Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-23
Is Administered Oath Of Of
flee Within Three Minutes
After Ballots Were Pre-
pared.
COUNCIL SELECTS
LYNCH AS PRESIDENT
Alderman Of Third Ward
Takes Place Of Mayor.
Gordon; Action on Alders
man-at-Large Deferred.

I Lloyd A. Gordon, OF South Ottumwa,
president of the council and aldermana
at-large, was unanimously elected
mayor Of the city of Ottumwa by the
CITY council, just few minutes before
midnight last night. Only one ballot
was taken, each of the eight votes
drawn from the hat bearing the name
OF Alderman Gordon. Immcdiately
following the election. City solicitor
w. D. Tisdale administered the oath Of
ONCE and three minutes after the mo.
ton to prepare ballots was carried.
Alderman.at-large L. A.. Gordon took
the chair as Mayor L. "A. Gordon.
Alderman F. T.. Lynch was the unani.
nous selection OF the aldermanic body
] as president OF the council succeeding
Mayor Gordon. In order that the
claims committee would be enabled IA
assume control Of this department I'm.
mediately, Mayor Gordon appointed
Alderman F. A. Ehrmann az chairman
| to succeed himself The two roman.
I Ing vacancies In the fire and the -
\ and Light committees, caused Nv thass
\ election OF Mayor Gordon, viii 80 1iiAd
later, when the new aldermara,a aa.lar4o
is selected. Mayor Gordon stated lsst
night that he will reorganize the stand.
Ing committees because OF the necaa.
sary changes. The council decided "a
defer action on the appointment Of a
alderman-at-large that 1t may take
the candidates into consideration and
select the man who is best fitted Ia
step into the harness and help the
present administration. 5sas
Mayor Gordon,s Policy.
Mayor Gordon's policy Will be that
OF the late Mayor s. H. Harper, a. 81.
pressed in the following speech at the
conclusion of the election last night
Gentlemen, | certainly appreciate
the honor that has been conferred upon
me by my election as mayor OF Ot.
tumwa. fully realize the RESPONSE.
bilities that go along with this ONCE.
It Is my intention to follow the lines
laid down by our esteemed Mayor 81,
n. Harper as closely as 1t is possible
for me to do. shall make no changes
IN any departments unless it is found
to be absolutely necessary"
! This declaration of policy for the
fifteen months of his term was received
by the governing body with applause.
About 1880 last night Alderman
Ehrmann moved that the council get
busy" and elect a mayor and get the II
after over with. But another important 4
matter over with, but another important
council and 1t was ten minutes later
before the election was again taken
up. A ten minute secret session was
held and upon the converting OF the
council, the vote was taken Inn
mediately.
Il. A. Gordon, having received the
full vote Of the council. / now declare
him mayor" said Mayor Gordon arising
from his chair. He was administered
the oath of Office he again resumed his /
seat. Alderman Ehrmann then moved |
the appointment Of Alderman Lynch
as president Of the council. The vote !.
was again unanimous.
| AIderma man-at-Iarge.
! With Mayor Gordon's election az
chief executive, the council must now
appoint an alderman at-large, to AL
the office that Is now vacant. The
point of contention in this election is
whether or not he shall be resident
OF south or north Ottumwa. Alderman
Swartz stated that he did not believe
the council should make the selection !
in any hurry for the reason that all
candidates must be given full con-
sideration and the man whose qualities
for the position are deemed best by
the aldermen be selected. He further
declared that the new alderman-at-large
should be from the fifth ward. He as
serted that the south side was entitled
to three OF the nine aldermen since q
third Of the population of Ottumwa
resided there. In opposition to this ex.
preston OF sentiment, Alderman Ehr-
mann maintained that the new council
man should come from either the flrst
( or the second wards. He asserted
that this was his honest opinion for
the reason that 1t had been many years
since either OF these wards had been /
represented in the council by an alder [
man-at-large. It Is probable that the
election will be allowed to 60 over until
Ifho 6rcf rnootinp ntUhf In Tapuorv