The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
LORD MAYORS OF LONDON.
How They Are Elected and Installed.
Their Functions

Their Functions.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
Wednesday, the 9th OF November, was
lord mayors day in London, when the
new lord mayor was Installed to serve
his fellow citizens, the guilds and the al
dermen for another year, There was
great pomp and ceremony. a brilliant pa
geant in the streets Of the city and In the
evening a splendid banquet In the Guild
hall, at which the great dignltaries OF the
state, the most distinguished people in the
kingdom, foreign ambassadors and other
celebrities were present 1t Is at these
banquets that speeches are often made by
cabinet ministers that excite or assuage
the fear of war; that explain the situation
OF Great Britain toward the rest Of the
world, and draw the attention of every
European CO pital. Such a speech was made
the other night by Lord Salisbury at the
banquet given in honor of Lord Kitchener,
and on Wednesday night ne viii be ex-
pected to explain the reasons for the pres
ent activity in respect to Great Britalns
armament.
The city of London, over which the lord
mayor Is elected to rule, IS not great met
ropolilan London, the largest city in the
world, but very Insignificant part Of IL
50 far as territory and population are
concerned. II lies between The town of
London and Westminster Abbey, and con-
talns only G5s square acres ana q popula-
ton of about $1,000 people. There are many
Chicago wards that are larger than this
famed city. IL Is divided into twenty-six
wards, some Of which cover but a few
acres Of ground, the largest OF them hav-
ing but very few voters, and these are
known only to the ward clerks. Each ward
elects an alderman. who serves for life,
and who In due time become lord mayor
with salary of 10000 and an immense
amount OF patronage.
In order to be a citizen of London you
must be a member Of one of the numerous
guilds or associations which are at the
foundation of the municipal government
No person who did not belong to one Of
these guilds could carry on business in the
old times within the walls of London
They were the original of modern labor
organizations the closest and most jealous
kind of corporations. If anyone wanted
to sell fish he was obliged 20 join the
fishmongers' guild, or II he wanted 10
make and sell clothes he must join the
tailors' guild. Aud so Of the MERGERS, the
goldsmiths, the diapers, the blacksmiths
and all the rest. AS time went on these
guilds became very rich and powerful, Of
ten obtaining additional mcnoDoles from
the English kingsc or from parliament In
return for loans Of money and these priyi-
leges and monopolles they have defended
and held on to with all their might and
skill
To be given "the freedom OF the city" by
the guilds OF London or OF any British or
Irish city Is a very different thing from
what Is called "the freedom Of the city,
In this country. Here 1t Is OF little or no
significance, and IL IL means anything il
is that some certain access of hospitality
IS accorded to the clty's guests present on
some particular occasion OF joDity or jun
ketlng. When the Mayor OF Omaha IN a
glowing speech extended the freedom OF
that city to Mayor Harrison and other
Chicagoans who visited the Transmlssls-
sippi exposition he did not mean that they
were entitled theneeforth % an the prlYi-