The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-02-12
Oratorical Pyrotcchnics.

Those who were present in the Coun-
Gil chamber on last Tuesday evening
were in luck. Not since Billy Bryan
and, by-the-bv, he will have to look out
for his laurels-smote the air of the
great Democratic wigwam in the Windy
City with his silvery periods, was there
ever such a display of oratorical pyro-
technics, parachutes acknowledgements
wind. Aid. Newburg. the Populist or
ator from the first ward, rose amid the
smoke Of old punk" cigars and corn
cobs, and proceeded to 'vindicate" his
character from the aspersions cast upon
it at the previous meeting by Alderman
French, and spread broadcast over the
city. He denied that he was purposely
absent from the last meeting to avoid
voting on the veto question. He knew
it was coming up, and he had told the
mayor that he would not vote to sus-
tain his veto. His absence was due to
to the election of Populist friend in
Duluth, with whom he vas celebrating
the victory, and he thought he should
be excused as it was not ofte n the Popu-
lists had a chance to celebrate, and We
admit that their opponents in the coun-
Gil chamber and outside could afford
to show their magnanimitv under the
circumstances. With scathlng sarcasm
he turned on Aid. French. He was not
responsible to that alderman for his &C
tons. Upon what food does this
Caesar feed that he Las grown 80 great
as to tell AID. Newburg what he shall
DO and when he shall stay away from
council meetings? ~ he asked. With
mocking reverence he compared him
to Moses, Joan d. Arc, George Wash
ington and Abraham Lincoln. lie was
a financering Messiah, who by single
resolution could pay the whole city debt
when there was DO money to pay it with
and should have the whole world for his
sphere. He must have an Aladdin
lamp under his coat.
Most men would have expired there
and then from such 4 severe LASH
ing, but Aid. French did not seem to
be injuriouslv affected. In fact he
rather seemed to enjoy it, and when
Aid. Newburg concluded, rose and re-
marked: 81 could not see before
what good would come of all this, but |
see now that in this warm air Aid. New
burg had accumulated lot of wind, and
if he had not had chance to ease off
there would have been a dead alder
man" Thus did he, SO to speak
annihilote his enemy with two or three
ways of his jaw. How true it Is that
not always the biggest mouth is armed
with the sharpest tongue.
Aid. French then turned his atten-
ton to the mayor, whom he accused of
going to Aid. McNe:Il's store to get him
to sustain his veto of the water works
resolution. This brought the mayor to
his feet, who called upon Aid. Mills to
take the chair, and proceeded, in a
voice that rang through the hall, to re-
ply TO his accuser. He gave the lie di-
rect TO the statement that he had APP
preached Aid. Mcneil, said he had no
apologies to make concerning his ac-
ton on the water question, and said
that when he believed thing was
wrong he would 60 against it, 70 matter
what the public thought, and remarked
that it would be better to pay the COM
pany the $50, 600 the city owed it before
taking action against it. "Thc fact OF
the matter is this" said he: There
are certain men who would like to have
it go out on the highways that Starkie
favOrs the Water company. L am viii
ling to take that veto and go before the
people, and believe they will sustain
my position" He referred to the ac-
ton taken two :years ago against the
company and its failure: This resolu-
ton" said he, would SIMPLY mean
that We 90 before the attorney general
and have the case quashed again"
This brought AID. French to his feet
again, who said that the mayor was
wrong. :" He says the action to annul
should 20 before the Attorney General.
1t should have been commenced in the
Circuit court 1t was taken before the
Attorney General to give the company
time. The city had been saved $4,000
bv that action. and he would be willing
to spend 81 600 any time to save that
much to the people,
After some remarks by AID. Long,
Graham and Schlappi, the former of
hom said he believed the veto had
been written in St. Paul and that the
mayor could not fool the people with it,
Aid. French withdrew his motion for Il
call of the house, and the regular bust
ness was taken up. A resolution to an
null the water company's franchise was
again passed, Aid. Mills and O'Hare
voting against it, the salaries of some Of
the fircmen and the two police secre-
taries were increased, and after the
transaction of some other business the
council adjourned.
The New Regent.