The weekly soliphone., 1915-04-09
w. c. MIDDLETON ELECTED MAYOR OVER
CITY TREASURER HESTER BY MAJORITY
OF TWO VOTES; BRATTON POLICE JUDGE
Landrum Wins for Treasurer Over Turner by Margin of
Two Votes-Fligor and Ayres in First Ward, Cole
in the Second and Welsh in the Third
Winners for Aldermen


ing to seven municipal offices, pass
ed under the wire. Interest center
ed in the our-cornered race for
mayor with Sam P. McHaney, w.
c. Middleton, B, H. Parrish and j.
T. Hester as the entries. The con-
test developed into a neck-and-neck
race between Middleton and Hes
ter, with the former winning out
by the narrow margin of two
votes. Middleton received the en-
dorsement of BIT electors, while
375 expressed a preference for Hes
ter. McHaney ran third with 1872
votes, and Parrish received SO votes.
The contest for treasurer was al
sort of heart-disease affair, with
Turner, Justice, Landrum and Nc
Guitars punched and Nicely running
close fifth. The blue ribbon fl
nally went to J. V. Landrum who
defeated Ben Turner by two votes,
214 for the former and PIP for the
latter.
The winners were not known I'M
til ten thirty last night when the
last ballot was counted by the
judges and clerks in the second
ward.
A record breaking vote was cast
yesterday, the total being 944. In
previous city elections the highest
vote recorded has been about $50.
The natural increase in the popu
lation of the city and the fact that
there was such large list of candi
dates operated to bring out larger
number of electors than is usual in
city elections.
For police judge, Jeff Bratton
left the field far in the rear. Of
the 944 votes cast, he received sos,
while his four opponents combined
received only 439.
For aldermen from the first ward,
A. w. Fligor, with a vote of 694,
defeated A. P Neifind, with vote
of 1872 for the long term. A. E.
Ayers, with a vote of Asst, defeat
ed Charley Jones, with vote of
442, for the short term of one year
to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Jim Agee.
In the second ward Ed Cole won
a triangular contest with Herbert
Wood and Dallas Mcdonald, the vote
being Cole Ala, Wood 26S, McDon-
aid 1856.
In the third ward Alderman Thos.
E. Welsh, who was running for his
second term, defeated w. T. Mese-
cher by a vote of 522 to 403.
Under the law the old council
will hold its final meeting next
Monday night and the new mayor,
police judge, city treasurer and four
aldermen will be sworn in.
w. c. Middleton, whom the
voters have chosen as mayor, is a
well known barber, for ten years
having been proprietor of a shop
on Pruet street. He is "a years of
age and a son of Mr.. and Mrs. j.
w. Middleton, residing in the north
end of Craighead county. Mr.. Mid
dleton was born in Decatur, Ind,
and came to this section of Arkan-
sas in 1900. He owns some farm
lands in Greene county and is the
owner of residence property in the
third ward of Paragould. He is
democrat in politics and has never
before sought a public position.
ut will be my ambition to make
Paragould a good mayor" he said
this morning to representative or
The Press. 81 will push public
improvements as fast as the finances
of the city permit and will use ey-
cry endeavor to assist in the de-
velopment of all legitimate enter
prises in Paragould. 1 have made
no promises during the campaign
and am under no obligations to give
appointments to any one. l Will
study over the matter of chief of
police and will confer with those
in position to give me good ad-
vice before making up my mind. At
present l cannot say who will re-
receive the appointment"
The mayor has only three APP
pointments to make-the chief of
police, chief of fire department, and
the city health officer and board of
health, the latter composed OF five
citizens. The council elects the wa
ter superintendent, the street COM
missioner, poundmaster, scavenger
and sexton of the cemetery.
The detailed vote by wards is as
follows:
Whenever You Need General Tonic