The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-08-07
0LSM|TH
REPLIES
To N|SSLEY
Takes Up His History Of Com
mission Movement 10 Sup
port His GanfentlOn

J seems 70 me that many things have
occurred before and after the action
lot the commission whom Mayor Mss.
Hey has the distinguished honor to
mead, on that memorable day i'll June
last, wilen they assumed Ii take over
the government Of this city. b. the
Iadvice, and under the apparent lead.
ership of Judge Burford, respected
lciti2en and-as rank a partisan as
lever drew the breath OF life That
might with truth, De characterized as
"child's play and not the action of
Istaid and sober business men.
Let us bark back to the beginning
of this unfortunate. and entirely IN.
necessary complication Some days
before the coming Oh Of the regular
city spring election in April, as pro-
lyided by law, finding that no proyi-
sion had been made for the nomina-
Ition and election of city officials. az
lalso provided for BIZ law, bode 0f
lcitizens who were duly qualified resi-
ldent voters, and empowered To act,
took it upon themselves to supply The
deficiency. By putting in nomination
lfor the yarious Offices other duly
iquaified ana resident voters, with
i1At ih6AAA w titNil BhlitiAHi tiAh W
lopinlon to fill the places. This was
Ithe action TO which Mr. NissleY re-
lfers as .fclandestine Some others
Ewere Of apparently the same opinion,
and so after the nominations had
been made, a mass meeting 0f lae
lcitizens Of Guthrie was called, and
largely attended, 10 invite the men
who had the audacity TO exercise an
H. q.
names from nomination. and dispense
with the election. 70 this end q mo-
Ition was made, and after a discussion
lof the subject very generally taken
Iup b whose present Upon a vote the
lmotion was defeated The election
was held and resulted in the unani-
lmous election Of the ticket nominat-
cd And very much fear that #
lcan not be successfully shown. that
they are not the only regularly and
legally elected body of city officials
existant in this city today The cleo
ton adopted the charter and three
commissioners under ii was by an un-
| disputed majority, and without sus-
lpicion OF fraud, to the contrary not
withstanding, as MT Nissley believes
or seems to believe. Why do | differ
4 with him2 Because / want to bold
lon to the office? No. But because
lwhat seems to be we'll founded
ldoubt as to the validity Of the entire
matter has arisen, previous to the
1 election for commissioners. and sub
lseauent 10 the adoption OF the charter
That is now being considered by the
1 supreme court of the state, and the
result can not be known, until their
decision Is rendered
That being admittedly the case, and
being DESTROYS Of avoiding any com
plieations that the situation might
lead to- / invited the gentlemen who
Ihad been elected as commissioners,
Ion the morning after the election to
meet in conference, and endeaTor TO
arrange a plan that would do away
with the possibility Of the business
Of the city being clogged and imped
ed, IL not brought 20 standstill,
while awaiting the decision Of the
court. and as il was manifestly impos-
'sible for any one TO say what that
decision would be until il was rem /
dered. it seemed to me that the CON /
diton could be met, and the danger I
averted by making business propo- I
sition to business men. With this
end In view it was suggested, that we /
unite in an agreed statement OF facts, /
all sign it, and submit the same TO /
the supreme court praying that early /
action be had thereon This sugges-
tion was based upon the self evident
fact that there were proceedings
pending In court that cast TO say the
least. doubt upon the validity of the
election and the adoption OF the
charter. And that there could be no
doubt as TO the legality and validity
of any proceedings required by law
in conducting the Affairs OF the city, \
ly the old city government until
such time as they might be regularly
and legally succeeded by their sue 4,
cessors in office. The suggestion was
fayoraby received and steps We're
taken upon the Adjournment OF the
conference TO adopt il. Had we done
so that would have ended the matter IA
until the decision was rendered. bu1 N
within day or so J. in my tam, rec 4
eeiyed an invitation from Mayor q
Nissley. 10 call at the mayors &c, Ia
with 4 view TO adjusting our diner n
ances. on my arrival | found the Of n
nee flied with rather large body Il
N citizens headed by Mr.. Nlssley y
and 1udge Burlord. and WAS met by a n
initcd demand 90 cease from being 4
noyor on the instant, and turn over :
he Office to Mr.. Nissley on the :
sroupd that there was no question Il
,bout his election. which q never had y
ioubted. and further that there was +
lo action i'm the supreme court, that N
yould eject the result Il and !
he other officials associated with me, Ia
yopld iguore the fact BelieNins as
ia then. and do now that there Was Fl
rave doubt as to whether that view a
yas correct. J resretfully declined 4
md then business ceased, ana pom Il
IN explanation, and for the beneni n
~ those who honestly believe ti3' 4
nv conduct in this matter requires h
have only This 80 say ~
lelieving i'm common with a number
n other citizens OF Guthrie of aver
.ee ntelHeeuce, and some OF more
fan tbe average legal ability, thai
bs charter aitei being leisareit r.
raped bv ten representative citizens !.
!