Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-20
Of
COUNCIL ROW
PROPOSED
Plan for Mayor and All Members
to Resign and Seek Re-eIec-
ton by People.

Mayor James G. Woodward de-
clared Friday he would accept the
challenge of a number of COuncilmen
and Aldermen that they all resign
and run before the people in the fall
election to determine who was right
In the acute controversy between the
Mayor and Council
Their purpose would be accom-
plished to the letter by the submits
sion of the proposed new charter.
which they recently threw in the
wastebasket, to the people" he said.
1T legislates us all out Of Office.
The charter fight is more a mat
ter of personalities than anything
else, anyway More than 5000 voters
have demanded through signed post
cards that they be allowed to express
themselves.
Mayor Ready to Run Again.
Let them submit the charter. I'll
run before the people with them"
The situation grew serious Friday
as a result of a reopening of the
fight between Mayor Woodward and
the Council over the S260,000 crema-
tory contract Council Albert Thorn
son, of the Fourth Ward, had sug
gested the resignation plan. Coun-
Cilmen Thomson, Claude l.. Ashley, Of
the Fourth Ward; w. d. White, of
the Ninth Ward; c. c. Mason, of the
Tenth Ward; George H. Boynton, Of
the Sixth Ward, and G. d. Knight,
of the Second Ward. and Alderman
j. r. Nutting, of the Sixth Ward,
stated positively they were ready to
resign and run on that issue.
A number Of other Councilmen and
Aldermen stated privately that they
felt like resigning for good.
Crematory Tangle Worse.
While Mayor Woodward had tenta-
lively agreed to the $26O,0O0 crema-
tory contract, it was passed up by the
Aldermanic Board Thursday after
noon In a way that the Mayor dis
approved. Alderman J. H. Harwell,
friend of the Mayor. used his Alder
manic prerogative and held up the
matter for two weeks by moving a
reconsideration. When the contract
finally reaches the Mayor his disap-
prevail is expected.
officials of the Destructor Company,
Of New York, which is building the
plant, are very much worried over
the turn of affairs. The incinerator
is almost complete, but the company
has not received a cent Of pay from
the city.
The issue now is one Of fine legal
points. The usual plan is for Coun-
ell to authorize a contract and the
Mayor to execute IT, In this instance.
Council has accepted a proposal Of
the Destructor Company by resolu-
ton. The point is that Council feared
the Mayor might refuse TO execute
the contract and they would be
blocked. If he disapproves the reso-
luton passed he can be overridden.
Fist Fight in Council.
Alderman Harwell said the Mayor
had pledged his good faith to execute
the contract so long as no reference
was made 70 the old contract, de-
clared illegal by the State Supreme
Court. But he asserted that the
Mayor would veto Councils present
action and the whole matter would
again land in the courts.
A real fist fight was enacted as a
sequel to the recent clash of words
between Mayor Woodward and Al
derman James r. Nutting in the
Council chamber just before the con-
vening OF the session by Reporter
James Meade, of The Constitution
and Alderman Nutting.
Alderman Nutting entered the room
and demanded of Reporter Meade
why his report of the Woodward con-
troversy was so full of misstate
ments. Alderman Nutting raised his
finger at the reporter, but they talked
in low tones and there was surprise
in the chamber when Mr.. Meade
struck the Alderman a heavy blow
on the nose. Alderman Nutting was
jostled against City Marshal James
Fuller, but. regaining his balance. he
struck back at the reporter, blood
streaming from a small wound on
the nose. Immediately they were
separated.
Alderman Nutting said he was
seeking an explanation and was much
surprised at being struck
Reporter Meade said that Alderman
Nutting strongly intimated that he
was a liar. and ,thst he could not
stand for that.
Mayor Pro TEN Warren said he did
not expect any case to be made
against either Of them