The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-26
CITY IS ACCUSED
OF THROWING OUT
MANY GOOD NAMES
Attorney BiCkers Says No
Reason Was Given for In
validating Signatures Con-
terence Determine Action.


Without rhyme or reason, and
without assigning any cause, as TO
why severab thousand signatures were
inVahdated, am in receipt of COM
municauon that advises me that C.
Y. Pashby is city clerk"
Anis statement was made Tuesday
py James f. Bickers. attorney for
the recall committee.
Prior to the filing of the petitions
we naugurated a checking system
anu nad one OF the best accountants
III memphis employed to check the
nanes. he advised us that We had
more than 5000 signatures on the pc
uuons that had been proven to be
qualified voters. Still, the city clerk
advises me that the names on the
petitions are insufficient.
No reason is given as to why any
names were invalidated. The com
munication have received saws
nothing as to how many signatures
they have declared are good and the
principal thing set out in the com
munication have received is that
Pashby Is city clerk"
Just what action will be taken by
the recall hackers will be determined
at meeting to be held late Tuesday.
Mr.. Bickers declared~early in the day
that despite the protestations of
the mayor and commissioners that
they wanted to leave to the voters
the decision as to whether or not
they should retain their offices. they
have deliberately made move to
force US to go into court"
Mr.. Bickers was emphatic in his
declarations that the action of the
city clerk had in some way been ir-
regular, as It was known fact that
more than 5000 signatures Of legiti-
mate voters were on the petitions
CITY employees Tuesday reiterated
time ana again the fairness Of the
work OF the city clerk. One embloye
declared openly that many of the
signers had been scared and had re-
moved their names, and he said fur
ther that II given the time he could
get more of them TO remove their
names.
'The total Of 1900 has been used
In discussing the number of good
signatures on the petitions" Mr..
Bickers said Tuesday. T know of
my own knowledge that we have the
signatures of more than 1900 women
on the petitions who under the law
are not required to pay poll tax And
know also that we have at least /, =
500 signatures of men who are past
the age for paying poll taxes.
Stronger Than Ever.
I'VE are stronger now than ever
he continued, "and So far TODAY a
number Of prominent business men
have come TO me and offered their
services in circulating other petitions
to be filed as supplemental petitions
to the present one. They are willing
to do whatever is decided upon to
force the issue.
"The weak attempt OF the city to
force us to go into court can be seen
plainly, and is in direct contradiction
to their loud-voiced statements that
they wanted the people to decide.
That stuff Is pure bunk when they
have deliberately thrown out the sig
natures of~qualified voters who are
thoroughly disgusted with the pres
ent administration and It's manner OF
conducting affairs"
The recall committee has ten DAYS
in which to file supplemental pe-
titions. 1t is also probable that they
will aCcede to the wishes OF the city
administration and go into court, just
what will be done is to be decided at
"A meeting late Tuesday. There will
be no delay on this matter, Mr..
Bickers declared, pointing out that
something must be done within ten
days G. the city administration would
be secure from recall procedure for
another six months.