The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1909-05-13
AN OPERATION ON A TOWN.
Two Negro Aldermen Were
Elected From One Ward, So
the Outgoing Council Voted
That Ward Out Of the City
Limits and Settled II.

mat ward Jul OF me lilly
Limits and Settled 1t.
Wagner, Ok, Msy,-Conironted
by the fact she First ward OF the
town OF Wagner had elected two
negro councilmen and two school d.
rectors OF the same complexion, the
retiring council felt that 1t was cup
to" IL to devise some remedy Tor the
delicate situations; and 1t rose to the
occasion, with the able assistance OF
the city attorney.
At their last meeting, having tax.
en- to heart the scriptural injunction
relative to casting out an offending
member, the aldrmen performed on
the helpless town a simple but i'm
portant surgical operation. They
passed an ordinance diminishing the
city limits In such O manner as to
leave a large portion OF the negro
ward out in the tall grass OF the
primeval prairie, including the resi-
dences OF the colored councilmen and
school trustees elect. The councils
action was authorized by a certain
statute OF 1907, comforting upon the
city council discretionary power in
increasing and diminishing the city
limits.
PROTEST WITHOUT RESULT,
The obvious result Of this ordi.
nance was to place these near otfi
cials out in the country, outside the
ward from which they were elected,
; thereby rendering them ineligible to
7 serve this, at least being the conten'
ton OF the ''lily whites"
Loud complaint ensued from the
other faction, however.
These parties asserted that i
l. couldn't be done, and that the das
t tardly attempt to depose duly elect
Il ed officials will certainly fall to tn
ground" Prophecies OF trouble OF
9 the night OF the Joint meeting OF tn
e new and old bodies were freely made
u The town was GREATNESS. And tn
81 champions OF white mans tow
J stood pat.
!, Monday night the old council me
'e for the last time, TO dispose OF oil
's business and to give place to thei
81 successors. The council chamber wa
y crowded with an attentive butordel
ar " audience, overt wing to the QUITE
Of doors. There WAS no demonstratio
II, OF any sort, AZ the councll WeI
~ through the business OF the evening
se The whole atmosphere was quiet ian
r. business like. The room was cleare
o. when the new eff :ials were to be Il
ct Quoted into Office and the counC
GO went into executive session. The 81
eff Democrats elected from she 9th
three wards were duly sworn In up
= presention OF their credentials.
er THE TWO WENT AWAY QUIETLY.
ou Then came forward TIE two gent
IN Inen OF color. LII due and dignih
IA "a parliamentary form, motion W
re, forthwith made that they be not r.
to ognizsd, being not residents
ch Wagner, and without waiting for
pes second 20 the motion or debate up
inc It the two silently went away. 1
s .nt council proceeded to appoint ire
ing the remnant OF the ward two VIII
"a Republicans to succeed the depart
W. and the revolution was an acco
re: plished fact.
up, There Is some talk OF legal p
i'd. ceedings, but the talk Is vague a
$ a scattering. The town Is some Z
oy smaller, which is no light matter
EN-: q town where they have only 5,0'
i its but the remaining 1000 odd
nc mostly white, and that Is somethi1
Fa- Also 1t lie something to have the
IT,, 70 tinction OF being the first and Of
yer town to accomplish the feat OF "Jl
p Growing" practically a good si
ers, town.
EN-
lIOn n-.. NIL hAlLsI~