The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-27
SUMTER. s. @, WEDNESDAY,
CITIZENS Ex0RERATE MAYOR,
oTE ON COMMITTEE REPORT
BRINGING CHARGES "a TO "a
IN GRIFTTTH'S FAVOR.
Reported Recall Movement is Started
TO Include City COuncil-MayOr De-
nounccs Action Against Him.

Columbia, Oct. 22.-Mayor Lewis A.
Griffith was exonerated of unbecoming
conduct in visiting the restricted dis
trict on the night of September 18
for the purpose Of inspection and for
misuse of power in remission Of fines
by a mass meeting of citizens in the
Richland County Court House tonight
by a vote of 81 to "A. The vote came
on the motion of Mr.. Williams, which
was to accept the report of the citi-
Zens' committee, which was in effect
condemnation Of the mayor. The
mayor was warmly congratulated by
his friends on the result of the vote
which rejected the report and findings
Of the ci 'zens' committee.
Mayor Griffith, preceding the vote.
made speech, in which he defended
his acts and in which he charged that
the committee had acted on a partisan
basis strictly against him, terming
their action analogous to mob rule"
He also charged that city council was
working against him and said that
many Of the reports and charges
against him originated by council
talking with the people in q partisan
way and with the idea of injuring
him, which he denounced as "the most
damnable way on earth to fight a
man." He also attacked the newspa-
pers with being unfair.
Mr.. w. A. Clark, president Of the
Carolina National Bank, in speech
said his sympathies were with Mayor
Griffith in this fight His son, WASH
ington Clark, also took a prominent
part in the fight against adopting the
report of the committee. 1t is under
stood here tonight that in all prob
ability petitions for the recall OF the
mayor will be circulated imme-
diately. There is talk from some that
If any recall is started it will include
the whole city council. 1t will take
STA signatures of citizens before the
governor can order recall election. .
The citizens committee appofstsd
by the first mass meeting of Colum-
bians to investigate charges against
Mayor Lewie A. Griffith reported to
another mass meeting in the court
house tonight that the mayor had ex-
ercised the power to remit fines in
such way ''as to largely nullify the
ordinances for the good government
Of the city," and that he had abused
the power" They reported further
that the conduct of the mayor on tho
, night Of the 18th of September was
| entirely unbecoming his official po-
sition, was not calculated to give re-
spect to law and authority, but was
more calculated to bring it into ill re-
pute, and under similar circumstances
we think that a case of disorderly
conduct would have been lodged
against those who took part in the oc-
currence of that night if the particle
pants had been the ordinary, average
citizen, not connected with the officials
Of the city,"
Further, the committee recon-
mended: I'VE think the city Council
properly took away from the mayor
the position of head of the police de-
partment, and also the supposed
power Of remitting fines and suspend
ing sentences. We are of the opinion
that our city should have a mayor
whose standard of duty and propriety
to our community is Of the highest or
der"