The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-05-28
MASON RB7IRHS
COUNCIL REGRETS.
Tenders Strong, Able and Sug-
gestive Letter of Resig-
nation.
COUNCIL PAYS HIM WARM TRIBUTE.
His Parting Advice is Buy the Light and
Water Company and Provide for a
Big City Park.

At 10 O'clock last night, E iward H
Mason stepped down from the raised
platform in the council chamber
handed the gayel to Chairman of Coun.
Gil FendIg, and ceased 10 be mayor OF
Brunswick.
Mr.. Mason's statement affected the
council deeply, as was evidenced In
the feeling words II which Aldermen
Atkinson, Krauss and Butts comment
ed on his action.
The resolutions printed els where
were unanimously adopted and order
ed spread upon he minutes of cOun-
Gil. The circumsta ces of Mr.. MasOn's
retirement were impressive and the
aldermen plainly showed that they
felt sense of loss.
The following is the retiring may
or's address in full, as read to council
by Clerk Bodet. It outlines policies
of great importance to the cily and
should be carefully read:
BRUNSWICK, GA, May 27, 1897.
TO the members OF the city council,
Brunswick, Ga.
Gentlemen: A the regular election
10 last December fer mayor and alder
men of the city OF Brunswick, had
the honor to be selected by very large
majority of the voters participating in
said election for the OfffCe of mayor of
our city. la pursuance OF said cleo
ti03, | resigned my Office AS me III Der
of your aldermanlc board, and in Jan
uary following assumed the uuties and
responsibilities of lie mayOralty. To
me personally the office of mayor is,
a1d has been, more OF an inCumbrance
than help, for my business interests
require much of M time. Possessed, g,
however, of desire to aid in giving
our city u clean, e. ODOmIcAl and pro-
gressive city government, and flat
tered by the votes OF my fellOw-tOw
men, l have, since my incumbency of
the mayOralty, CIV unreseTvedly of
my time and what aIenJ | possess to
the duties of the Office. | am content
to have judgment rendered on all my
official acts by the people whom have
tried 20 serve, for am conscious only
of a loyalty to their interests.
1t seems, however, that my election
was not satisfactory TO certain eIe,
ment, but whether it defeated other
political aspiration or for some other
cause it is not for me now TO say. At
any rate, prOceedit KS were instituted
to have me remove d from the mayor
atty upon the alIt cation that | was
disqualified tn hold the office, 1t being
averred that the TEN for which had
been elected an alderman had not ex-
pired at the time | became mayor, and
that under state statute | was incl
iglble to the mayoralty until this al
dermanic term had expired.
The voters of our city having ex-
pressed their preference for me, 1t
seemed to me they were entitled to
have their preference sustained by the
courts, if the same could be done, and
that my duty reqt red me To see to it
fully submitted ahd fairly passed upon
by the courts. With this end in view
[ entered upon he litigation thus
forced upon me. The first proceeding
against me was admittedly improperly
brought, and was dismissed by the
court. The second proceeding was a
petition praying leave to file an lnfOr-
nation in the nature of quo warrantO.
The superior court refused the leave
prayed for and the contestant ap-
ppaled to the supreme court, which
latter court has recently reversed the
judgment of the superior court, aud
ordered that the leave prayed for
should be granted. When the iDfor-
nation thus allowed to be filed is filed
the same is subject 10 answer, to trial
and to appeal To he supreme court
and it will be seer, therefore, that if
was disposed the litigation would be
now only in It's i cipiency, and pos
sibly could be prolonged until such
time as the period ot my disqualfica-
tiUn would be enc d. | have not hes
itated, however, ss to my duties in the
premises. While he decision reached
by the courts but commences The litl-
CATION, if | was posed to prOlong it,
it nevertheless .termines the mai n
questions involved IN the contest, and
determines them adversely to my
rights and further litigation would be
simply over form. and procedure, and
would possibly have the appearance OF
an atte mpt upon my part to remain IN
office, to hold which | have been de-
clared disqualified The highest tri.
bunal In our state has saId that | am
now ineligible TO he mayOrsity, and
believe that | shG0Id at once bow III
submission TO th4 decree, for hold
that no man is worthy to administer
the law unto Others and exact Obedi-