Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-24
Hurt Before They Were Hit.
81. Louis Politicians Play Joke on Our Ithaca
Friends.

The citizens Of Ithaca have for som
time imagined that they heard arumb
ling noise like unto an earthquake
which would during some dark nigh
transfer the seat of government from
their quiet, little village TO the Athens o
central Michigan, Alma This plac
surely was not responsible for -thes
mutterings, she was pursuing her i'm
partial and respectful course towar,
everybody and everything. turnin,
neither TO the right nor the left no mat
ter what was said of her if she rose in
to prominence as possible 5at o
government in the minds of our Ithaci
neighbors, It was because they saw heI
merits and guessed the probable hand
writing on the wall This made then
fretful, fearful, feverish and doubling
like the settler on the frontier, they had
formed the habit Of sleeping on their
arms The quiet observer has dis
covered this condition of our neighbors
for some time past, but lest the obser.
vation might further irritate the patient,
no one has pretended to notice it,
CThis explanation is necessary TO those
who might otherwise, not understand
the recent call to arms }
Ii appears that Hon. G. w. Giddings
Is the choice of at least a majority Of the
Alma delegation 10 the Republican
county convention for circuit Judge
Ithaca had noticed this fact in abated
breath and with increased fear. Certain
st. Louis politicians thought 10 them.
selves, "Ah Here is chance 10 fan in.
10 blaze the slumbering fears of our
Ithaca competitors :" again, Senator
Giddings of st. Louis the choice of the
Alma delegation for curcuit Judge! Oh.
what combination for the purpose of
securing the comfy seat :" again, If
Ithaca could see this in the proper light
nothing short of a call ON Governor Pin
gree for the state militia would be
thought of
1t was arranged therefore, so your
informant learned, that the St. louis
central telephone exchange (Blair's
drug store should call the Ithaca CEN
tral Robinson 5 drug store) and whisper
that Alma was TO introduce bill in the
state legislature through Senator Gid
dings, Monday or Tuesday (the last DAYS
TO notice bills Incorporating il as a city
with four supervisors for the real pur.
pose of enabling il 10 secure the county
seat. Accordingly late Saturday night
st. Louis rings Ithaca
Hello ="
Hello! St Louisw
lis this Robinson"
yes, is this Blair"
'4es, say Ithaca Just wait minute |
am afraid someone will hear-I guess /
We had better not talk Robinson. "
Robinson replies, Cant you give me
IN inkling:"
yes, but-say have you heard over
here that-you don't think there is any
)ody listening Alma intends TO
bill Monday through Gid
iings to incorporate as a city with four
Robinson replies, Yes, but we are
lead onto them.
Good bye"
Good bye, much obliged. "
Their suspicious had been fully con.
lrmed. The fire was lighted; the call TO \
rms was at once given. Ithaca citizens
meet in groups and discuss the situation: 1
after into private conferences; then in
o committees duly appointed TO protect
he court house and the records, etc. All
lay Sunday there was heated discus
ions and mutterings; lawyers were par
icularly busy at their offices and homes.
finally late Sunday night il was deter.
mined that bill must be introduced 10
incorporate Ithaca township farming
nd swamp lands included) into city
7ith ~i supervisors. Early Monday
lorning the committee. consisting of
'yron II. Sawyer and William A. Leet.
$ the legal lights, including numerous
ther citizens with petitions and remon-
frances start TO Lansing on the early
mn ArbOr train, while those left be-
ind, in common cause forget their
lferences and converse together as
lends. Editor Mccall smiles at "Old
an Tucker" Chase forgets TO write
bout the degradation of the republican
irty (this seems to be his principal
ouble) and his late republican friends
richie Mccall converses with his
political usurper" Kirby; General
hurch bids good bye 20 his friend Leet
Id wishes him God speed on his mis-.
On, while Stone, Mathews. Searl and
)tts forget for the time being that they
g circuit judges and all join and in
lison seek To beat back the assaults up
their temple of justice. Leet and
Iwyer tell strangers that they are go
g to Owosso to try law suit; others
the committee say they are going 10
'troit on business, but on the regular
ain they all appear at Lansing and at
&c seek out Senator Giddings and
Wood TO learn the latest
ws regarding the county seat war"
hen 10 and behold neither knew
ything about il; no such bill as the
e whispered has been heard of the
cords disclose that none has been in.
)duced. In the humiliation of the
it was thought best to present
cir Sunday born babe, so il is reported
at Representative Wood fathered IL
d the committee returned home, re.
citing as they returned, wondering as
~ consulted together over their mis-.
m.
! the list of bills presented in the house
Tuesday we noticed the baby was
long the number, but it will probably
J IN the nursery.
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