New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-23
THE uAYOR or IILF0RD CEy1RE

Ncw-York is not the only town that has
Mayor combining a pretcrnatural activity OF
mind with grim devotion to the public service.
Milford Centre Ohio. is blessed with one
whose reforming zeal is even more comprchcn-
sive than that of Mayor Hewitt. and who could
give that fluent official points IN literary styic'
especially in the construction oil proclamatlohs.
Two of these have now issued from the hand Oh
Mr.. Spencer Garwood, the official in question,
which. for energetic and aggressive morality,
and an earnest and high minded disregard OF
the rules of rhetoric. have probably no parallel
in the whole range of official literature. The
first Of these, which has been considerably ex-
p!oited in the press, dealt with measures Ior
preventing minors from "playing at pool IN
saloon. tipping over the bar or tamperIng
with the DEVIL" acting as "bolsterous. In
decent outlaws" at /" what is called chivaree'"
and bounding" a marriage, "as If IL were
second bedlam at feast" and other offences
against good order after p. m.
The Mayors second paper is termed his pro-
testation against the cruelty Of animals and
menu which he issues because 60 truth needs
10 color; drunkenness and cruelty no
apology" If any beast is found tied to any
hitching-place for six consecutive hours
"without the fare of feed fodder, shelter or
water.n the town marshal is to care for 1T at
tho owners expense. There is beautiful
analogy here. for the Mayor proposes much the
same method of dealing with men. If any
man he found lettering about dram shops or
nublic places, "habitually in drunken and
;ntcmpcrate condition. idling from business
The prudence Of life. mcanly providing Tor
families. breaking all the engagements OF
faith, love and affection between himself and
wife. ncglecting the duties devolving upon
him. not providing for home. neighbor or him
self. the Marshal is with charity charged 10
dcal no better with the beast than with that
man. whom he will take, confne. cool him. and
sober him at the bread and water expense OF
the public. Sheep and cattle know enough
hen to 60 and return from the pastures. some
men at times do not" The Mayor proceeds to
argue that such men must be taken IN hand Dy
tho community. "When child cannot dress
itself the parent does" This regulation Is
evidently TO be enforced without fear or favor.
Good is no rcspecter of persons. permits evil,
sunshine and rain alike upon the just and The
unjust" says the Mayor; "and no man hath
powcr to suppress, but he is wise who directs
them TO good uses. Reason acts with the
greatest compulsion upon the mind" Tbs
may be so in Milford Centre, but Mayor Car
wood should not be too sure that it is uni
versal rule.
His Temperance sermon is most earnest
one. "The man who rObS his own mnd'"
he SAYS, "robs his family and his neigh
Dor of his manhood, trcspasscs upon the
morals, strength and character of society,"
leaves a loathsomc body, brute of folly an
idiot, a fool and perhaps fcnd to the burden
OF society deeply wrongcd." That body
"whcther drunken to folly. to fool. to tcnd'
or dead drunk'-note the peculiar classification
Of the various degrees of intoxication most
prevalent in Milford Ccntrc-"is the debris OF
a dethroncd mind and to all good society IS
oeono;ro and nuisance. Hcnce"-Obscrve
his merring legal reasoning" under inc
nuisance ordinance, any such body within The
corporation habitually found will be removed
for notification Am ! not free TO do as
pIcase? is a mean interrogative." Mean or
not, it is one he evidently never put to himself
for a man who felt more free to do as he
plcased never sat in a Mayors chair. Wcwan1
that kind of a man in New-York He should
ne sent for. when Mr.. Hewitt gets tired OF writ
ing letters. denying interviews and reforming
other DcODc.