St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-16
CAUGHT ON THE CURB.
Observations of Prominent Men and Pub
lie Measures in the Flour
City.
A Group Of Aldermen on the Avenue Sug-
gests Certain Pertinent
Thoughts.
Great Heads of Council and Some of
Their Peculiar Methods and
Ambitions.
Better Men Out of Councfi--Some of
Them Who Pass Within the
View of Helot.

oystander, as the trim figure and pale.
intellectual face of the alderman
OF that name sauntered by and were swal-
lowed up by the crowd. Henry Morse is a
man OF singular and positive convictions,
ana IS almost iron in tirmness, in his own
peculiar way. A year ago he defeated
Judge Z. ID. Woods, by large majority,
Tor MS present seat in council. The Fourth
ward mas always been pronounced for high
license, and Henry Morse has been con-
slstent advocate of low license. vet he
readily defeated Judge Woods on that very
ISSUE and has voted for license lower
than the the $500 rate ever since. 1t was a
matter of surprise, therefore, when he voted
ON Friday evening against the eight hour
system. concluded the remark l overheard
had reference to that vote. Is Henry
Morse out of politics? While his youth
and ambition last it is scarcely probable he
will withdraw. The last Democratic plat
form declared explicitly for eight hours, but
he was not elected upon it and perhaps did
not consider himself bound by it. Having
always been consistent, he must now be
credited with the same consistency.
The round, fat, eXpressionless face of Ed
M. johnson was seen bright and early on
the avenue. The great leader, law-giver
and expounder of council and the board of
education! He drew the ordinance under
which Inspector Pardee refused permit to
George A. Bracket. He likewise advised
George A. Bracket to go ahead with the
building. And still the coroners jury in
making up its verdict refused to recognize
his eminent talent. He juggles
the Republican majority in the
council with unerring sagacity, and
in the meteoric outbreaks of the municipal
hn 4ha
wiser members to content themselves with
back seat in the tail And yet, in a solid
Republican ward where no fight was made
against him, he pulled through by the slen-
der majority of Ito. Special dispensation
of Providence, doubtless.
Great legal acumen.
Mr.. johnson is not a member of the
board of education. He is only its legal
adviser and assistant deputy clerk. Yet
how he has run it. He had advised the
board it could make a contract with Mr.
.. V. Tousley for a term of years, when he
knew the board changes every year. He
can look up the title of piece of land de-
sired for educational purposes and receive
good pay for it, when real members of the
board can request the seller to present salts
factory evidence of sound title and save this
expense. With genuine regret the in
formation comes that possibly the board will
no longer follow Mr.. johnson from office
to office; that he has played nurse
long enough and it may conclude to dis
pense with his valuable services johnson
& Touslev may soon be heard as the style
of a new firm.
Another Second ward man passes.
Aid. +. c. BarrowS has had considerable
experience in council. He is a manufac-
tIlrnr Ic tn ho 7
shrewdness. Yet it is said on good au-
thority that he based his vote against the
short hour system On the ground that if
council passed it, it would go into effect at
his mill as well. Mr.. Barrows has a great
opinion of council, largely induced by the
fact that he is a member. He regards
council as omnipotent and feels that should
he cast his vote for eight hours, every
manufacturer in the city would feel in duty
bound to follow suit. Edward Johnson's
influence had nothing to do with his vote
Mr.. Barrows is wrapped up in his will and
unless indications fail he mill have, after
next spring, more leisure time to devote to
it. Council committees and harassing poll
tics will worry him no longer.
A pleasing change comes.
His worst enemy will say nothing bad
about Capt. E. c. Babb. 1 never heard his
motives questioned. When rich black dirt
was being lavishly distributed over favored
lots in the Eighth ward he refused to take
it for his own. There is nothing of the
boodler about him. So he is out of place
in council and will not stand for a sec
ond term next spring. He and Herman
Westphal are having too interesting race
in the ice business to permit OF the squan-
dering of valuable time in council. Aid
Babb has failed, some way or another, to
stand in with the Eighth ward ring and his
decision to withdraw will not be fought by
his colleagues. More's the pity.