The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-14
1T IS PROVEN
That Minus 1 Equals Plus A
Vacancy.

There was heavy shower Monday |
night, and it was quite wet, Tuesday |
but it dried off before night.
There was caucus of the new |
Council and some of the City officers,
Tuesday about noon, and very nice
slate had been prepared for the occas-
ion.
1t was Expected" that Mr.. South
ard would not be present. That would
leave only three dry members of the
Council present, and they would be a
minority!
Well the caucus met, and Mr.. South
ard was not present. The slate was
developed, and endorsed without a
scratch.
Mr.. Fergus was to be President OF
the new council, Mr.. Southard, Vice.
President. The Mayor was given to
understand that he would have only
democratic policeman, and that that
one would not be Mr.. Tom johnson.
Mr.. johnson is the "driest" man on
the force. But the intent was conceal
ed under the pretext that the Repubh-
cans ought to have three out of four
policemen. o@ 2
Mr.. Short asked if Mr.. Costin, who
voted in the caucus, had a certificate of
membership and had a right to- vote.
He was told that Mr.. Costin did not
have certificate, but that he had
right to vote, as he would sit as a men,
Der till his successor was elected and
qualified. Mr.. A. Jay Miller, City
Solicitor, who was present, said this
was correct, and Mr.. Short subsided.
| 1t may be well to remark here, that
if Mr.. Costin had right to sit in the
caucus, it could only be, because he
had right to sit in the new Council,
and as the slate had been made up for
him to vote in the caucus, he was of
course to sit in the council. This too,
had been decided and was to be acted
upon in defiance of the injunction OF
the Court, and before it's decision
could be given.
| AS the dry members were unaware
that one of their number was to be
absent, and as they were in minority,
they found that all they could do, was
to let the slate go through the caucus.
But they had card up their sleeve
that beat the whole pack. They didn't
propose to be ignored, because one of
their number was absent; they didn't
propose to be out-generaled by the
vets, and they didn't propose to have
the council pass on Mr.. Costin's case
before Judge Dow did.
Mr.. Southland had promised Mr..
Hover that he would be present, at
the Tuesday nights meeting of the
council, so the other dry mem
bers decided that they would not at
tend unless Mr.. Southland was present,
and that they would prevent quorum
by staying away, unless he should
appear.
| Well, Mr.. Southard did not appear;
neither did the three dry members;
and after the old council had put on its
burying robes, two holdovers, one new
member, and the gentlemen in the air,
Brer Costin, were present, and waited
for quorum, and waited for a quorum,
and waited for quorum, till it dawned
upon their minds that there had been
, so much figuring upon the old slate,
: that it had been completely smashed
and they returned to their homes tC
mediate upon the uncertainty
of all certainties, in this wicked
wicked world.
1t is said that one of the eleven inch
) shells of the Oregon lighting in the
camp, would not have created greater
CONSERVATION, than did this denoue
ment. But we must give the facts
Oregon or no Oregon.
There are two dailies in the city, but
neither of them has given these inside
facts. 1t is not for us to say that they
4 have no enterprising reporters.
The dry members of the Council
number four-one half the body, and
they need not permit themselves to be
turned down by three vets and avacan-
cy.
The develpement of this situation
should convince Mr.. Southland that he
ought to resign his seat and permit
another dry member to be elected from
the second ward. His business calls
him to West Mansfield, and there may
be many times when his absence will
leave the dries in a minority on import
ant questions. He cannot always
, come. Called meetings may be held
|, where he cannot get notice. The
present siturtion should convince him
, of the truth of our position. Here was
| time when the organization of the
council was at stake-when the ques
ton of whether the vets or the drie
would control, and his absence woul(
have defeated the dries on all question:
, in spite of Mr.. Southard's purpose ant
: promise to be present, had not th'
3 other dry members decided to sta.
away, and block the game. Justice t.
: those who elected Mr.. Southland and t,
the city whose interests need constan
attention, would dictate that tn