The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-05
THEY GLORY IN GILKIsON.
st. Paul City Officials Respect the
New Secretary.

Mayor Doran, City Comptroller Nc
Cardy, Secretary John Caulfield, of the
water board, and Assemblyman Rear
don, have returned from the national
convention of mayors and councilmen
held at Columbus, o., last week. While
the st. Paul delegation was unSuccesS-
full in it's efforts to secure the conven-
ton for this city next year, st. Paul
came out second best in a contest, III
which the odds were all against its
wining
Referring to the difficulties the st.
Paul delegation encountered, Comp
troller McCardy said:
I'VE were hardly in position to
compete with the large delegations
sent to bid for the convention on be-
half Of the surrounding cities, such as
Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Gin
cinnati. We afterwards learned that
Cincinnati had a permanent. committee
specially appointed to go after conven-
tions, and that that city has raised a
special fund of $4,000 for this purpose.
All things considered, we think we did
pretty we'll in securing second place
in the contest"
The Minneapolis delegation, headed
by Mayor Pratt, was also after the con-
vention at first, but subsequently was
induced to withdraw in favor of St.
Paul and thereafter the delegation gave
st. Paul it's support. The members of
the st. Paul delegation were plentifully
supplied with cards, designed by Comp
troller McCardy. Each card bore the
following inscription:
"St. Paul to the Romans: We are
citizens of no mean city. Come to st.
Paul in 49,"
Referring to the favorable attitude of
the convention toward municipal own
ership and operation of street lighting
plants, Comptroller McCardy denied
the reports sent out from Columbus to
the effect that the election of B. F. Gill
kison as secretary, destroyed the value
and benefits of the convention. Capt.
McCardy said that the American as
sociation of street lighting companies,
as well as other street lighting corpora
tions, were opposed to the election of
Mr.. GilkiSon, because he was the pro-
prietor of the City Government Maga-
zine, the periodical which was largely
instrumental in bringing about the con-
vention. The corporations identified
with Municipal monopolies made a
fight against Gilkison, whose senti-
mentS were known to be in favor of
municipal ownership Of lighting plants.
Mayor Quincy, of Boston, the comp
trCller said, delivered a fierce speech in
opposition to Mr. Gilbison, but it prov
ed of no avail, much to the discontinue
of Bostons mayor. The election of Mr..
Gilkison, formerly a st. Paul man, has,
in the opinion of Comptroller McCardy
and Mayor Doran, assured the perpet-
uity of the organization effected. The
vote by which he was elected was
unanimous, his opponents declining to
vote.
Mayor Doran, in speaking of the mat
ter, said that in view of the reports
published in certain Chicago and Co.
lumbus papers, that the monopolies and
corporations were endeavoring to pack
the convention with delegates opposed
to the municipal ownership of lighting
plants, the election Of Mr.. Gilkison was
a fortunate thing, as in case the con-
vention had turned him down, such ac-
ton would have given color to the re-
ports circulated.