Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-01-07
CITIZENS MAKE DE
 HANDS OF OFFICIALS
Mass Meeting Held at the Elks Theater at Which Ob jecton Was Raised Against Certain Officers Using Their Influence in Behalf of Certain Candidates in Coming City Primary-Toney Men Declined to Vote, But Resolution Carried Unanimously Brewster and C. Bell Declare Themselves

upon them and demand that they re- frain from using the power and pres tige they may possess by reason of their position in office, given them by the votes of the people, to defeat or elect any candidate in our coming municipal election.
 Having all our worldly goods. our families and all that is dear to human life, in this city, and being fully con- yersant with all it's virtues and vices, and needs, and the advantages to be gained with intelligent action. and the loss that may be sustained by neglect Or failure or inability to grasp the l situation, we are of the opinion that Dr. J. l.. Caldwell, having gained much prestige on the foregoing ques- tions, will, if elected mayor, at the coming election, faithfully strive to fulfill every obligation, In an ener- getic, honest and intelligent manner. ! of all classes in placing him in the Mayors office.
 1 Dr. Orto stated that he believed the sentiment expressed i'll the resolution was for the best interests of Pine Bluff; that no snap judgment was the object of the gathering and for that reason ,all of the buiness men were invited to be present;
 <, Circuit Clerk Edgar Brewster, d Toney supporter, arose and inquired 1 ii he was not out of place, and if he was he wanted to retire, with others, who felt the same elnbarrass- ment. He said Mayor Toney has been his friend for more than twenty years and that he owed it to himself and their friendship to be for Mayor IToney ill the coming election. MT. Brewster stated that he was not there in the interest of Caldwell and did not wished to ge bound by any ae- tion to be taken by the mass meeting or anything that might effect the city election.
 pr. Orto informed MT Brewster that he had been invited there and that the meeting was for the good Of the city and that he was perfectly welcome to remain.
 After listening to the resolution D,
 
 c. Bell, chairman of the City Demo cratic central committee, inquired if the object of the resolution was to Equestion the honesty of the coming, primary or the committee who has it in charge. So far as the Central ICommittee is concerned, MT. Bell de Iclared that the primary election would be a fair one. Because there have been dishonest elections in this city and |county in the past, Mir. Bell stated there was no reason why the coming |primary should not be honest. He lsaid he never In his career in politics Iput his hand to piece Of crooked machinery in any election and he never would. MT. Bell was applauded. Dr. Onto replied that the coming election was not questioned in the resolution. He explained that there lwere rumors that certain office hold ling citizens were using their politi- |cal influence for certain candidates land that the object of the mass meet ing was to demand that they refrain from using their influence and pres tige in the coming election.
 MT. Brewster was again heard. He said that while he was personally for Mayor Toney he was not making the race for him. Mayor Toney, he said, is able to take care of himself
 eI am for an absolutely fair elec- tion," said MT. Brewster, "I guess l have suffered more than any other |man in this county from unfair ones. As for the Second ward, where l am to represent Mayor Toney on election day, I will ss.y that all of you can be present at the count and l for one will see that 1t is conducted fairly.
 Chairman Newman then called for a vote on the resolution. There was by actual count 52 voters in the thea> ter. About thirty-five of them voted for the resolution by standing. The