Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-05-06

cause a story was started that / had
voted for Democrat for City Clerk.
While have maintained that was
not guilty of the charge, it seems to
have made no difference-and this,
after nine Of the Republican Council
men had unanimously agreed to sup
pert me for President of this body.
They are now asking me to resign, and
why ?-simply because Il Democrat has
been elected City Clerk. But want
to say that am innocent of the crime
If you call 1t crime to vote for
Democrat in the city Of Akron.
Il want to say that when MY con
stituents in the Second ward elected ME
as their representative in the Council.
they elected man--and you cannot
take from me that manhood.
will not allow any man to impugn my
honor, nor will allow myself to suffer
for the sins of others, especially in
this instance. am accused of vot-
ing for Mr.. Isbell by the very men who
voted for him, and they are being en-
couraged in the attack upon me by
the other Republicans who were in the
deal"
Mr. Seidell here claimed that Mr..
Amundson had told him that he saw
u ballot in the hat, with the name.
Snyder, on it, just as Mr.. Seldell claim
ed to have written his ballot. Mr.
Amundson was asked to repeat the
statement before Council, but he start
ed to dodge the issue, and got so loud
that the chair made him sit down.
"S-i-t-t DOWN. said Chairman Gau.
thier--and Jerry sat.
In continuing his address, President
Seidell said:
'This censure has grown so strong
| that | have been doing little detec-
tive work of my own, and am prepared
| TO make the statement that | am nc-
cused of voting for man by the very
men who voted for him, and the reason
they stick to it Is because they wish to
cover up their own actions.
The Beacon Journal comes out and
says visited the office of Mr.. Isbell
since his election. That is true.
did. but | want to ask you IL 1t is any
worse to visit his Office after election
than before.
"Mr. Rice, you were In Mr.. Isbell's
private office on Sunday, one week
before his election. You talked with
him alone and after you left, Mr..
Isbell came out and told an intimate
friend that he was as good as elected,
and he would leave town for week
that everything was done. What were
you doing In his office? | want you
to explain that TO this Council tonight
You and he are not such intimate
friends that you visit his office. 1t Is
a known fact that you said you would
rather vote for IA Democrat than
Wiesc.
You claim to have seen my ballot
You did see it. You saw other ballots
that were cast ] want to ask you In
all fairness who saw your ballot?
, Come now, be honest. | have been ac-
cused long enough. Is 1t not fact
that you were a candidate for the
office of Deputy City Clerk?
1T has been rumored In the public
press that Mr.. Wilhelm was offered
5000 IL he would vote for Isbell. Mr..
Wilhelm, Is that true or is it liey"
Go ahead and read your paper
said Mr.. Wilhelm.
Let the people know tonight. They
further state that you were assured
that after the ballots were cast they
would be destroyed. When did YOU
learn this? If you knew of this, why
did you not inform your Republican
caucusesI Why did you caucus there
and agree on certain things when you
| knew there would he a Democratic
candidate in the field? If you knew
that the ballots were going to be de-
stroyed; If you had any suspicion of
| THIS, why did you not announce 1t at
the time? ] will tell you why, be.
{ cause you were for Isbell and are now
+ seeking to shoulder your actions onto
me. That is why. | have learned NIL
these facts from intimate friends who
We're closely connected with Isbell
during this fight.
Another thing. these ballots were
cast and Mr.. Jacobs immediately
comes out with the statement that he
threw them In the splttoon, tore them
up and destroyed them. Who thought
{ that Hal Jacobs would vote for IA Dem.
, ocrat? These ballots were not DESTROY.
ed until the finger of suspicion was
/ pointed to MIR. Jacobs and the accusa.
tions and charges came so thick and
fast that he wllted and threw up his
hands.
Then he comes forward with tbot
plausible story that the ballots were
, finally discovered, all torn up. lie
7 calls in Jerry Amundson, II man who
r Is under suspicion the same as he is
, charged with voting for lsbell. Hs
calls In Rice, my bitterest enemy In
ms Council. He calls those men In
ana then he comes out with the state
ment that ! and DR.. Hill voted fol
lsbell' WY did he not call DR.. HIlli
why did he not call In dlsIntercsted
person? will tell you why he did
not lie did not dare do II until those
ballots had been so changed and fixed
TO take from you all charges which
you thrust on me.
u want TO know II there is mar
IN the city Of Akron SO foolish to be-