The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-02-21
FROM THE FIRST WARD.

Trenton, last Sunday.
The Lambertville Rubber Company
has started to build a small addition to
their machine shop.
South Main street has been in re-
markedly good condition this Winter;
so the bikers at the rubber mill say.
All predictions in regard to the
weather have failed SO far. The nut
crop was abundant, which is said to
mean hard winter, but this and
other signs have not produced the
genuine old fashioned winter, and the
winter of 1s69-1900 is liable to go down
IN our memory as record breaker.
As the days begin to lengthen, every
thing indicate the approach of an early
spring.
Soon our Excise Board will be called
upon once more to grant license to the
hotels and saloons in our city. The
cause of intemperance is usually as
signed to saloons, rum shops and kin
dred establishments where intoxicants
are sold, and the notion prevails that
these removed, intemperance would
be cured. Hence the various forms of
remonstrances and protests so often
formulated against the granting of
license and against dealing in intoxi-
cants in general. This notion has
doubtless gained in force because of n
failure on the part of those who enter
tain it to recognize both sides of the
question. As it is not the gold within
easy reach of the avaricious mind that
prompts to robbery, so it is not the prox-
unity of the saloon but the weak will
of the individual that is the cause of
drunkenness. 1t is this lack of firm
ness, Of stability, of character, of
force, of will, of moral stamina, of
the ability to say No and mean it,
that is responsible largely for the evils
of intemperanee.
An early spring meeting of tho
Curb Club" was recently call
ed, and the Political Situation was
thoroughly argued. Councilman Billy,
assisted by the Honorable Mike, took
his usual side of the silver question
which was ably presented from finan-
cial standpoint. They made few
brief remarks upon the Philippines
and the patriotism of the G.. 0. p. At
| this iuncture the business was inter
rupted by Torrance McGinnis, our
| ward policeman, who took the stand
and enlightened the boys upon the
moral and patriotic duties of public
officer. Beginning, Mr.. MeGinnis said
| There is no moral duty to worry You
when you are working on public ap-
pointment. You get your orders from
the boss, and you go and do tho work
with your moral eye shut and think
only of the salary and new appoint
ment when your party gets i'll the
majority. That's patriotism. You
throw up your hat at the public meet
ing, when the orator belongs to your
party, and when the meeting is gotten
up by the opposition or by the social
lists or prohibitionists, or by organized
|
town, you get up dispute md aggra-
vate the thing till she blooms into
general row, and then you use your
club in the name of law and order, and
the flag, and arrest the orator for an
attempt to disturb the peace and excit-
ing the people to riot, and your reward
is sure to follow you when the country
goes out TO look up its jewels and give
them n snap Z" But how does n fellow
get his first appointment? How does
he first make himself solid with the
powers ?" inquired the Honorable
Mike. " Your first appointment comes
toyou Tina natural and legitimate way, +"
replied McGinnis, with wise look.
You first convert your neighbor to
your way of voting; then the two of
you convert several more, until you
get gang of ten. That brings to you
a whole lot Of free beer and hight toned
| cigars, which are necessary to carry
the ward. Your next job is to get con
troll of the council and mako yourself
president of the gang. The next step
| then is to be elected mayor, and get
the title of Honorable stuck on in
front of your name, and after that the
party can carry the town without you.
That brings you out for the Legislature
and you then get free pass on all the
railroads running out of our town.
Step by step you go from the state
senate to congress. Then your foreign
birth steps in and crowds you out of
the presidents chair and you stop till
this little bit of prejudice is wiped from
the constitution" "But we won't
have to stop there on account of our
birth-we were born in this country,
said Shorty, with u ring of triumph in
his speech. The benefit OF your BIRTH
Oh, that's the biggest joke Of the sea
son. You must be born handsome or
rich, my man, to reap any benefit, like
myself for instance. "Well," cried
Shorty, Il thought ! always had
pretty good chance to be president on
account Of my birth, but when ] get
born again darn my hide if ] don't go
over to Africa to have it done" Be
gracious that won't help you any at
all, says McGinnis, "the place is over
run with monkeys and Englishmen al
ready. You had better stay in New
Jersey and have a goose-tallow trust
made out Of yourself "
~-aa-.-
-"After doctors failed TO cure me OF