Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-20
NO CONTESTS HERE.
wapello County Officers Do Not
Expect Another Year.
SOME WILL RESIGN IF NECESSARY.
The Others Interviewed Today Are
Simply Awaiting Developments Ex-
pecting That the Men Elected viii
Take Places on January !.

.
pecting That the Men Elected viii
Take Places on January !.
From Mondays Daily.
The Courier today interviewed all
the officers in the county interested
in the question of the validity of the
Titus amendment and the question of
extending terms of offices, except Sill
pervisor Henry Wagers, who was not
in the city today. 1t will I've seen
from these opinions as presented be-
low that there is little likelihood of
any contest arising here, as some of
the gentlemen express a determine
ton to resign, if necessary TO clear
away any legal technicalities, while
ing a contest.
Morgan Griswod Will Resign.
When Morgan Griswold, county
auditor, was seen this morning he
said: am not taking any steps
concerning the Titus amendment. If
Mr.. Hammond, who has been elected
to the Office of county auditor cannot
be inaugurated in any other way l
will resign. He made the race in
good faith and was elected; the peo-
pie voted for him in good faith
and would not think Tor
a moment of trying to hold over any
longer than his bond can be approved,
and if necessary l will resign SO that
the supervisors may approve it. What
the other county officers are going to
do l do not know, am only speaking
for myself would not be surprised
If it would become necessary for tho
incumbents of the offices to resign to
avoid any legal technicalities, and
that is what l expect to do. That
will remove all questions"
Expects to Get Out.
County Recorder T. C. Porter said:
There have been no steps taken in
the matter that know Of My .dea is
that we will all have to get out. have
not thought about the question of re-.
signing. | am waiting to see what
facts will develop. do not expect to
hold the office. There has been no
consultation among the officers con-
corning the status of their cases, so
far as know. AS matter of course,
If the supreme court decides that the
election was illegal and that there was
nobody elected whatever, then there
would be no vacancies and there
would be nobody to take the places OF
the officers here. Some take that view
OF it-that the election was not valid,
consequently nobody was elected. I'm
der the law we mold until our success.
ors are elected and qualified If they
decide that the parties were duly elect
ed do not expect to make any con-
test"
No Disturbance Here.
O. J. Garriott, county clerk, said:
AS to the law do not know anything
about it. have not made up my mind
one way or the other. Ii it is a con-
test to see if anybody is entlIled to
stay why will undoubtedly stay my
self if can, but if it is not am not
going to make any disturbance. If
am entitled to stay am going to stay;
If not am not going to stay. 1t is too
soon to say. understand, indirectly,
that there will be contest over the
clerks Office in Monroe county, where
a democrat is holding The office and a
republican has been elected to take his
place. have this only as a rumor.'
Attorney Enoch Would Resign.
County Attorney A. w. Enoch ex-
pressed himself as follows: My opin-
ion in reference to the Titus amend
ment is that the amendment was leg
ally submitted to be voted on at the
last general election, and while the
language of the resolution is some
what ambiguous, yet in view of all the
facts and circumstances it can be cas-
lily explained and interpreted by any
court which may be called upon to
pass upon it. The fact that the offices
voted for at the last general election
were voted on in accordance with the
law then in existence, and as the reso-
luton was submitted to the same vote,
there can be no question but what the
election of the officers voted for was
lawful, and whether the amendment is
set aside or not the officers elected
will clearly be entitled to their. Offices.
There ought not to be any question,
5 and if there be any question, SO far
as I myself am concerned, I will re-
sign, so that the clear intent and will
of the people will be carried out as
expressed by their ballots at the last
election. think when the supreme
court is called upon to pass upon it
that they will give the question sub
mitted to them upon this amendment,
and the construction to be placed
thereon, a liberal construction, which
the law at least requires in all civil
procedure