Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1919-02-25
ASHLAND HAS NO MAYOR

MI. Lainkln says thc iiuih6o 20
mistaken in its statement that legal
fines can be collected in Ashland
only thru the justice court and that
all such fines so collected go into
the Golfers Of the county instead OF
the city treasury. He says Ashland
has a police court Notwithstanding
the Tidings states the contrary. We
are aware that Mr.. Lamkin pretends
to act as chief magistrate OF Ash
lands municipal court, hut, we con-
tend he does II without warrant OF
law. Mr.. Lamkin is not now mayor
of Ashland. The state constitution,
the city charter and ordinance OF
Ashland. Terminated his cumbancy
when his term expired the first of
January. His successor has never
been legally elected. Ashland pre-
tended to hold city election in No
yember, but. in law, II had no cleo
tion. Mr.. Lamkin therefore is neith-
er mayor nor police Judge. There Is
danger. we think, in proceeding with
cases that carry Jail sentences. Citi-
zens infringing the law may pay
small fines without contest, rather
than go to the annoyance of enter
ing suit to recover, but an illegal
Jail sentence would likely embroil
the city in a suit for damages for
false Imprisonment.
The Tidings has no axe TO grind.
IT insists only that Ashland he put
back on sound legal basis by hold
ing legal special election for city
officers now legally vacant. 1t does
not lay the blame on all the city Of
ficers. Some of them are acting in
good faith. Playing for advantage
thru peanut ward methods the politi-
cal firm OF Banta & Lamkin have put
the city in bad. By 50 doing they
have put men like Shinn, Nininger.
MCGEE and Turner in a bad light be-
cause they had faith enough in them
to leave the political direction Of
the administration to them, expect.
fng II would be legally done and did
not realize II had not been so trans.
acted until the validity OF the police
court was attacked and admitted to
be acting without legal authority.
Councilmen Shinn, Nininger, Turn
er and McGee are straightforward
conscientious, able men. The cit,
might feel Just pride in any one Of
these as successor to the politica
cabal which has handed the city o.
Ashland its recent illegal package
As for mayor Lamkin and Mr.
Banta they have too little regard 70,
legal action and too much for politi
cal advantage to warrant citizens IL
honoring them further. When con
fronted with their illegal acts by At
torney Briggs, in his plea to oust III,
city court, they admitted II with sucl
alacrity as to leave the fact undls
psted that they knew they were act
ing without warrant OF law.
they knew the first to be illegal the,
must have known the last electio,
to be so, because II was invalidate,
by the same omission as the first. I
that be so 1t indicates they had great
er concern in holding their jobs thai
in keeping the city on solid lega
basis However they may deny in
tent TO shut out political opponent
by the secret illegal method of call
ing the election for the charte
amendment SO citizens would not b
generally apprised OF the change Il
date until 1t was too lat
for them to file as contestant
in the race for municipal offices
the number who believe they wilful
" purposely played for that advan
tage is growing every day. Many o
them express themselves as not will