The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-18
The ArdmOreite's
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The writer of this article did hope
that he might not be called upon to
discuss the initiated petition that was
prepared, as they allege and say
by the members of the American Lee
gion, but after reading the article in
this column in the Sundays issue
will take the time. If you will give
me space, TO reply to that article
in so far as it affects that petition.
AS stated heretofore. when the
mayor handed me the petition he
directed that l should prepare the
proclamation for election thereon and
| come to my office to do so, but as
/ really think was right. | went to
the City Charter to read what it had
to say about the initiative and refer
endum and | was confronted with the
following section:
Section Art g. City Charter;
" " When such petition demands
an AMENDMENT" to this charter
the Mayor shall submit such amend
ment to the qualified electors of said
city AT THE NEXT ELECTION OF
ANY OFFICERS OF SAID CITY, and
if, at said election majority of said
electors voting thereon shall vote for
such amendments the same shall
thereupon become an amendment TO
and part of the charter prem ap-
proved by the governor and filed in
the same manner and form as an orig
inal charter is required by the provi-
sions of the constitution Of the State.
to be approved when filed"
(The capitals are mine)
Now | do not believe that any one
can read that language and not know
its meaning, and hence when / took
it to the Mayor | was compelled to
write the opinion" that since this is
an initiated petition for amending the
Charter, there is nothing left to be
done but to decline to call an cleo
ton thereon until next spring when
city election for the election of city
officers will take place.
There is no contention of the most
ardent supporters Of the amendments,
that the same as presented is not
such amendment to the Charter, then
why all this uproar and contention
and still an insistent demand that if
we are to have harmony, that an
| election must be called
| l earnestly submit, that there is
not member of the Legion who will
read the above section of our char.
/ ter with an unbiased mind, but will
agree with me as to its meaning" -
Surely there is no hidden meaning in
the language of that section
L submitted this section to Mr.. John
f. Easley, Editor, and one of the
writers of our present Charter, when
he came to call upon me in reference
to the present conditions in our city
and asked him the plain question as
to what he would have done if he
had been city atty and his reply was
in substance. that he would have done
just as l did.
l make the assertion, that in the
face of our Supreme Courts decisions
that there is not a lawyer in town
but what will say that the provisions
Sf our Charter are paramount and
supersede the statutes when they have
been passed, and if this is so ther
why longer contend for somethine
that if done at this time would moi
only be illegal but void and must be
SO held by our courts.
Now l am not writing this to try
to prevent recall. If the citizen.
want that then | say lets go to II
and have 1t over, but if we want oul
city to grow and prosper then | agar
say Let's boost and not Knock.
commend TO every citizen tn,
motto Of Mr.. Burnitt on his sign OF
the side Of Drug store building a
intersection Of North Washington anc
Main Streets
Respectfully;
l. K. MASON.
Object of Visit