The Town That Had Two Sets of Politicians

The recent decision of the supreme court in the case of the town of Pullman, by which the incorporation of that town was declared to be legal, has placed Oakesdale in a queer predicament. By this decision the corporation of Oakesdale was also legal, and as the term of the officers of the old corporation does not expire until December, it gives this city two sets of officers. The recently elected mayor and councilmen had held a meeting, organized, and elected officers. The Silver Federation seems to have controlled the recent election and three of the five councilmen are members of that secret order, although this was not known until after they were elected. In accordance with the doctrine of that order, which is only an auxiliary of the People's party, all improvements were to be stopped. William McDonald, an ex-preacher and member of the People's party, was elected city attorney and he, having a grievance against the local paper, a Republican organ, ordered all notices of the passage of ordinances and other city printing to be posted on the street corners instead of being published in the paper. No improvements were to be made by the Populist council; the bonds voted for water-works were supposed to be invalid and the new council had declared itself against water-works despite the fact that eighteen disastrous fires have occurred in Oakesdale in less than twenty months. When the people had about given up hope of escaping from this state of affairs, the decision above mentioned was rendered and Oakesdale went wild. A brass band was brought forth and the main streets were crowded by hundreds of the best citizens, who cheered themselves hoarse. At this juncture the Populist attorney and three of the councilmen were seen on the streets and hooted and jeered until they sought refuge in a store. The old city council immediately called a meeting and proceeded to reorganize and take steps to again get possession of the affairs of the town. An injunction restraining the Populist council from acting has been asked for and will undoubtedly be granted, in which case the old council will proceed to carry out the many improvements decided upon before they decided that the town was not legally incorporated and an era of prosperity will undoubtedly follow.