The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-19
CHIC TOWNS TRAMP MAYOR:
4 Joke on Election Day Turned Ont seri-
ousIy For Amesyille.

ousIy fOr anesNlhes
The politicians of Amesville, Ohio.
earned that It does not pay to indulge
in practical jokes in the election of
Mayor. They tried 1t, and as result
the town has for Mayor man who
vas known as tramp, who had served
time in the Cincinnati workhouse.
The politicians thought it would be
4 good joke to nominate the tramp for
Mayor. The people thought the joke
so good that they followed the prece-
lent and elected him. Then they all
turned to the Governor and petitloned
him to set aside the election on the
ground that It was illegal The law
yers and the best representatives of the
town went to Columbus last week to
lay their petition before the Governor.
and after hearing them Governor Nash
said he could see no cause for his In
reference.
Amesvllle is in Athens County, and
town Of about 1000 inhabitants. Last
years Mayor, Edward Clark. was not
exactly popular in Amesville, and his
election against the strong candidate
named to oppose him was impossible.
SO his crowd hit upon plan to Keep
him in Office by nominating somebody
as "joke," who should afterward
prove ineligible and be removed, allow
Ing the incumbent to retain office for
another lear.
At the convention there was prear.
ranged deadlock and as compromise
the name of one Alonzo Il. Weed,
dwarf tramp, just out Of the Cincinnati
workhouse, was offered, and he was al
most unanimously chosen. and his
name went on the ticket. Weed, who
Is known as Midget" among the tour
list fraternity. was to receive a gallon
Jug of the choicest rye whisky II he
would agree not to drink until after
election and until his case should be
decided by Governor Nash. Pending
| the decision he was to be kept in lux
ury In q boarding house and was to
| be given clean linen and new clothes.
The compact was kept and Weed was
elected as a huge Joke" OF course
the people generally didn't know of the
deal to keep the old Mayor in office, but
they were stampeded by what they
considered a huge Joke, and simply
voted Weed with the idea that the op
position candidate would easily get
enough votes to be elected.
But the dwarf tramp was elected ant
/ then long list of fearful charges
were filed with Governor Nash. These
We're signed by Acting Mayor Clark
Counclmen Henry and Beasley. ant
Clerk McCune. and related that Weeds
habits We're quite unit for such a dig
nified position as Mayor Of Amesville
That he was a person OF intemperat
habits. and that his only claim TO resi-
dence in Ohio was the fact that he In,
lust spent fourteen months In the work
house at Cincinnati.
The Mayors counsel admitted every
specification in the complaint, but n
held that they all related to acts com
mitted prior to the election and the mu
nicipal code recognized charges agains
n Mayor only such as were COMMITTEES
while in Office, and in this stand Gov
ernor Nash fully concurred. TIL
charges of intemperance would no
hold, because both sides admitted tina
while Weed had been bribed with
jug of whisky to remain sober for
specified length of time, he had nc
touched liquor in any form, and tn
one act set aside all claims as to N
inability soberly to administer the a
fairs of the town. Governor Nash too
the stand that as this was the fir'
case under the municipal law he woul
be compelled to establish n preceden
so he decided that Weed should be n
instated as Mayor.-Indlanapolis New