The Portland daily press., 1895-06-22

ldent Palmer, of the Worlds Fair There
We're few lots in the heart of the city,
some by the river, while altogether the
patches formed nearly as many black
spots on the map as the list of polling
places.
May or Pingree, who works an average
| OF fifteen hours a day for Detroit gave
early instructions that there was no fool
| lshness to be allowed He wanted three
uperintendents for the three divisions of
the city, with three mounted police to SUI
pervise and patrol the potato patches
This force was to be selected with care,
| ordered especially to see that the planting
was done with pains and that the tenants
played fair. He finished all these prelim-
inaries early, and had the department in
perfect working order when the time came
to send the plowmen into the fields. He
had twenty of them, and, remembering
the lessons he learned down on the old
Maine farm, he was present to see the
first sod turned and to tell the men ex-
actly how to do the work.
1t took about two weeks to pillow the $50
acres This big farm was divided into
about twenty fields, the commission re-
fusing host of donations of single lots
and accepting only the larger tracts. 1t
was rolled and narrowed by the city, and
the first day in June the people were told
to report to the city granary. The crowd
which packed about the door was COM
posed half of women, since it had been
explained by the commission that the
wives might do the first work to save the
heads of families from loss of time in the
factories. They were clad in way which
left no doubt as to their position in the
fight with the world, careworn, haggard
and bent with the unequal struggles
which had been shouldered upon them.
The big granary, which is the headquar-
tiers of the Detroit municipal potato de-
partment, is the office of an abandoned
hotel, once the pride of the State and the
scene of all the great political plots in the
days when Zach Chandler made Michigan
an important factor in national affairs.
This old office, where have lobbied all
the famous leaders of other days, was di-
vided into two sections, with long bins
towering over a narrow aisle down the
center. In the rear the officials are pro-
tected from the rush of the city farmers
by wooden fence, with an iron top. The
walls are covered with signs in German,
Polish and English, and mandatory head
ings to Read this. y
1t is recited in the rules that each fam
lily is entitled to third of an acre. His
title is clear for the summer, or until the
owner shall notify the commission that
the ground has been sold. Should the new
owner desire to build or be unwilling to
PROMISES the laborer shall still be worth
his hire In its WISDOM which is another
name for Pingreeism, it has set aside for
ty lots for such emergencies, to be Guilt
waited by the commission. The tenant
who is ousted by sale is then assigned one
of these reserve patches, entitled to it's
product just as though he had done the
initial labor.
This feature especially appeals to the
mayor. He says that the grade of cit
izensihp is raised only in proportion as
the masses learn to realize that the mum
icipality recognizes their rights and pro-
poses to help them secure them. He de-
clares that the corporations have had such
unlimited power over the people in the
cities tina there has been created bad
feeling between the poorer class and the
local government. 1t was that way in
Detroit when he was first elected, but his
disposition at all times and under all cir
cumstances to have the council protect
the people has created friendly senti-
ment which makes him absolute idol
among the workingmen. His resolution,
on grand SCALE is shown practically
in a smaller way by his care that no ex-
pectant potato farmer shall work half the
summer and get no reward. This care
he does not call paternalissm-mere JUS
tice.
1t is the first rule that nothing shall be
done for the benefciaries which they can
do themselves. 1t begins with cutting
the potatoes. Each farmer or his proxy
must come to the bins and slice two and
one-half bushels. This is his portion for
planting, and as soon as this is completed
he gives his place to new conner. This
is accepted as evidence Of his good inten-
tions, and as he leaves he is given tag
which tells him to report at certain
patch on certain day, armed with hoe.
This implem ent he must buy, since last
year violations of trust by the farmers
lost the city abont 1000 tools.
The day specified finds the industrious
army on the ground, presenting their
temporary deeds to the foreman This
man talks all the languages of the city,
making a little instructive address on
the value of fair play and results OF care
in cultivating and planting. Each man
picks number from hat and the stalk
ing out begins. The numbers are painted
on white posts and from that moment
the mayor alleges a good citizen has been
made For the first time in his hard,
fighting life the workingman becomes a
landlord His pride swells his bosom.
He believes he has friend on earth, and
his enthusiasm is CONTAGIOUS III snreads