The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-13

Inc First Charter Election Was
Held March 4, 1S54-David Ohm
stead the First Mayor-The Days
of Norman w. Kittson, Col.
Prince, DIR. Stewart and William
Dawson The Grand Record
Made by the "OId Gang" in Build
ing Up the Capital City of the
State of Minnesota.
To The St. Pau. Globe:
Every now and then we run across
some one who is holding down some
little Office under the present admins
tration, or one in the line to appoint
ment to some Office, who with tears in
his eyes VIII tell you that the old gang
(meaning the Democracy of st. PauD
are getting ready to make an attempt
to get in power again, and unless the
people want to be robbed, their homes
plundered and their property coniiscat-
ed, they win have to be careful, and
that to carry out the great reform that
mas been commenced and under way
Ehe present administration should be
.Cetaiued in power, and if that is 50
within few years taxes and assess
ments will be a dream of the past. In
all lines of business the people will be
prosperous; there viii be no idle men,
all will have employment at fair and
remunerative prices, and that the alb
Sence of vice and intemperance will re-
mind you of a New England village in
the days of the Pilgrim Fathers; yet
in fact, as a matter of. history, no
municipal corporation since the days
that Egypt went lousy has been inflict-
ed with such a gang as ST. Paul has
running her government today, at least
history has never made mention of
any.
In this paper propose to write of the
men who have filled the office of
mayor. from the Incorporation of the
city of St. Paul to the present time,
including the present executive.
The city of St. Paul was incorporated
on the 18th day of March, 1854. The first
election under the charter was held on
the 4th day of April following, and on
the 18th day of the same month the
municipal life of st. Paul began, ard
from that day until the commence
ment of the administration of the Hon.
Z. B. Doran, unless we except quasi
attempt of the Hon. Frederick p.
Wright. while mayor, has the munic.pa.
government of the city of st. Paul
ever been run upon purely partisan
and political lines, without regard to
merit, ability or competency appoint
in fIrT-t he. mr. Of nn1itip9l
schemes, and personal continuance in
office without regard to the needs or
betterment of the municipality.
The First Mayor.
Who are the men who have been
mayors of St Paul? The first was
David Olmstead, a Democrat of the
Jeffersonian school; man who as
mayor honored the city. Bluff Alex"
Alexander Ramsey, the old war gov
ernor. succeeded Olmstead. Ramsey
an old line Wing in those days, after
wards ard now Republican; radical
as far as national and state politics are
concerned, yet in municipal affairs,
non-partisan. AS mayor he managed
the affairs on business lines, and in
business ways. In his appointments
IL made little if any, difference what
a mans politics were, if he was honest
ard capable, and the same may be said
of him in his army appointments while
governor. His first military appoint
ment was that of a colonel of the First
regiment of Minnesota volunteers, with
more than half a dozen candidates for
the position, as our people at the out
set were of the impression that war
meant an every day holiday, with
plenty of rations, good pay and moth
two 70 do how ayrl ar IN Goa
a Southern soldier or fight. Later
on it appeared that they had been
slightly mistaken. On a memorable
Sunday in 1861, at the old American
house, the House of Hope membership
in those days did not object to secular
business being transacted on the Sab
bath, instead of filling the pewS of the
church and contributing literally to
the support of the gospel and foreign
missions. the governor, after hearing
what the several delegations had to say
in favor Of their several candidates,
quietly said. Gentlemen, Col. w. ~.
German will be commissioned as
colonel of the First regiment of Mime
sofa volunteers. Col. German, while
not only a Democrat, had said more
Unkind things about Gov. Ramsey than
any other man in the state, but with
old Bluff Alex. that made no difference,
what he wanted was the right man in
lne right DldIe
The next mayor was the Hon. George
L. Becker QS56). His administration
was a clean one, run upon economical
lines without regard to anything but
the betterment of the city.
In the order of succession came the
Hon. Johr B. Brisbin QS5O. In reeog-
milton of his services as a member of
the territorial council to defeat the
capitol removed bill, he received every
vote cast for mayor. Bris. used to say
politics were while mayor-whether he
Commodore Fkittson.
Then came Norman W. Kittson
CS5S His administration was dur
ing the psnic Of 1857, when it was a
question Of daily breed; values were
rCwhere, ard taxes were paid at about
the same rate of discount as depositors
aad certifioate-h holders are paid by the
banks VIII ch have recently failed-his
administrat on was one of retrench-
ment and economy in all the depart
ments OF the city government.
After Kittson, came Col. D. A. Rob-
ertscn GS5G). An old Tammany Demo-
crat. who. like Old Hickory, never
hesitated to rse his veto powers, when
he was satisfied that there was mig
ger in the wood pile, or that some one
was attempting to steal some fran
chise or concession in opposition to the
best Interests of the people.
Then came Col. John S. Prince 1880
el-62- e5 ar q So. He served five terms;