The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-05-06
Mr.. KIIefer Strikes Back.

/ 1ntne explanation winch appedreu IN
last weeks issue OF the Northerner MIR.
Titus has as might be expected from a
shrewu and crafty lawyer. skilled in
making 1.-The worse appear the better rea-
son" followed the tactics recommended
by the old professor, who in giving adj
vice To the law student said: when
the law is against you talk on the facts.
when the facts are against you talk on
the law. When both the law and facts
are against you make all the noise pos
sIble." In his anxiety To obscure the
real issue Mr. Titus has adopted the last
suggestion of the professor. The facts
H. brief are as follows: The experience
of many years had shown that the best
| interests OF the village were served by
comb inlng the Office of marshal and
street commissioner as permitted by the
general law thus dispensing with one
official, and in 1896 an ordinance was
passed requiring the marshal To perform
all the duties of street commissioners.
! This ordinance has never been repealed
and is now IN force. Mr.. Titus for some
reason best known to himselfand without
deigningto consult the trustees separated
the offices and appointed two persons.
The village trustees are unanimous 10
the opinion that this cannot be done
without the repeal of the ordinance men,
toned.
In this vie3; they are sustained by the
very able and exhaustive opinion written
by Judge Heckert, Village Attorney,
who Is the legal advisor OF the council.
| In addition to this Mr.. Cavauaugh.
who was for many years village attorney
and who framed the ordinance now 10
force, Mr. Free for several years village
attorney Mr.. Barnard and Mr. A nder
SOD, all able lawyers and fully the peer
of Mr.. Titus In the profession of law,
concur In Judge Heckerts opinion. Now
| ask, in all reason how could the coun-
Gil do otherwise than it has done? And
in view of the facts is not the presidents
attitude similar tothat OF the Juror who
could not agree with his colleagues.
The law and the facts were undlsputed
and the case seemed TO be clear one,
when questioned as to why the jury
could not agree this Juror with great
modesty replied the only reason was that
eleven of the jury were Internal fools.
An effort has been made by Mr.. Titus
and others to make 1t appear that the
attitude of the trustees is the result of
party politics and they have seen hit
| TO allude to me as the "leader OF the
democratic majority" when in fact
Mr.. Titus knows that politics has in no
way entered into this controversy.
The trustees consist Of four democrats
and two republicans and they have been
unanimous in their views on this ques
ton. | have no doubt every one of the
trustees will confirm this statement.
Mr. Titus has been assured and he
well knew before he made his nomIna.
ations that the trustees were ready and
willing to. confirm any nomination he
might make in conformity to the village
ordinances.
MIR. Titus removed Mr. Clapp and de-
cared the office Of marshal vacant leav-
| ing the village with no one TO care for
the public property. The fire and water
committee very properly employed Mr..
! Clapp to care for the engine and fire
apparatus until such time as some one
should he appointed TO perform that duty.
! The trustees unanimously voted to al
low the bill for Mr.. Clapp's services but
Mr.. Titus refuses to sign the order for
his pay No politics ia this!
At the next meeting OF the council
seeing that no appointment OF marshal
was likely to be made | moved that the
council employ Mr.. Clapp to collect the
bills, care for the public property &c &c
until such time as the president should
appoint marshal. Il will be noticed
that IN his explanation MIR Titus with
all the shrewdness of the lawyer re.
trains frem mentioning the latter clause
Of my motion leaving the inference that
Mr.. Clapp was to be appointed marshal
for the remainder OF the year and not
merely employed until a marshal should
be appointed.
Mr.. Titus declined to put my motion
and on my appeal from his decision, he
in violation of all parliamentary prece-
dent and practice, refused TO put the
appeal.
II seems to me that Mr.. Titus in at
lacking through the public press the
the credit and fair name OF our village
by his unwarranted statements in regard
to the sale OF the water works bond, has
inflicted an injury that will not soon be
repaired. While our village is heavily
in debt it is not more so than other vii
lagos of like population and wealth with
similar public improvements and have
no hesitancy in saying that the affairs
OF the village have been conducted as
prudently and are now in as good con.
dition as those OF other villages of the
same cass And why the president OF
the village, who Is also secretary Of the
Board of Trade should seek to adver.
tise to the world by grossly exaggerated
statement OF our condition, that we are
bankrupt and unable to dispose of a
$500 bond is simply beyond my com.
prehension 1t should be resented by
every property holder and by every
lover OF our beautiful and prosperous
village, 1t is well known that ia all the
public improvements heretofore made
the money has been paid to our own
citizens and our business men az we'll az
Others have protited thereby. lpredici
that as a consequence OF this attempt to
destroy our credit and of the polio,
recommended by the president that the
sale of real estate in our village will be
much restricted, values decreased, and a
period Of depression along real estate
lines be experienced as has not beer
known during the last decade. | may
be mistaken. / hope | ain
VIM. KILLEFER.