East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-08-04
ROBERTS RU7 z5OFORDER BLOCK EFFORTS
FORREMOVALOF MISS MASON AS LIBRARIAN
-PREVIOUS MEETING DECLARED ILLEGAL
Chairman Refuses to Recognize Action of July
y; Motion to Reverse Her is Tied by Her Vote
Right to Vote Contested but Roberts Rules Sustain Hers Fight
to be Continued; New Members of Board to be Named

I Sturgis. stating that the bylaws rec
ognize Roberts Rules of order as
governing the proceedings, read from
the rules giving the chairman the
privilege Of voting to make a tie.
Thus baked, the anti-Nason fac
| tion was for a time at a loss until
Mr.. Strain suggested an appeal from
the decision of the cnair. Mrs. Fee
made the appeal and the vote was
again five to five. The right OF Mrs.
Sturgis to vote to sustain her own
decision was contested but again she
| read from Roberts Rules to sustain
her
The official record kept by the
! board thus shows that no business
was transpired on July 10 and Miss
Mason therefore is still acting as IL
brarian. However, Mrs. Fee had in
corporated in the minutes last even
ing her contention that the meeting
of July IL was legal, citing as proof
that Mrs. Sturgis had herself called
for a rising vote at that time upon
the motion relating to the librarian
ship and had taken part in other bus
mess, thus recognizing the meeting.
Mrs. Sturgis read into the minutes
her answer to the effect that she had
refused to put the motion referred to.
but, having failed to hear one mem
Der vote, had, as an individual mem
Der and not as chairman, asked for
rising vote.
Action Carefully Planned,
The opposition to Miss Mason was
apparently taken by surprise last
evening and is was just as apparent
that her supporters had a carefully
organized plan of action which was
carried out fully. 1t is reported that
they had met during the afternoon
and, with the aid of legal advice, had
determined their course. Attorney
Roy Raley was present last evening
but was not called upon. Mayor Best
and City Attorney Fee were also
present but neither took any part in
the proceedings.
The anti-Nason faction had SEEM
ingly the upper hand when the meet
ing opened for the action for the dis
missal of the librarian had already
been taken and her supporters were
not strong enough to rescind it. How
ever, the refusal of the chairman to
recognize the meeting at which this
action had been taken suddenly re-
versed the situation.
However, the opposition to the
present adn1inistra tgon stata5 af.or
the meeting that they considered mat
ters unchanged by the meeting OF last
evening and do not recognize Miss
Mason as librarian. They intimated
that they will carry the matter into
the courts unless they secure a ma
jority in the immediate future
Mrs. Owen Could DeCsie.
Mrs. Owen has it in her power to
decide the controversy. but neither
faction is quite sure of her attitude. IL
Is quite likely that she will refuse to
accept the responsibility as she has
but another month to serve. Her
term and those of Mrs. Berkeley and
Mr. strain will expire at the end OF
this month and their successors are to
be appointed by Mayor Best, subject
to confirmation by the council. The
mayor is understood to be opposed to
Miss Mason but the attitude Of the
council IS uncertain.