Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-26
GAS WAR.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

other rumor had 1t that he was to be
made to answer for some alleged lapse
of duty while in his present position.
All attempts to confirm the impeach-
ment rumor failed, but at the same
ri,ne no one could be induced to deny
them. The leaders Of the organization
were closeted all day. All were silent
on the impeachment story and on all
proposed plans for .he future.
The organization leaders say they
continue to stand pat" on the gas
lease and that their ranks are solid all
along the line. On the other hand, May
or Weaver announced. late tonight,
that he had assurances that the vote in
both council chambers VI hen his veto is
considered will be changed materially
from the vote taken last week. One
councilman publicly announced, today,
that be would change his vote, and it
is understood that the mayor has the
direct promise from several others thai
they will sustain him.
The situation is daily growing more
tense. In all sections of the city. the re :.
form organizations AMI the newspapers
have aroused citizens to take a hand
in the fight. The councilmen who favor
the gas lease are having hard time
of it. They are being swamped with
protests and delegations OF ncighbors
are calling on them. Many of them re-
ply that they are for the lease so long
as the peerless leader" as Commits
siOner Durham is affectionatcly called
by tie organization men, is for it.
Whiie the mayor was ol;sting the old
directors, one of his attorneys appeared
hcto'c chief Justice Mitchell and Jus-
ticc Potter, of the state supreme court
in Chambers and applied for a supar-
s"deas suspending the operation Of the
injunction granted, Yesterday, by the
county court. After hearing the applica-
ton The court issued ar order allowing
the supcrsedeas and further directed
That nothing in this cr.!er is to bo
taken in any way as delaying or inter-
fc!ing with the hearing nf the case in
the Court of Common Pleas No. : on
r.otiOn to dissolve or continue the sail
Injunction
The supreme court order was quick
ly taken to the mayors office and Col
enel Sheldon Potter and A Lincoln
Arkcr, the new directors, were noti-
fled by the mayor to assume charge
|
they did and the detectives who had
been placed ir charge of the Offices
were relieved from duty.
The mayor was greatly elated bv the
reception he received on his way to the
Union League. two blocks from City
hall. for lunch. The instant he stepped
from city hall, he was recognized by
citizens and surrounded. The demon
stration was perhaps the most enthu-
siastic and spontaneous since his in
duction into Office. AS he walked down
the street great cheer was sent up.
From the windows of almost every
building from the City hall to the Uni
on League, people clapped their hands
and waved handkerchiefs On the re-
turn to the City hall, the demonstration
Was repeated. The chief executive ap-
peared happy and bowed his acknowl-
edgments to all. He refused to commit
himself on the matter of further re-
mOValS.
1t was reported. today, that Presirent
Roosevelt was asked to issue special
warning to federal employees to keep
out of the lease fight. Leaders against
the organization say that they know
that government employees are bringing
pressure to bear on the councimen and
that if it continues a delegation of cit
izens will so to Washington to see the
President.
Mayor Weaver is receiving hundreds
of letters and kilograms of congratu-
latiOn. Among these he made public
today. were these:
81 congratulate you on your firm
stand you have taken in behalf of the
people.
(SigneD ''EDWARD F. DUNNE.
Mayor of Chicago"
"Your stand against corruption thrills
all decent Republicans. This club bids
you God speed i'm your cause and adds
that such acts as YOURS rank you with
Roosevelt. La Toilette and Folke as a
public bcnefactor.
OSiGneD "FRANKLIN SMITH.
'Republican Club. 31st Assembly Dis
trict. New York CITY,"
As a result of the agitation against
the lease. three select ana six common
councilmen have now announced that
they would change their vote on the
lease. This would make the vote in Sc
lect council stand "a for the lease and
eight against. and in the common coun-
ell 6S for and Il against. 1t takes two
thirds vote to pass an ordinance over
the mayors veto.
John i. Winston. as chairman of the
Committee of 20. has engaged Joseph c.
Auerbach. New York lawyer. to rep
resent the committee in it's fight against
the gas lease. 1--WE are going further
thar the mayor" said M. Winston. to-
night. He simply wants 10 straighten
out his departments. We are going to
Investigate civic matters and will stir
up tho city. When we have finished
there will be a stretch tnat will reach
Heaven"