AKRON BEACON JOURNAL: JANUARY 21, 1930
NORTHFIELD SPLIT APPEARS IN
FIGHT FOR TOWN POSTS
C.W. Seiberling May Withdraw Estates of Political Battle
COUNCIL SEATS INVOLVED
The village of Northfield was rife with political discussion Tuesday following the threat of withdrawal from the village of the estates of C.W. Seiberling, vice president of Seiberling Ruber Co., and other estates opposed to the rule of Mayor William J. Burns, who was reelected after a bitter fight last November.
Political strife in the village was revived last night when three of the members of the council met to elect another councilman of the views. The meeting was attended by Cletus Roetzel, attorney representing Seiberling, who was there to advise the three that one of their number had been elected illegally and that election of another councilman could not be held legally.
Questions Grimm's Election
Before attending the session Roetzel had obtained permission to file suit in the court of appeals to "inquire into the right of Harry Grimm to serve as councilman". Hearing on the suit will be held before the appellate court judges next Tuesday.
In the meantime, Mayor Burns controls the council.
The three Burns men chose Grimm on Jan. 10 to succeed Vincent Hubbard, who was force to resign on the ground he sold gasoline to the village. Grimm last night voted with the other three despite Roetzel's warning and elected Louis Blaha to succeed Pitt Pratt, who resigned at the time Hubbard did, on Jan. 10. Blaha is also a Burns man.
$54,000 is Distributed
The councilmen followed up the election by distributing $54,000 in the general fund, which has been declared to make Northfield "the wealthiest municipality" in the state, as it furnishes more money that the council can find places to put it.
Among the expenditures ordered last night was the erection of a fire house to cost $4,000, a volunteer fire department with a chief, two lieutenants, and 40 members, salaries for two paid deputies for Marshal Henry Smith, and two more subject to call. Smith previously had served as a one man-fire department for the village and had no deputies.