The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-23
SHROPSHIRE THINKS HE IS THE "G0AT" Wishes He Had Never Seen
 Third Ward Box QUESTION IS UP TO HIM Council Has Authorized Him to Turn Box Over to Committee, Which
 Leaves the Clerk In a
 Quandary.
QUESTION IS UP TO HIM

City Clerk H. E. Shropshire, Jr., the unwilling guardian of the general elec- ton box of the Third ward forseeing the necessity of taking some action, is in bemuddled state of mind.
 The city council, by overriding the veto of Mayor Ward, has again authorized the city clerk to turn ocer to the city dem ocratic executive committee the general election box of the Thrld ward. when a lawful summons was served and when , he, the clerk felt so inclined.
 In other words City Clerk Shropshire considers the matter as put up to" him by the city council, which body, in his opinion, has taken no method of pro- cedure which through any interpretation can result in placing guilt on it's skirts The committee, it is certain, will ask for the box. Then if MT. Shropshire con- siders the summons a lawful one, and if he feels so inclined to accompany the committee, he will turn the box over. MT. Shropshire, it might be stated, is in- clned to turn the box over, for he is look ing with regret on the day it came into his possession But whether or not he
 
 rendering the box is what gives him pause. As the resolution of the council so makes it, if he surrenders the box, MT. Shropshire is of the opinion that in case there is anyone to blame he is the goat
 The Third ward problem becomes more tangled each day. It will require resolu- tion of the executive committee, not a subcommittee, to cause MT. Shropshire to consider a subpoena. The executive committee has no scheduled meeting prior to Monday night. As it now stands the box will not be before the committee Mon- day afternoon, and in case it is not, then what will the committee do save hear the report of the sub-committe, the re- port being to the effect that A. A. Gam bill, contesting Asa l.. Hoyt's nomina- tion, has failed to sustain his case? There is another phase to the situation. Mr. Shropshire does not believe the com mittee has a right to get the box. He does not believe the council has any au- thority to take it from under his protec- ton, to which the laws of the state gave it. He doesn't believe the Mayor has power to get it out of his possession. Furthermore, he is distressed because the law does not state just how long he shall retain possession of the box. Even aIler everything IS settled MT. Shrop- shire's mind will still bsPin state of unrest as to whether Of not he should ever let the mischievous box get out of his sight and hearing.
 As the situation now is, no one without instructions from some court will open the box. The executive committee is on record as refusing to open it, and will not instruct any outsider to open it. Mir Shropshire, the legal guardian, will not open it. For these reasons, the general belief is that the Third ward tangle will go into the courts for final adjudication.
 The committee meets Monday night to hear the report of the subcommittee, which report is outlined above It is predicted by certain members that the committee will adopt the stand by the report of the subcommittee, and will so notify the council. Then the council will proceed with the election of MT. Hoyt, unless enjoined by MT. Gambill. Then the controversy will go into the courts, which procedure, it is suggested, is the safest way for all concerned.