St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-03

more, Old and young. managing editors,
editorial writers and police reporters,
and each bore look of pleased eXpec-
fancy. As soon as the park board adj
jeurned all the older members of the
ceuucil. some of the newer ones,
Mayor Babb and several well-known
park commissioners poured into the
room, and city hall employees, with
other casual listeners, half filled
the room. Soon Mart Williams
the Oldest newspaper reporter in the
city, came in and then the object of the
gathering was made known. Mayor
Babb called the meeting to order, and
announced in a somewhat severe tone
of voice that he had been called upon to
prefer charges against an old and re-
spected citizen, and moreover ackuoWl-
edged that he took pleasure in so doing.
He then called upon Aid. Downs aud
Barrows to escort the culprit. who
proved to be Mart Williams, 70 the
table. Mr.. Williams appeared little
embarrassed when he stood in front of
the table, but gathered himself together
enough to say he pleaded guilty. what
ever the charge might be. The mayor
then said that MI. Williams had been
charged with roaming around great
deal both at night and during the day,
and that large number of the alder
men, who knew and respected him, had
considered it necessary to have him
chained. He then presented him with
a fine gold watch chain in token of the
respect and good feeling of the city
council as represented by those who had
made him the present.
The veteran scribe was entirely at
loss for words to thank the mayor, and
as he turned he was addressed by e. G.
Chaplin, city editor of the Pioneer Press,
for some years. Mr.. Chaplin informed
the assembled multitude that the asso-
ciates whom Mr.. Williams was leaving
considered it. necessary TO have him
watched, and thereupon presented him
with fine gold watch, with the compli-
ments of the staff and employees of the
Pioneer Press. By this time Mart had
collected some of his thoughts and
managed to thank the donors i'm few
words. As he turned away once more
a hand was laid on his arm, and G.. NJ.
Schultz, of the Tribune, pointed him to
an elegant easy chair, which he begged
him to accept as a token of the regard
and esteem of the Tribune staff.
The recipient of all these gifts seemed
too pleased to speak for moment, and
was seen to remove suspicious moist
ure from the corners of his eyes with
his handkerchief. He managed to reply
to the letter. which was handed to
Mayor Babb as master of ceremonies
and read aloud by him.
Congratulations were then in order,
and all crowded around to shake hands
with the man who was rendered these
remembrances on the occasion of his
retiring from active newspaper life.
after long series of years spent in the
service.
After the congratulations the meeting
was called to order once more, and sew
eral people present. including Aid.
Barrows, Downs and Hangar; E. A.
Stevens, A. Z. Ankeny and the
following members of the press
gang: j. L. Mannix, J. Frank Mead,
c. NJ. Schultz and James Gray, were
called upon and made short speeches.
All joined in paying high tribute to
Mr.. Williams many good traits of
character, his perfect honesty, faithful
ness and truStwOrthinesS, and his
kindly spirit toward all mankind.
Mr.. Williams has been employed On
the Pioneer Press for eighteen years,
twelve years of which he has labored in
Minneapolis, and large part of the lat
ter period he has been doing city hall
work. During that time he has made
many friends and no enemies, and
neither in his profession nor out of it
has he an acquaintance who will not
regret his leaving his old post nor fail
to be glad that he has fallen into a
pleasant place under the new municipal
government