Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-05
Declares He Resigned
On No Hasty
Impulse.
LEFT COUNCIL WHEN IT
PASSED EXCISE LICENSE
Mrs. Thomas a. Edison Ap-
pIauded as Executive Walked
from the Meeting Room.

DR.. Samuel \. Muta. whose abrupt
resignation as mayor OF West Orange
has split the town into two factions.
today refused to reconsider his ae-
tion.
He quit because the Town Council
insisted upon granting another u
cense to swell the already dispor-
tionate number Of saloons in West
Orange.
Mrs. Thomas A. Edison and Mrs.
Russell Colgate were in the audi
ence last night when the council.
by majority of one. voted to al
low the opening of a saloon at Har-
rison avenue and Valley road. the
terminal Of the West Orange trolley
line
DR.. Muta, as presiding officer. did
not announce the result of the vote
Instead he arose and remarked
quietly:
Gentlemen. I resign my Office as
Mayor of this town.
Then he walked out Of the council
chamber
AS he did so. Mrs. Edison and Mrs
Colgate led a burst of applause in
approval of the stand he had taken
MY action was not on the impulse
of the moment DR.. Muta asserted
today. 1T was not done in haste
or in anger. 7 previously had con-
sidered the matter and decided upon
a contingency should arise.
Il have no personal feeling or
grievance against any member Of the
Town Council. My personal relations
have at all times been most cordial
They did their daty as they saw L.
did mine as it appeared to me. Everz
i man is law unto himself
| whi Not Return.
y do not intend to reconsider my
resignation. / will not return to my
post as mayor"
DR.. Mutha began his second term
on January 1. The Town Council has
not yet accepted his resignation. il
i case he would agree to reseind it.
| An acting mayor will be chosen by
/ the councilmen. Although they win
not necessarily have to select one Of
their own number. it is expected that
| Councilman Kenney. who is the Sc
nior member. viii be accorded the
/ honor. A mayor TO serve out Or.
Muta's unfinished term viii be elect
! ed in November
The unprecedented action OF DR.
/ Muta came as a climax TO long
/ fight about saloons. There are al
ready forty in West Orange, although
! the total population is only 10.9S0.
thus making one for every 274 men.
women and children.
When the license came up for con-
sideration it was strongly opposed.
Albin Youngholm. of 81 Valley way
presented a petition signed by 164
property-owners in the Fifth ward.
where it is proposed to open the sa-
loon The two members from that
ward and the three members Of the
license committee were all against
/ granting the license.
Taxpayers Protest
Captain Herbert Barry. of Llewellyn
! Park. sent letter of protest. and
Councilman Carl Fentzlaff argued
that another saloon was 'absolutely
uncalled for" Not a word was said
in favor OF the license.
Councilman Julius Weigel offered
an amendment rejecting the spplica-
| ton. Five men. including the mayor.
voted for it; six eouneiImen we're OPP
posed
THAT isn't a square dealt cried Or.
Muta. The license committee is OPP
posed aud so are the two councilmen
of the Fifth ward. It is diseourteous
10 them.
Il doubt the legality of this
! vote. declared Councilman Fentzlaff.
What are committees for il their
action counts for nothing"
When the original motion TO grant
the license was put il passed hy the
same margin. Messrs. Weigel, Fentz-
llaff, Kerr, Gillum and DR. Muta vot-
ing against it, and Messrs. King.
Corr. Kenny, Gilliek. Drummond and
KLEIN for it.
When the mayor walked out OF the
room to write his resignation in an
ante-ehamber Councilman Kenny
took the chair and the business OF
the meeting continued.
/ Mrs. Edison and Mrs. Colgate had
appeared in behalf Of the West Or
lsnge Improvement League to urge
1.-THE cooperation of the authorities in
lbeautifying the town. They asked 10
have the tin cans removed from
vacant lots and the streets kept free
of litter of every kind
Eve have lost a very helpful
mayor" said Mrs. Edison. after the
Injecting. Il sincerely hope the coun-
ell win not permit DR.. Muta TO re-
sign. He has stood for the people,
land no one could help appla udIng his
stand for principle. | do so hops
he viii remain in office
DR. Muta. besides being a promi-
lhent physician. is widely known far
his activities in fraternal organiza-
4foue