San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-24
CITY OFFICIALS.
Men Who Handle the Reins Of
the Best Governed City
in Texas.
"DUN" THEIR WATGHWORU.
For and of the People-Short
Sketches of the Gentlemen

of those at the head of public af-
fairs is progress.n
The city, in its rapidly extending
interests, requires men of ability
and of hustle" at its helm.
The office means something more
than glory, aud requires some
thing more than salary drawing.
An officer has to be constantly
on the alert in the judicial depart
ment to frame legislation that will
meet the growing needs; in the
executive to hold the restless,
throbbing population in unity
with each other, and in harmony
with the laws.
They must be gentlemen of
character and intelligence, and
quick to adjust themselves to
changing conditions.
Such body of men now preside
in San Antonio, and the brief
sketches to follow are of body of
men who would attract attention
anywhere.
HON. HENRY ELMENDoRF.
Success is like a pyramid, broad
at the base as the thronging mill
lions that crowd it. Towering up
wards, its form narrows. Scat
II - \ -
who have achieved something
more than usual prominence in
the worlds affairs. at the top are
the few men who have grandly
succeeded, their forms lit up by
the sunshine of their well-earned
prosperity. Among these we men
tion Hon. Henry Elmendorf = our
mayor. One orthe needs of good
government is/a wide-awake, con-
Sservative Business man as chief
executive.
Mayor Elmendorf's administra-
tion dates back to 1894, and his of
fetal acts have fully eXemplified
his interest in the welfare and ad-
vancement of the city.
Every detail of the position is
closely scrutinized by him, and
when we say that he does all in his
power to advance the interests of
our great city, we but do the gen.
tleman justice.
Mayor Elmendorf first saw the
light of day at New Braunfels,
this state, April 18th, 1919. When
but two or three years of age, his
parents came to San Antonio, and
here our subject was reared and
educated, attending st. Mary's
college, and the English and Ger
man school. In 1863 he left school,
went abroad and completed his
education at the GARNER Institute,
in Germany.
At that time his father was en-
gagged in the hardware business,
aid our subject became associated
with him in that business.
AS the years rolled by, success
followed in the footsteps of the
man, and by his quiet determine
ton, honorable business methods
and an innate knowledge of human
nature, he was brought into the
notice of his fellow citizens, who
in 1892 elected him a member o.
our city council.
His record in that body needs
no compliment from our pen. 1t i:
an open book, the pages of which
are as white as the driven snow.
He has always advocated the
upbuilding of his adopted city, ant
the records of our council proceed
ings will establish this fact.
He served in council until 1894
when he was appointed mayor by
the votes of his fellow councimen
to fill vacancy. So well did hi
perform the duties entrusted tt
him, that in 1895, after a heated
campaign, he was elected to the
position he graces so well.
While believer in rigid econo
my, he does not believe in with
holding the progress of San An
tonic. Mayor Elmendorf is {
member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows; Knights of Hon
or; Knights and Ladies of Honor
Casino Society; Turner Verein
the San Antonio Club, and several
local singing societies, in all o
which he has an excellent stand
ing. Mayor Elmendorfs friend:
are legion, and only limited by the
number of his acquaintance.
His career in San Antonio is
known to one and all. It has been
his constant endeavor to push his
city TO the front, and for this pur-
pose he has devoted both time and
means. Public spirited and gen.
erous to a fault, he has made an
administration that will go down
into the annals of the history Of
he city, that win be looked upon
after years with pride and de-