Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-19
ESTIMATES VARY FROM
1900 TO 200 WHO
BACK VOTE
14OONAMES NEEDED
BELIEVE THEY WILL HAVE NO
TROUBLE GETTING SUFFICIENT
NUMBER TO BRING PROPOSE
TON BEFORE PEOPLE.

Secrecy continues to enshroud the
identity of the citizens committee
that has started an agitation In OF
tawa for the recall OF the Commission
Form OF Government and change ad'
ministration affairs back under the
old aldelmanic system OF operating
the city Why this anonymty should
be followed is causing deep concern
in many quarters. among them BEING
some that have been out and cutters
against the present form from its in
ception down to the present.
Petitions are in circulation in all
parts of TIE city and as fast as they
are filed they are returned to the com
mittee's headquarters il the Office OF
Attorney James J. Conway. Rumors
OF the number of signers at the pres
ent time expand to 1900 and then
shrink back as low as "a. When the
total number of l.400 names as requir
ed by law have been obtained, the
papers will be duly placed on file in
the city offices, for the mayor ana
commissioners to act upon.
Many Rumors Afloat.
Many and varied rumors are ahoat
as to inst who the coterie of mel
were that went to Mr. Conway and
asked him to draw up petitions that
would stand the acid test" in court
Saloon keepers. who are alleged to be
behind the proposition to change gov
ernment, deny any knowledge OF the
meeting iii Mr.. Conways office. Down
town property owners who are accus-
ed of trying to get even because
they were inccnsed ut the assess
ments charged against their property
for the proposed loop raving are
others mentioned as fostering the anti
commission form idea From no source
however has the Free TraderJournal
been able to learn Just who and what
constitutes the personnel of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Conway, counsel for the
devotees OF the aldermanic form, re
fuses to avoid violating a confidence.
Deny Any Knowledge.
All men mentioned in connection
with the instigation of the proposition
forcefully denied any knowledge OF
either the petitions or the agitation
to change the form of government
until they read 1t for the first time
IN last nights Free Trader.Journal
and then they did not know who was
responsible for raising the issue
There were half dozen prominent
residents whose names were included
in the list and to man all denied
any participation in the movement.
Mayor Silent
Asked this morning what he intend
ed to do about defending the presen
form Mayor Bradford said
There is nothing that can say il
regard to the matter. The people hay,
the right to revert to the old alder
manic form II they wish 1t and d'
not care to attempt to influence then
one way or the other" Their will i
my will
Hold for Year.
Even should the present administra
tion be ousted the mayor and commits
sioners would hold Office until thei
successors could assume charge of tn
city government May l, 1918. The elet
tion for mayor and alderman, accor(
ing to competent legal authorit,
would be made April IS, next yea
and they would be elected to hold o
five for a year the regular city ele'
ton would be held in 1919.
Mr.. Prichard for Government.
w. Il. Prichard one OF the prom
nent men whose names were cOlnec
ed with the agitation to return to TIL
cid government, emIhatically denie
any knowledge as to the originator
or the petition. you may say fe
me-" said Mr.. Frichard, that on
am not circulating a petition but ais
that | am In favor of the commissic
form Of government firmly and stron