The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-28
VICTIM is READY
FOR ONSLAUGHT
Trouble with City Engineers S
Department Primary Cause
Of Condition
Special to Daily Loaaor.

Special to Daily Loanor.
Ardmore, Okla, April % Since yes.
lerday this city has been a seething
political sea, the recall petitions now
being circulated against Mayor James
A. CotneF, one among the prominent
ment of the state. being the Immediate
cause OF the trouble
Recently Mayor Colner sought to
neremptciily dismiss the city engi.
heer and since that time factional
feeling has been rife, eliminating
yesterday when newspaper mention
was made Of recall petitions by a 10.
cal publication, many citizens Of The
olly being interviewed, some express.
ing strong convictions for or against
the recall. The recalers say they win
secure signatures many times more
than requisite.
The Petition For Recall
serious allegations are made IN the
recall which read:
We, the undersigned residents of
Ardmore, Oklahoma, aud legal voters
II said city OF ArGmore hereby pc
ttlon for the recall of James A.
C0tner, mayor OF the said city OF Aid
more, and demand an election of a
successor to said Cotner as mayor Of
me city OF Ardmore, and as grounds
for said recall allega as follows:
First: Said petitioners state that
under. the act Of April 26th, 1906,
which was the law in force in The
Indian Territory prior to the admis.
sion of the state of Oklahoma, certain
streets Of Ardmore were paved and
the cost OF said paving was assessed
against the property abutting on said
streets and by the provision of said
law the said property owners were Ii
allie for the payment OF said paving,
snd by ordinance it was provided that
the individuals owning property on
said streets were to pay for the paw
ing in front Of their property aud the
clay was to pay for the paving of the
street intersections, that under this
law the city, in no event, was liable
for the payment Of the paving taxes
Of the individuals owning property on
iayed streets, that the mayor, nv viz.
tue Of has being the chief executive
officer of the city, had signed war
rents on the treasurer of said city and
aid to the holder of the paving script
or bouds the annual taxes Of several
property owners out of The public
funds Of the city for which the city
Has not liable, but Tor which the In
diYidual property owners and the abut,
ting property was liable. thus using
lie peoples money TO pay the debts
cf individuals for which the city was
in no way liable that the extent OF
these Illegal ayments amount to more
than $1,000.
Second As further ground for
She recall of said mayor your peii.
toners state that it is the duty OF
the mayor, as the chief executive OF.
iicer to see to the enforcement of all
laws and ordinances OF said city. Your
petitioners state that the said James
A. Cotner has not done this, but that
the unlawful sale Of Intoxicating liq'
ucrs and gambling is being permitted
ia said city and has been since the
incumbency of said Cotner, as mayor.
third Your petitioners further
state that the said James A. Cotner as
mayor exceeded his authority when
te peremptorily tried to dismiss II
= Sayre, city engineer, which action
Of the said mayor was not warranted
by the city charter nor by the law in
force and was, In our opinion arbi
tlary.
Fourth. Your petitioners further
state that, in their opinion, the said
James A. Cotner is incompetent tc
perform the important duties of The
chief executive of the city of Ard
more, and that the peoples confidence
is so shaken in his ability that il
would be impossible for him to con
tinue in the office of mayor and pro
mote the best interests Of the town
and it's citizens. and that II Is for the
general welfare that he be recalled
and some other person in whom thC
people have entire confidence. bf
elected in his place