The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-06

Hon. Francis Armstrong, chairman of
| the board of county commissioners, ten
/ dered his resignation to the remaining
members of that body yesterday after
noon. BY the terms of the resignation
it was to take effect Immediately, but
with the hope that Mr.. Armstrong
might be induced to reconsider, Bishop
Rawlins and Commissioner Whitaker
postponed action for one week.
The resignation of Mr.. Armstrong oc-
casioned no surprise among those who
| have been acquainted with the condi-
| ton of his health during the last two
months. 1t was understood among his
| friends that he had been contemplating
/ the step taken yesterday for some time
| in order that he might be entirely free
from public duties.
Mr.. Armstrong; Letter.
Mr.. Armstrong; letter was read as
soon as the board convened for yes
terday's meeting. 1t was as follows:
Salt Lake City, June 5, 1899.
ITO the Honorable County Court, Salt
Lake County:
81. S. Rawlins and George A. Whit
aker, county commissioners, and David
c. Dunbar, county clerk-Owing to the
state of my health, / am not capable
of attending to my duties there as COM
missioner. 1t is with regret that / ten
der my resignation, to take effect i'm
mediately. Yours respectfully,
FRANCIS ARMSTRONG;
Commissioner Whitaker moved that
action on the resignation be deferred
for one week, in order that time might
be given to persuade Mr.. Armstrong
to withdraw it. The motion was
adopted and the resignation will lie
over.
There is no hope that Mr.. Armstrong
will accede to the wishes of his fellow
commissioners. In their desire
to retain him they will be
Joined by hundreds of residents of
Salt Lake City and county, who know
of Mr.. Armstrong; faithful public
services and the unremitting zeal with
which he has always attended to his
duties, even when he did so at great
personal sacrifice.
Is Very Sick Man.
Mr.. Armstrong is a very sick man.
There is no Disgusting this fact. He
and his family know il, and realize
that only perfect rest can restore him
to health As he lay on his couch yes
terday afternoon. a wan wreck of his
former self, Mr.. Armstrong spoke Of
the regret with which he had sent his
resignation to the board. Il have long
since given up all my private business
he said, ''in the hope that l might be
able to continue on the board. L re-
alize now that it will be many a day
before l am able to leave this room, if
at all. l feel that l am not able to
give my position the time and atten-
ton it demands.
THE people have a right to expect
more than | am able to give; conse-
quently L sent in my resignation. l
am very grateful for the kind wishes of
my fellow commissioners and for the
good will of the citizens l have tried
TO serve, but 1 cannot remain on the
board
Mr. Armstrong said he felt slightly
better yesterday afternoon than usual,
but there is no denying the fact that
he is in a critical condition His brain
is clear, however, and he talked cheer
fully and hopefully about the future.
If he can have absolute immunity from
worry, it is possible that his plucky
determination to get well and his iron
will yet pull him through.
Figure On His Successor.
Politicians began figuring yesterday
on Mr.. Armstrong; successor. w. III. |
Dale was one of the most prominently !
Mr.. Dale said he had not |
been approached on the subject and |
was not prepared to discuss it. He |
hadn't even heard of Mr.. Armstrong; |
resignation at the time it was sug-
gested to him that he might be elected. |
NJ. S Woolley, chief clerk in Sheriff |
Howells' office, was also frequently |
mentioned in connection with the place. |
Mr. Woolley, it will be remembered, |
was one of four who received ma |
iority of the votes in the last Demo- |
cratic convention. He was ahead of |
Bishop Rawlins, but gracefully with |
drew with Messrs- Armstrong and !
Whitaker When the next ballot was |
taken Bishop Woolley was defeated |
and Armstrong, Whitaker and Rawlins |
won.
Another possible candidate is Coun-
Gilman John Siddoway. Mr.. Siddowsys
friends, it is understood, are prepared
10 boom him for the place.
Under the statute, when a county
resigns or dies, the re-
naming members must elect his sue
lessor within thirty days. If they fail
20 do So the governor makes a selec-
ion.