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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2814877" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Five, “Incorporation”, Wednesday, May 24th, 1882, 5:00 P.M. Nanuet and Minerva's had spent the afternoon doing a few chores before. About 4:45 PM they head over to the Lucky Lady saloon. Minerva walks with Nanuet over to the Lucky Lady and kisses him goodbye. "Wish me luck!" she says and heads over to the meeting. Inside, Ruby looks like she is about to say something important when Nanuet comes strolling in. Nanuet says, "Hey everybody, figured I'd come over early and keep an eye on things around here so you all could go to the meeting." "Uh, sure Jake, let's go." She walks towards Nanuet, "Thanks a lot for all your help today. Hopefully the meeting won't be too crazy. We'll see you later." Jake and Ruby head over to the meeting. Ruby doesn't contribute whatever it was she was going to say. Nanuet searches out Thom and spends some time in casual conversation with him trying to determine how Thom is adjusting. It seems as though Thom is a bit overwhelmed with the size of the town but nothing that is out of hand. Nanuet works with him tidying up, restocking the bar and kitchen and other menial tasks while keeping an eye on things. Meanwhile, Chester sits with Marshall Berg in the office. "Hey Mitch. Do we need to be at this town meeting?" Berg replies, "I've agreed to be up on stage with Judge Isby, he wants me on one side and Deputy Sheriff Hunter on the other. Figures the two of us standing there will help keep people in line if the discussion gets out of hand. Helen's a member of the Merchant's Association so she'll be with them, although I may have her stand instead of sit. I figure you and Eddie should stay slightly outside, position yourselves near the door and get a good look at everybody as they come in. And if anything goes on during the meeting requiring a lawman either or both of you could then just go without making it obvious. " Chester replies, "Sounds good to me. This meeting is about something both the Merchant's Association and the Vigilance Committee can agree on. I don't expect any trouble. By the way, are you a member of the Merchant's Association, being a lawyer here?" Berg answers, "No, no need. Only folks selling merchandise in town are require to join, not us who just provide services. I think your friend Katherine joined, since her school is a business and I believe she's planning to sell items made by the students to help support it. I could join, but then I'd have to pay dues. Neither of the other lawyers has either, although we all attend the meetings." Chester says, "Gotcha. Kate likes to get involved, so that's no surprise. Plus it gets the school in the public eye, being that it's new and all. Do you think there's a good chance we'll get incorporated? That way we can get a proper mayor here." "And a real Town Marshall too, so I can get back to lawyering," Berg states. Chester scratches his head. "I forgot you had to cut back on lawyering to take this job. I guess you'll be glad about that. The pay's better, too." Berg says, "Well, it's not like I ever really wanted the job. I just didn't care for the alternatives presented. I suppose I should probably wait and see who else is planning to run before I totally decide against it. I just hope whomever wins has the good sense to keep You, Helen and Eddie on. You three have done great." "Thanks, Mitch. That means a lot coming from you. Heck, maybe I should throw my hat in the ring. I don't much like the idea of a Vigilance Committee man in the job." Berg replies to Chester, "Well, someone like Bill Watkins would probably still be better than a cattle rustler. Remember, Fisk proposed that Buckskin Frank Leslie for the job last time. Turning the town over to a criminal would be like asking the wolf to watch the sheep." "Fisk did what? I wasn't at the meeting, so that's the first I heard of that. Thank Zeus you decided to step in." Chester shakes his head. "Buckskin Frank Leslie. I heard he was a higher up in the Cowboy Gang. That would have been a disaster had he been made Marshall. Is it time to go to the meeting yet?" Berg replies, “Yes, it’s about that time. At 5:15 P.M. Deputies Chester Martin and Eduardo Rodriguez are standing together near the doors to the town hall in the back of the room. Judge Nathan Isby is standing at the podium on the stage in the front of the room. Flanked on either side of him are Town Marshall Mitchell Berg and Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter. Seated on the stage in three chairs to his left are Deputy County Recorder Dennis Winston, Deputy County Assayer Joe Reiser and the Judge’s assistant Kevin Tomlinson. The front of the room is comprised of seventy chairs, arranged with an open aisle down the center of the room with five rows of seven chairs each on each side of the room. The Gay Lady Variety Hall and Saloon owner Burton Lumley is holding a clipboard and doing a head count of those present from the Promise City Merchant’s Association, as he is the Association’s current President. The Association is comprised of one owner from each of fifty-four businesses selling merchandise in town to the general public. Service companies may join if they desire although mines, farms and ranches are excluded. All of the chairs in the second to fifth rows have been reserved for the Association and most of them are currently occupied. Standing along the side wall beside these chairs rather than sitting is photographer Helen Barker who also serves as a Deputy Marshall of the town. In five chairs at the right front side of the room in the first row are the members of the Promise City Vigilance Committee, these being Great Western Boarding House owner William Watkins, Condon’s Bank owner Frank Condon, Doctor James Eaton, Zebadiah Cook who owns Cook’s General Store and First National Bank Head Teller Derik Avery. Seated beside them is that group’s chief financial sponsor, rancher Rebecca King and next to her is her adult son Ashley. Seated in the seven chairs on the left front side of the room are Promise City Mirror reporter Angelica Young, her Editor the halfling Hezekiah B. Chumbley, Silverbell Mining Company owner Elton Hubbard, Attorney Hamilton Fisk, Attorney Elihu Upton, rancher Forest Morand and rancher Emery Shaw. Chester keeps watch over the crowd. He wasn't expecting trouble, but it had a way of sneaking up on a person. He breaks his job only to greet his friends when they arrive. Ruby takes a seat alone near the back of the room, although she does try to catch the Judge's eye and give him a smile before she sits. There is a chair available behind Emery Shaw, which Jake Cook seats himself in. Jake quietly greets Morand and Shaw, "A pleasure to see you gentlemen. I hope this goes well today." They agree. In the new town hall, Kate found a seat three rows back next to Mr. Rixton. She smiled pleasantly at him. "Mr. Rixton, how nice to see you. Have I told you have comfortable my house is now with your furniture in it?" Rixton replies, "Anything I can do to help the school. It is a wonderful thing that you are doing." "The children in town have the right to an education, and although I haven't taught before I have had a great deal of learning. Beside, I need something to keep me out of trouble," she laughed. "Just this morning someone was trying to matchmaker for me. So, do you think this meeting has good news?" He replies, “We’ll have to wait and see.” Judge Isby begins the meeting promptly at 5:30. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I am pleased to announce that the Governor of the Arizona Territory has accepted your petition to Incorporate as the Community of Promise City. The logistics of this Incorporation are what the meeting today is about. As stated in your petition, this process will be conducted under my direct supervision. A few details still need to be worked out. Before we get to the matter of an election of a Mayor, Marshall and five-person Town Council we first need to formally map out the boundaries of the Incorporated Town. The town will obviously include the streets and buildings currently falling under the jurisdiction of the Town Marshall. The owners of all outlying ranches, farms and mines will need to be contacted prior 5:30 P.M. on Monday, May 29th, as to their desire to join the community of Promise City. Their decision will need to be recorded at that time by at least two of the three Country or Territorial Officials seated on the stage to my left. We will reconvene this combined group at that time to finalize the map. We will then start to work on the specific criteria to qualify as a candidate for office and also decide exactly who will be permitted to vote.” Bill Watkins yells out "What's to decide? Male human landowners will serve and vote, they're the ones who do everything around here." Kate politely raised her hand for recognition, rather than follow Mr. Watkin's example and shout out. Noticing that Deputy Marshall Helen Barker is reaching for her gun Marshall Berg glares at her and shakes his head side to side. Isby also sees this and chooses to quickly recognize Kate. "Yes Mrs. Kale," he says. Kate stood up and said in a quiet voice that still carried through the room, "I have not shared Mr. Watkins experience. The work on the ranch I own with my partners and the teaching of my school will not be done by any male human landowners. It may be decided at the next meeting that I will not have a right to vote, but I am a member of the Merchant's Association and I do have the right to make my voice heard as we incorporate. Let us make no assumptions.” Jake is very curious about how Morand and Shaw are taking the conversation and watches their expressions carefully. Kate continues, “Judge Isby, what would be expected of the ranch owners, and what can we expect if we chose to place our land inside the town's limits?" Morand and Shaw both perk up upon hearing that question, apparently curious about that answer themselves. Isby says, "The main thing would be that you would have a voice in the town's government. You would also have the protections of the Town Marshall and the town would be free to pass and administer its own laws and enforce such laws as long as they don't conflict with those of the Arizona Territory. Given the quantity of cattle rustlers and thefts of mine ore in the past year those extra protections could be helpful." Morand and Shaw both whisper to each other and nod their heads in the affirmative. Isby continues, "And depending upon the specifics decided those at the ranches should also be entitled to run for office and vote. The negative is that you could be subject to pay town taxes if any are approved by the Town Council." "Thank you, Judge," Kate said and took her seat again. Her real concern was that there were no human males with interest in their ranch. If the right laws were passed running it could become almost impossible if they were in town limits. Jake peers around to see if his partners, Torvald MacNaulty, Ralph Elliott, or Humphrey Lewis are in attendance, seeing that they are not. Both Patrick Seawell and his father Michael are. Ibsy continues, "Factors to take into consideration are residency, age, race and gender. You can decide that for yourself, the Territory and Country will not impose those upon you when voting for local offices. As per your original charter and the petition to the Governor, a concurring majority opinion is needed from each of your two groups representing the town. If a consensus isn’t reached at that time we will continue to meet here as a group every Monday, Wednesday and Friday thereafter, alternating meeting times between 7:00 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. Once the criteria are established for both the candidates and voters the election will be set for three weeks from then. The first five days will be for voter registration after which no new voters will be added to the rolls. The next five days will be for candidate registration. Registration will then close although any registered political parties will be permitted to make substitutions up until two days before the election. Days eleven through twenty of this period will be for the election campaign. Finally there will be the Election Day. No campaigning of any sort will be allowed on Election Day. The three men to my left, under my supervision, will count all of the ballots. Once I certify the election it will be final and the elected officers will then be sworn in for two-year terms of office. Now, are there any questions?” Jake raises his hand, "Political Parties? Local parties do you mean? How would they be registered?" Isby replies, "Filing as a political party requires a $ 50 filing fee and would require at least two qualified candidates for office and a maximum of one candidate for each office on the ballot. They would register with at least two of the three named officials to my left. Money raised from the filing fee would be used to offset the town's cost of the election. Parties could be affiliated with a National party or be completely independent. An advantage of a party is that the ballot would permit a vote for an entire slate of candidates with just a single mark instead of having to vote for the individual candidates. That can be an important consideration if literacy is poor. Parties could also substitute candidates as I stated before. A political party would be able to declare a location its formal headquarters and candidates who were not on that party's slate would be barred from entering that building during the election campaign." Chester thinks, “That could get ugly if the place was a saloon.” Jake nods, "Thanks." The implications of what Isby just said nearly make his head spin. Kate nearly groaned out loud, imagining a party made up of Vigilance Committee candidates being elected with one stroke of a pen. By contrast, Ruby covers her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle a yawn. She twists her hair around her finger, gazing out the window and daydreaming about her play. Isby takes a few more questions. One asks about the timing of Political Party registration. Isby says they could start to register immediately but are not required to do so until the final day of candidate registration. Other questions are asked about where the three officials will be located for the next few days, each stating that they plan to remain close to their homes. Somebody asks why Kevin Tomlinson is one of the officials since he doesn't live in the town nor is he a County official, while Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter is not. Isby says, "I needed an odd number of officials and couldn't include Deputy Hunter as he plans to run for office so that would have been a conflict of interest." Kate looked at the Deputy Sheriff, remembering how he had followed herself and Conrad out of town during their first picnic. It was likely his interest in office was an interest in finding the gold he believed hidden in the area. Although that did preclude a desire to serve. Her head was busily spinning with everything they had heard. She was fairly certain there would be quite a few meetings before the two groups could agree on much. Hopefully, her sex wouldn't prevent her from making some of these people see sense. With no further questions Isby calls for the meeting to be adjourned and for the groups to reconvene there at 5:30 P.M. on Monday. "Thank the gods..." Ruby mutters. She notices a few glances her way and adds, "That our fine City will finally be incorporated like it should be." Some heads nod and she smiles fakely, standing and making her way outside before the rest of the crowd. Chester relaxes when the judge calls the meeting to a close. Of course this was setting up the ground rules. The real meetings are going to be worse. Berg has nothing more for him to do, so Chester heads for Clarisse's home. Kate made her way to the front of the room through the chattering crowd. She managed to get Judge Isby's attention and said quietly. "I didn't want to change the subject by asking during the meeting, but if we place our ranch within town limits... I'm concerned about the laws that could be passed. You heard Mr. Watkins. There are no human males with interest in that ranch. Could the town pass laws that would make operating difficult for us?" Isby says, "You put too much stock in Mr. Watkins, I'm personally glad he articulated his position today as that allows for five days for the opposition to mount. You were here the day that Mrs. Barker made herself Deputy, I doubt she's going to quietly see her rights now taken away. Watkins only has to worry about what his dozen or so tenants think, that's not true of General Store owner Zeb Cook or of the two bankers sitting on the Vigilance Committee. They have to answer to their customers who are of all races and genders. Even if both bankers stick together with Watkins narrow way of thinking that'll just give Elihu Upton the opportunity he needs to open up his own bank and I believe that both of them know it." Kate replies, "I hope you're right. I'll have to talk to my partners and see what they think. It's not long until Monday so we'll have to decide quickly. Mrs. Barker and I may have to put our heads together and strategize. Thank you, Judge." Kate again made her way through the thinning crowd to where Helen Barker stood. "We're going to have our work cut out for us, Deputy," she began. "I think I can say we feel the same way about what Mr. Watkins said?" Helen replies, "You wanted to shoot him too?" Kate cocked her head to the side, thoughtfully. "For me, it would be a lot more satisfying to run him down on a horse. We all have our preferred weapons," she said with a wry smile. Kate continues, "I meant more that neither one of us intends to let people like Bill Watkins walk all over us. If I had wanted to sit lily white and helpless as men decided my future for me, I'd have gone back to Boston. I wish I had more experience in these matter, but I hope we can work together to make sure we keep everything we've gained here." Helen Barker replies to Kate, "I'm sure we can. I'm not worried about the Merchant's Association, I was able to get enough support from them for Deputy, should be able to do the same for a woman's right to vote. The tricky part will be getting three votes from the Vigilance Committee. I think that your singer friend will be instrumental in helping with that." Kate answers, "Ruby? How so? From what I can tell, she isn't much interested in anything that goes on with the incorporation." Helen Barker says, "Oh no, not Ruby, that whole Committee absolutely hates her due to the festival. I mean Clairesse. She and Beth Eaton have gotten to be best friends and she also belongs to Peg Watkins sewing circle, as is Helen Cook. You convince her and you're halfway there." Kate answers, "Helen Cook, hmm? Clairesse and I aren't really any more than acquaintances, but she might be willing to take me along with her on a visit to Mrs. Eaton. I had been thinking of asking Doctor Eaton to give me some further medical training, but I know he doesn't think much of me. A good opinion from his wife might help us there too. I'm a terrible sewer, but perhaps I might even wiggle my way into that sewing circle." Kate sighed. "I don't feel quite right about it all, but we don't like in a world of black and white. And probably none of these women are really unkind, just unaware." Helen says, "That sewing circle usually meets in the afternoons, so you would probably be tied up with your school. My Stanley participated with them for a while be he found it to be too much gossiping for his tastes, so I doubt you'd care for it." "You're right, I wouldn't. Gossiping for the sake of gossip isn't my cup of tea. I'm not sure what excuse I can think of to get introduced to Mrs. Eaton, but I'll see what I can come up with. From some conversations I had earlier today, I'm better thought of in town that I'd guessed. At least by some. They seem to be under the impression that my working at a saloon was just what a young widow had to do to get by. Which isn't all wrong. The point being I may have more influence than I thought." Helen says, "Don't push your luck. Some of the town gossip is about you and that crooked gambler Conrad Booth. As long as you're seen in his company you'll never be accepted by many of the folks in town." Kate answers, "Then I won't be accepted. I don't believe those rumors, and until he shows me he's not worthy of my trust he has it. Since I don't expect that to happen, the wagging tongues in town will just have to keep wagging. Let me guess, either I'm a terrible person for seeing a man so soon, or I'm a naive little girl he's taking advantage of." Helen says, "Neither, just a bad judge of character as far as they are concerned. Don't worry about what people say, I never have, and believe me Stanley and I have heard it all. But we women need to play this right this weekend to line up the votes for Monday." "I'm not going to worry, but thanks. I'm not used to being on the wrong side of society. As I said, I don't have much experience with this kind of thing. Beside talking with Clairesse, do you have any other suggestions?" Helen says, "Start there, I'll talk to Helen Cook. We'll talk again either tomorrow or Friday." "Thank you, Mrs. Barker. My family will be arriving on Friday afternoon, so it might be better to meet before then. Although they might have a few ideas of their own to help us out. It's going to be a long weekend." Kate said good-bye to Mrs. Barker and walked slowly from the Town Hall, lost in thought. The task ahead seemed very overwhelming at the moment.</blockquote>

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