The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-01
The Mayors Pretens1ons.

The Mayors Pretenslons.
In considering the criticisms which have
been made upon, the administration of May
or Deering, and the exceptions SO generally
taken to his methods of transacting the bus
mess of the city, his intercourse with other
branches of the city government, and his
treatment of many who have come in con-
tact with him in his official capacity, the
claim, which he sets up for himself, must be
kept in mind.
He has boosted that he has brought to the
discharge of the duties of Mayor, capacity
and integrity heretofore unexcelled.
1t should also be remembered that Mayor
Deering, in person, and through his intimate
friends, has been free with his insinuations
and charges against the capacity and integ-
rity of the men who have preceded him as
Mayor, or who have been associated with
him in the city government. Nor should it
be forgotten that Mayor behring's whole
stock in political trade so far as it is ex-
posed to the public gaze, is the alleged nee
essity of freeing the city government from
the control of the Republican party! He al
leges, as his excuse for his attempt to injure
and overthrow that organization, that it is
corrupt and unit to be trusted with the ad-
ministration of municipal affairs! That
Mayor, WHO should choose to consult with
men who enjoy the confidence of the Re-
publican party, could not be trusted to dis
charge bis duty honestly and capahly; that
n for aIsof mist 80 IL: ost~.
the confidence and respect of the people
this cabinet of political and administrative
advisers should include his well known
bosom friends. Chas. H. Chase, Sylvahus
Harmon, Benz. F. Andrews, r. P. Jewett,
ct hoe geaus omnel
The gentlemen named above are the most
prominent among those engaged in the task
of indicating Mayor Deeringl They are
endeavoring to impress the people with the
belief, that they have been called to the
front in this emergency, by their conviction
that neither personal nor political consider
ations should influence magistrate in the
discharge of his duties!
The fact should not be lost sight of, that
there is scarcely man, of either political
party, in the present city government, who
has presumed to differ from the Mayor, as
to any question affecting the conduct of
municipal affairs, who has not, at some time
during the last eleven months, been relega-
ted by his honor, to the category of ssfools''
or 'sknaves' or political dudes,'' with such
forcible, if not elegant, adjectives as may be
found in the Mayors somewhat replete vo-
cabularV of explosives! And nothing has
been said concerning Mayor Deering, or
his administration, which will compare in
want OF charity, to say nothing of coarse
ness, with the vituperation he has heaped
upon the men associated with him by the
votes of the people in the city government!
Keeping in mind all these claims of Excess
sive virtue and unwonted capacity made
for Mayor Deering by himself and his par
ticuiar friends, and the grossness of the
charges he and they have brought against
the Aldermen and Councilman of the city,
we ask even those citizens of Portland, who
think it but small matter, not worthy OF
newspaper comment, for the Mayor to award
the city work usually done by contract) to
personal and political adherents, to be done
by the day, at an ultimate cost. largely in
excess of bids received for the same job from
responsible parties; if this apparent failure,
either in business capacity, or official integ-
rity flor it is clearly one or the other) is
such as to justify the Mayors extravagant
claim that he was called into power to
aaauro nacifv and fraadop, froro oo,r,,,
ton in the Mayors Office? And whether it
does not put so much glass into his house
as to make him heed the old adage and re-
frain from throwing stones!
Will those citizens who believe it was
wise and prudent and honest Through vi
olation of the letter and spirit of the law for
the Mayor to act as the inspector of the coal
he had indirectly sold to the city; and who
bear in mind, that that coal could not have
been condemned, las subsequent examine
ton has shown it should have been) without
a loss TO the Mayor, in his capacity as coal
dealer, thus bringing his duty as Mayor
and his interest as an individual into direct
antagonism, will those citizens, we ask, who
regard this as matter too trifing for consid-
GRAFTON, say that the transaction is any evil
dence that the Mayor is holier than others
who have had to purchase coal for the city
heretofore? or that it is not matter for
suspicion and criticsmP
Finally we ask all citizens to remember
that if Mayor behring's course has been free
from personal and partizan motives, and for
the best interests of the city, and his acts
such as to commend themselves to citizens
anxious only for the public veal, then the
conduct of such men as John G. Tukesbury,
James F. Hawkes., John A. Emery. Fl. S.
Melcher, Sylvester Mari, Thomas Shaw,
John Ii. Fogg, Elias B. Denison, Edward A.
Noyes and other members of the city gov
eminent, of both parties,h has been influenced
by improper motives against the interests
OF the city and merits the disapproval of
good citizens! If Mayor Deering has been
right, these men have been wrongl If he is
entitled to vlndication, they deserve con-
demnation
Fortunately the citizens OF Portland know
these men and they know the Mayor, and
will judge and decide between them next
Monday We have no doubt of the result.