The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-13
LARKSPUR HAS
ONE EXECUTIVE
HOME, one AWAY
William j. Kennedy, Duly Elect
ed Mayor, Has Tarried Long
Outside the State
By Method of a Beneficent AM
archy the Citizens Chose a
Temporary Chief

L.arkspur has at present so many
MAYORS il doesn't know what to do.
There is william J. Kennedy, prop
erlv elected mayor. but at present at
large in Seattle or Victoria where he
went on business connected with the
Pacific states telephone and telegraph
company. Of which he is cashier. and
perhaps not disconnected with the fact
that Theodore Y. Halsey or Louis Glass.
indicted officials of the telephone COM
pany. soon will be brought to trial on
charge OF bribing the RUFF super
visors.
There is John Foley. accidental
mayor Of Larkspur, chosen at sudden
mass meeting Of Larkspur citizens who
felt that 10 maintain its dignity and also
transact its business the town should
have some one in the mayoralty chair
The election Of Foley, who, with Frank
Craig. has represented one element on
the board of trustees in the Marin
town. was one of the Quaintest political
proceedings ever enacted in California.
II is reported in Larkspur that Ken
nedy will soon be back TO take up
his scepter and crown and rule the
pretty village. DAN 14AS. LNCnlACA9 soy .
she does not know when 10 expect him.
should he come riding suddenly some
dav into his demesne and find Mayor
Foley reaping the emoluments and hon
ors of the high Office, something may
break in the shadows of Tamalpais.
Kennedy has until Saturday, July II,
TO get back, and If he has not returned
by that time il is thought that his
tenure will have expired under the
law which provides that an official abb
senting himself from the state for a
period Of 60 days forfeits his position.
IN WOEFUL PLIGHT
When Kennedy suddenly departed
he left his town in a wOefUl plight.
There was no official hand to sign
the warrants on the town funds. The
problem Of how TO pay the man who
drove the sprinkling cart which wa
tered the highways of Larkspur was a
puzzle. Bills amounting to about 500
accumulated and there was no official
hand TO approve them. The credit of
the town wouldn't have looked good TO
n installment plan furniture dealer.
There was also a liquor issue on. The
church party of the community wanted
the saloons TO be closed at II o'clock,
as the staid tradition and ordinance of
Larkspur provided; but others wanted
the high ball season extended one hour.
Prior to the departure of Kennedy the
midnight thirst assua ging proposition
was in the lead, for Kennedy, William
Won Meyerinck and A c. Woods IA
vored the extension and controlled the
board while Frank Craig and John
Foley, who wanted all thirsts sub
dued by il o'clock, were in the mi
nority
Leaving that question unsettled.
Kennedy took his departure.
DECIDE TO ELECT MAYOR PRO TEN
-Four weeks ago, when the town bust
ness was getting so complicated that
the trustees could not see for red tape,
they decided to elect one of their mem
hers mayor pro TEN. That seemed a
proper procedure until the balloting
started. Then it was found that Craig
and Foley voted for Foley and Woods
and Meyerinck voted for Woods and
Meyerinck alternately, and always the
vote stood two to two. The balloting
threatened to last until the morning
communication train would bear away
the trustees to their San Francisco
Offices. But the citizens took a hand.
A number Of them gathered in the town
hall and they developed a little revo-
luton Of their own. bit of benefi-
cent anarchy.
They informed the trustees that they
would take charge of the balIoting.
would elect an acting mayor and the
trustees would have to indorse their
action. A ballot was taken by this
provisional electoral college and Foley
was declared elected. The trustees ae
cepted the election for its face value
and ever since Foley has been acting as
mayor Of Larkspur.
And now every one in Larkspur won
ders what will happen when. or II.
KENNEDY returns Ia
''pretender" on the throne.