The Tucson citizen., 1902-09-24
THE N UNICIPHL MONKEYS
THE HIGH LICENSE QUESTION SENDS
THE COUNCILM6N TO AN UNDIGNIFIED
EXPOSURE OF THEIR SPECIES.
fl Gall for an "El6CtlOD' to HumbuO the PeO.
Die VIII be Issued in the Near Future.

the scheme at the time to prevent his
party henchman, Anderson, from bend
ing the way the wind blows, was now
forced to give a legal and not a DO
| litical opinion
He said that the council had no au-
thority vested in it by the statutes to
order any special election. Such an
election would merely resolve itself
into town meeting, but it could not
decide question definitely so far as
to make it law. 1t looks as though this
opinion, stated two months ago, would
have saved whole lot of needless
wrongling. This was simply the cur
tain raiser in last evenings burlesque.
Russell was evidently not satisfied
with the city attorneys opinion, and
intimated that the illegality of the
election should not stand in the way.
He wanted to hold the election any
way. He said the council did not
want the people to decide it, but they
are merely seeking the advice of the
majority.
The performance did not just suit
Boss Reid at this stage, SO he moved to
adjourn, without the desired effect,
however. Barkley said he was Of a
loss to see how to avoid the measure
but he thought if the council thought
real hard it might possibly find a way
around the difficulty. Then some one
had the bad grace to ask who would
be allowed to vote in the special cleo
tion. The "Old Alcalde" became very
solicitous about the right of all men
to suffrage just about this time. and
stated a few economic reasons back
wards and a little up-side-down for
allowing all voters to partieipate.
Russell said the taxpayers stand the
bills and they alone should decide the
high license question The voters
We're soon lost in the shuttle when the
question arose as to which register
should determine the voters qualifi-
cations. The "Old Alcalde" again
came to the rescue and suggested that
the old one and any others in existence
serve for the purpose. In fact It
seemed to suit him just as well if any
old thing that looked like a man would
| be allowed to vote.
/, 1t was evident that things were be-
coming slightly mixed so Russell
moved to call an election within ten
days, and to allow all who were regis
tered this year and also those on the
Great Register to vote Reid could
not stand the bad acting any longer, so
he broke in on the proceedings with a
stormy protest. He declared that the
election would be farce, and the
council knew it. Besides they had no
authority to punish illegal voters, and
could not prevent ballot stufing at
the polls.
The city attorney endorsed Reid's
objection, but Russell insisted on the
election.
Anderson had said little during the
performance, but he volunteered a
statement at this time that spread
CONSERVATION among the councilmen,
and made the 'Old Alcalde'' look per-
picked. Anderson thought that if the
election itself was illegal, then the
! taxpayers could not be made to stand
the expense, and it looks as though
he thought all right. The Buehman
ordinance, which was thought to have
died the death, began to slowly take
life and it's emaciated form slowly
arose from the table. Buchanan recog-
niZed his old pal at once, and attempted
to introduce the unfortunate Happy
Hooligan," as it were, to the council
once more. But Russell played the
town marshal, and suggested that thu
city officials act as election officers
and thus save any expense. THE
other expense" said Mr.. Russell, "as II
the Standard Oil company was the
smallest thing he owned,'' Il will
stand"
So the vote was rut. Anderson
Russell, Buehman and Barkley voted
for Il, but Reid remained at least con
sistent and said mo"
! The election will be held Friday
October 3. The polls will be openet
from 8 to 6, and the city council viii
act as the officers.