The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-09-30
MA:X!l5d ISASKED TO
RESIGN HIS OFFICE:
JOHNSON DEFENDS
ADMINISTRATION

The regular session Of the city
council Monday night was featured
by the demand Of the city council
that Mayor L. F. johnson resign his
office and that the police department
head also be removed for non-enforce-
ment Of the laws and ordinances of
the city in permitting illegal liquor
selling and gambling.
The question Of asking for the
resignation Of the mayor was put to
a vote and stood AYE" and may"
One ballot was blank and there were
two absentees, Alderman Joanis and
Alderman Garlock.
The question was ordered matter
of record for report at next meeting
of the, council when the defense OF
the mayor will be heard.
The mayors removal followed the
address to the council by City At
torney Hal Huffman, who said in de-
tail:
Speaks of Censure.
"The administration OF the City Of
Bemidji has been severely censured.
The censure comes from source
which we cannot disregard-trom
the highest tribunal in the State OF
Minnesota-from the bar of justice.
I refer to the remarks made by Judge
Stanton last Saturday in district
court, in pronouncing sentence on
thirteen defendants convicted Of vlo-
lation Of the liquor law and gambl-
ing. l asked the court reporter to
prepare transcript of the courts re-
marks; l have copy with me, which
I desire to read: Breads vital por-
tions of Judge Stanton's views de-
liyered in court as preamble to I'm
posing sentences Saturday after
noon.)
"These remarks, Gentlemen,
amount to the most severe censure
and singing rebuke to which the adr
ministration Of any city has ever
been subjected.
Conditions Here "Rotten." =
THAT such condition exists in the
City Of Bemidji cannot be doubted.
The source of the information can
not be questioned. From the evil
dence brought out in district court
and from my personal inquiries, am
convinced that conditions in the City
of Bemidji are rotten-a disgrace to
the community; I believe that pros
titution has been going on to con-
siderable extent; that the illegal sale
OF liquor has become profitable
business carried on more or less
openly; that gambling is flourishing
as in the days Of yore; that Bemidji
contains a great number Of criminals,
und desirable citizens and riff ran and
castoffs from others cities. The ex-
istence OF such condition Is not only
a disgrace and discredit to the city
and community, but slap in the face
to every good law-abiding citizen.
Cannot Be Questioned.
"That some part Of this admins
tration deserves the censure and. re-
buke of the district court cannot be
questioned. And while the entire ad-
necessarily suffers from
such a rebuke, believe that the CEN
sure was intended for, and must rest
upon that particular part Of the ad-
whose duty 1t is to en-
force the laws within this city. The
gentlemen, Is clearly
fixed by the city charter, and l will
read section !, chapter Nv. Defining
duties of the mayor.)
II emphasize these words: HE
shall take care that the laws OF the
state. the provisions Of this charter
and the ordinances Of the city are
duly observed and enforced within
the city"
Blames the Mayor.
"Mr. Mayor, you are responsible
for the condition Of the city-You
are that part of the administration
for whom the courts rebuke is in
are the man upon whom
the censure must rest.
I'm my capacity as city attorney
and as your official legal advisor, /
now advise you, as have heretofore
done, that it is your solemn and
sacred duty, assumed in your oath
of office, to enforce the laws within
the city; it is your duty to stamp
out this unlawful liquor tarffic; it is
your duty to stop the business OF
gambling; 1t is your duty to get rid
Of the criminals and undesirable8 re-
siding within our border.
"Rests In Your Hands,"
"The enforcement of the laws
within this city rests entirely with
in v0ur hands And in order to ac-
complish that purpose, you are given
the exclusive appointment and con-
troll Of the police department.; you
can appoint any person you desire
and you can remove the members at
yorr p'easure Nobody can interfere
with you in the control Of the de-
partment. In order that you might
not be res tricted in the performance