The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-14
LOOKING AFTER MIR. DUFFY.


In that most interesting of all the lit
erary departments of our ancient contem-
porary-the department. of official publica-
! tions-there has appeared within a day or
two a very touching expression of the ex-
alted nature of the political activities of
the reform politicians who, in the city
departments at least, will be turned out
quite generally after the 5th of the next
month. 1t was in the form of an ordi-
nance, and in the language of officialism
1t is known as Board File No. 11705. It
was introduced by Aid. Kenny, and is a
model in it's way of literary technique
and finish. 1t. moreover, requires no lit
tie knowledge of antecedent conditions,
as well as of the formalities of legal
terms, to comprehend it's import Here,
for instance, is it's first section, stated in
all the pomp and circumstance Of Aid.
Kennys well known familiarity with the
verbiage of the law:
The Common Council of the City of ST
Paul do ordain as follows:
Section l. That section l of Ordinance
No. 43O, entitled "An Ordinance in Rela-
D.
! be and the same is hereby amended by
striking out the words "Shall at its first
meeting in June of each and every year,
and inserting in lieu thereof the words
! shall, in joint session, on the second
Monday in January, 1902, and annually
thereafter;' and further, by adding 10
said section l, after the words said city,
the following words and phrases, to wit:
| And the term of office of the present
market master is hereby extended until
said second Monday in January, 1902, and
until his successor shall have been duly
elected and shall have qualified" so that
said section l as so amended shall read
as follows:
To the uninitiated this tells of the need
which exists in the cause of reform and
retrenchment that the term of the pres
ent market master should be extended
until the second Monday of January, 1902.
To those who know nothing of the politi-
| cal and personal associations of Aid
Kenny in his own ward this touching Of
! fetal recital simply means that Paddy
Duffy is going to hang on to a much
coveted job, even after that section of
the great American public which does
it's voting in ST. Paul had plainly de-
clared that Mr.. Duffy should go into re-
tirement for d more or less extended Pc
riod.
The second Monday in January, 1902! How
thoughtful of Mr. Duffy and Mr. Kenny!
They might have extended Mr.. Duffy's
term till the second Monday in June, 1902.
just as easily, and thus have enabled Mr.
Duffy even to officially outlive the term
of the incoming mayor and council. Not
only thoughtful. indeed must we account
this seizing of time by the forelock on
the part of Mr.. Kenny and Mr.. Duffy, but
dignified withal, and as revealing un-
thought-of powers of reserve!
There are a few other incidents attend
ing the enforced retirement of many of
the reformers which are nearly as digni-
fed, and which SAVIOR quite as much of
broad craftsmanship and profound respect
for the public will and Judgment but 1t
is doubtful If there has been any such
incident which reveals so much of mod
esty as this, since had Mr. Kenny and
Mr.. Duffy only willed it they might have
added three full months to the extended
term of Mr.. Duffy as market master.
1t must be regarded as involving a Sc
rious reflection on the good taste, as
well as on the political Judgment, of
President Donahower of the board of
aldermen, that he is the only member of
either branch of the council, Democrat
or Republican, who felt called on to reg
lister his official disapproval of this really
dignified and highly meritorious perform
ance of Mr. Kenny and Mr. Duffy.