they certainly would not
last long. Nor'would they keep a man
in their employ who would not attend
strictly to business.
The editor of the Gazette would try
to make the public believe that |
was the only mover in this course.
Now, l want to say right here
that there were five of the aldermen
that were fully in sympathy with the
matter, and Aid. Berns was at the
head. He went so far as to call three
different times at a certain persons
house to see if he would take the job.
He was confident that both the COM
missioners would be laid off. He was
the one who asked me to be sure to see
the mayor to call a special meeting.
In speaking with the mayor that We'd
nesday afternoon, the mayor stated
himself that it was not right the way
this man, meaning Boyle, acted, and
said to me, Gonnermann, am with
you"
Now, the remarks made by the
alderman regarding my manipulating
an alleged deal on West Main street, [
will say that the remarks are malic-
ious lie, and 1 will prove to the public
that whatever | said was always in
favor of the city. The railroad COM
pany owe me nothing and 1 owe them
nothing. But the reason was at
tackled by the alderman was that | was
the prime mover in stopping the extra
expense of this alderman's brother,
who had had a snap all summer in
specting sewers. I did not believe it
wise to have him at the culvert on
Durkee avenue at an unnecessary eX-
pense of So per day. The city engi-
neer was on Durkee avenue most of
the time and he (the engineer) admit
ted to the mayor and myself that he
could oversee both jobs. This same
alderman has been sore for some time,
ever since his father wanted a gate job
and didn't get it. If the public knew
these things they would soon see in a
different light. AS have said before I
care nothing for the railroad and the
records will show that | have always
voted to protect the city's interest.
The following will explain itself:
This is to certify:
That we, the undersigned aldermen
and city engineer of the city of Keno
sha and members of the committee on
streets and alleys, to whom was refer
red the matter of the grade on West
Main street regarding the grade Of the
tracks of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railway company, on said West Main
street, do hereby certify and state that,
whereas, a certain alderman of said
city has made statements to the effect
that a member of the city council had
manipulated deal with said railroad
company, detrimental to the city's in
terests, and insinuating that this mem
Der was C. FL. Gonnermann, alderman
from the first ward of said city; now,
therefore, we, the undersigned, do GER
tify and state that we have had several
conversations with the said Chas. 81.
Gonnerman, in the presence of each
other, in respect to the matter of said
West Main street grade, and that his
las always advised that whatever be
done in said matter be done for the
city's best interests, regardless of the
wishes of the railroad company. That
all transactions made with said rail-