The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-06
HEALY sP0ILs It spot WHEAT SCARCE [
Clever Little Plan for Special Elec.-
tion Held Illegal.
EMIssARY FOR WEST BADEN
He Was to Get New Resignation So
as to Nuke Things Saasy,2--ssss$ - q
"Coffee Johns. Joke. ;{s5y

Ns+... 3 - -. 49, ?
A clever little plan StoS facilitate. the
passing of the Amesi regime and the in7
stalation of a@really and truly mayor
elected by the5people in place 5ofaan act-
ing mayor, came to a head to-d day. Only
one thing stood in the way 'of Its accom-
plishment, apparently, and that WAS
serious doubt as toits legality
The idea was to send an. emtsSary to
West Baden who posse theS confidence
of Mayor Ames and get him to draw up
new resignation, taking effect just tWen-
ty days before the coming primary cleo
tion This could be accepted by the. coun-
Gil at it's meeting Friday night and
special election ordered held simultane-
ously with the primary at a small expense
to the city. Quick work would be neces-
sary, as the eInissary would have to leave
tonight, arrive at. West Baden to-m -mor-
row night, spend three hours there and
then return, reaching Minneapolis at 10: 80
Friday night. The council, forewarnedl OF
the success of the trip by wire, could be
holding it's session open awaiting the ap-
pearance of the messen ger with the writ
ten resignation, John Fitchette, former
police captain, and the trusted .confidant
OF the mayor, had offered himself as the
needed emisary and was willing to make
the trip, just to show that he had the
public welfare at heart.
City Attorney Healey, however, de-
StAA
primary election law for such "a proceed-
ing and, beyond question, sit would not be
legal. Such a special election could be
held on general election day-but what
was the use? Things would move along
just as we'll under present conditions, as
long as Mayor Ames refrained from
"Butting in" and there is every reason
| to believe that even were he in health,
he would think long before interfering
with the present regime. ms
What MIR. Healy Says.
"Such a plan as that suggested would
! be impossible" Mr.. Healey explained
! because the, primary law nowhere pro-
vides for the holding of a special cleo
| tion on such an occasion. The whole ma
chinery under which a special election
| would be carried on is so entirely differ
ent from that Of primary election that
! it would be impossible to hold both at the
| same time. ~.. .
"a special election for any purpose
must be held in accordance with the pro-
visions of the regular election law, which
| provides that due notice of such election
| shall be given the public and for the hold
| ing of political conventions in the usual
way, at which candidates are nominated
| in the regular manner as a candidate foI
mayor for the unexpired term of office OF
! his predecessor. The names of such can
|
| special ballot by itself. La- ~ -! :
| SIT would be possible to hold a special
| election on the regular election day, pro-
vided the mayors resignation should take
effect within twenty days of that event
! The same judges could act in both cleo
| tions and the other machinery of cleo
tlons would be equally. adaptable in eact
case. 1t would only be necessary to print
the nominees name: on a separate bal
| lot. -.T' ="
| GAS a. matter of fact, there is no ne
cessity for holding special election Ii
| is my belief that no such election will bt
held and that much easier way out O.
the difficulty will be found to be that o
allowing the acting mayor to continue II
| that capacity for the remainder of thu
! unexpired term. 1t Is my opinion. tina
Alderman Jones will find it advisable tt
hold the fort until Mayor ,Ames' success
sor has been elected and inducted int
office in the usual way: :.>%* -
- "Perhaps it would be just as e. well t.
| wait until Mayor Ames' resignation ha
actually been received before we attemp
to cross any bridges. = :cs.vrt .--
"Cofee's" Little Joke. ="-T
Coffee John Fttchette had a little fui
with a morning paper yesterday by con
yineing it that. he had in his possession
the mayors original letter of resignation
He admitted to-day that he had misle
the confding morning paper but adde
that he knew where the document was
There is no doubt that the resignation
is in Minneapolis and in the hands Of
trusted agent of the mayor. Whethe
it will be presented at the council meetin
Friday night remains to be seen. !
really is of very little consequence
whether it is presented or not, since if
appears it will doubtless be promptly pig
eonholed, while if it does not appear
won't be necessary to take any action a
all, =. j., :.