Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-24
Fireworks Tnal Stirs
Cidzenry at Ashland

ney.
He did"
Only Seven Caught.
| Officer Parks made it clear that
Acting Mayor Coleman gave spe'
cihc instructions to the police force
not to allow the shooting OF any
! fireworks on Silver streets or on
other streets OF the business district.
ANY more laughter in this court
room and | will have it cleared and
will fine you all for contempt" an
nounced the Judge when Parks ex-
planned that many Ashland people
discharged foreworks on the night
of July 3, but the police arrested
only seven, all they could appre-
Lend.
Wild Night in Ashland.
"No doubt it was wild night in
Ashland" asserted Attorney Bryant.
MANY were shooting sparklers. But
I want to say that | believe Ash
land should be liberal. This town
will be the laughing stock of the
state. This affair will be dis
grace to the town. There are lot
of reporters from other cities here
and the press is full of it. If we
can arrest person for lighting a
sparkler on July 3 we could arrest
him for smoking cigaret. 1t is
shame to say that person cam
not display his patriotism on July
3. Two years ago such an objec-
ton would have brought criticisms
that Ashland was pro-German. :"
Officer Parks was disposed of by
Bryant in this manner: Just answer
my questions or quit"
"I'll do as | please about answer
ing your questions unless you give
me square questions
All, It's a Secret.
'Is there anything else you recol-
lect about the conversation at the
lumber yard"
There may be, but | am not 60
ing to tell it," Parks replied.
During a polemic between Mrs.
Buell. and Attorney Bryant, the fol-
lowing was exchanged:
Bryant: who else were shooting
fireworks when Anderson was ar
rested?"
Buell.: at doesn't make any diff
ference whether others were saying
their prayers or shooting fireworks"
Wants No Orders.
Bryant entered an objection to
Mrs. Rucll's procedure, whereupon
Mrs. Buell. replied: Don't give me
any orders as to what | shall do;
the city council can't give me or
ders."
Leo Martin injected bit of humor
when he testified that at first he mis-
took Perry Anderson, brother of the
mayor, for tramp.
The hearing was opened by objec-
ton from Attorney Bryant against
the appearance of City Attorney |
Buell., on the grounds that the latter
official was not entitled to hold the |
office by reason of action of the city
council on the evening of July Is,
when Mrs. Buell. was fired" Bryant |
asserted that Mrs. Buell. could not |
legally appear as a prosecuting Of
fcer,. but the judge overruled Bryant
on nearly every objection, OF which |
there were many. Mrs. Buell. in
sisted, and was sustained in her con-
tention that she was city attorney and
still is exercising her authoritity as
such.
Mrs. Buell. Storm Center.
The political phase of the situation
encircles Mrs. Buell., who is the
storm center of the law-enforcing
element of Ashland. Mayor H. 2.
Anderson was elected on law-en-
forcement platform. Before the re-
cent episode on Silver street the
mayor went to Iowa to visit friends, |
leaving Harvey Coleman, president
of the city council, to serve as act
iEg mayor. When the mayor re-
turned and learned that his brother
had been arrested with six other
young men for alleged violation of ,
the fireworks ordinance, he imme-
diately directed the city attorney to
null the complaints which she had
prepared. Mrs. Buell. refused to null
and said she would face the alterna-
tive of removal from Office.
On the evening of July Is the
mayor summoned Councilmcn F. w.
Bontz, ]. S. Mullen and julius OLE
son to the Office of city clerk where
Mullen. offered resolution that Mrs.
Buell. be removed from office and
that the fireworks ordinance be re-
pealed. Mrs. Buell. was served with
certified copy of the action of the
council. but she refuses to be fired"
Claims Meeting Illegal.
She contends that the mayor failed
to notify President Harvey Coleman
of the special meeting of the council
and, therefore, the special meeting
was illegal.
During his brief term as acting
mayor, Mr.. Coleman proceeded to
give demonstration of law enforce
ment. He deputized Leo Martin,
restaurant man, and gave orders that
the fireworks ordinance should be
enforced. 1t is said that Mayor An
derson and President Coleman of the
city council are not the political
bosom friends they were in days of
yore. The lineup in Ashland is be-
ing drawn tighter between the law
enforcement element and the lib
erals; Some believe that the police
were too oficious on the night of
July 3, when thew arrested seven