Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-04-03
TAXPAYERS READY FOR THEIR FIGHT Meetif Z in This City Result ed in the Tie Being
 Passed.
R AISING A T'U ND
Bridge Commissioners Invited to Icaye-Resist Formation of
 Bridge District.

With the slogan "A Fight to q Fin ish" and applauding each speaker en- thnsiastieally members of the Tax payers Protective Association of lief ferson county, which WIS organized to prevent the building of the Free Bridge, met Tuesday morning at the Bluff City hall, elected officers for the ensuing two years, adopted by-laWs and laid plans for the election of township officers and ward represen- tativss ill the city of Pine Bluff. The meeting was presided over by T. J Gellier, of Altheimer, the president, and J P. Oracle, ef Rob Roy, secre- tary. About 450 men were present and ten or twelve ladies. The major ity of them were from the country districts and more than one half were negroes.
 During the opening session. an eX- citing incident took place that threw the meeting into an uproar and Ie- ,ulted in the members of the Jetfer- son County Bridge Commission, who had been invited to attend the meet ing through a motion presented by John M. Oracle, being asked to leave the hall and they complied with i,he request. The lie was passed by PsP. sf.EAsd ssaa ' aud paelaaiRal,t- sbasa ks eraand business man .2ndFmember of the Commission. 7 Gs Taylor, of this city, was speaking at the time and when MT. Byrd resented a remark made by MT. Taylor and said %That's a lie,p Chairman Collier asked the bridge commissioners to leave tho hall, adding that it had been rented by the Taxpayers and he deemed i; best that the commissioners should retire. Without another word MT. Byrd, followed by W<D. Hearn, E. P. Bloom, E. A. Howell, Y B. Tcmlirson and others of the Commission walked out of the door and returned to their offices. One of them informed MT
 Collier, however, before leaving that if they had not been invited to be #preaent they would not have4 been there.
 T. J. Collier opened the meeting by telling what had been plapned by tnr Association. He criticised the maa- ner i'll which the Free Bridge bill had been passed by ths Legislature, de claling that one thousand property owners hadf protested against its adoption, but were net given a hear ing by the legislative reflresentatives from this scouns.'.. After he conclud- ed John M. Cradle offered motion that the Bridge: Commissioners, be ex- tended an invitation to attend the ses- sion and thea motion carried. The commissioners were, sent for and they soon arrived in a body They stood in the back part of the hall. Be fore they came in, however D. L Trimble one of the Taxpayers, made a speech in which he. declared that cer- tain men had kept J. M. Parker away from Pine Bluff with his s-tsroad bs taking a franchise on the North side of the river. He did not mention any names, but later, after the lcommiz- sioners came ip, J. c. Tayler in 2 speech made similar statement and P. P. Byrd asked him who he had re- ference to MT. Taylor replied "P P Byrd" and Mr. Byrd yelled back That: b lie,' There was a stir in the crowi sssnd for a whilesit looked as if there would be a personal clash, but Chair. man Collier rapped for ordef and fol lowed his gavel knocks with a re. quest that the Bridge Cofnmissioners leave the hall. President W D. HeafI Of the Bridge ComNassNay iRforaet the chairman and Hose present tha they would not have been presenthat it not been for the fact that they wer, invited to come and were sem 0r.
 After the commissioners left tht hall the election of officers was held
 resulting as follows: T.. J. Collier
 president; J. G. Taylor. vice presi
 dent; U. P. Oracle, secretary, and II M. Dial. treasurer. The execntiy'
 committee is composed of the pres;
 dent, secretary and treasurer and stii'