Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-21
THURSDAY EVENING. NOV. a. 1901
THE POET asks and answers:

TIE POET asks and answers:
IWhat constitutes stste'
Not hish-raised bsttlements or laooiel
mounds, thick walls or moated gstei
Not cities proud with spires and turIes
crowned,
Not hays With broad.srmed ports,
Eo-men, high.minded men:
Men who their duties know,
Bat know their rights, and knowing dAre
maintain;
These constitute state"
What constitutes . cityf O0e we'll
eoverned-one In spite Of efforts OF
those within it's gates to blscken and
besmirch its name. and abuse and mis-
REPRESENT those who partly rule lone
that under the search.light Of the most
aggressive critics and enemies, yet even,
under such adverse conditions, stands ss
a model for others, might constitute
city. The campaign recently closed IN
greater New York was perhaps the
most remarkable ever held 10 that great
oIty-a city exceeding in voting strength
MANY states. Halls were crowded 10
hear speakers; the street corners
were turned into platforms from which
small bore orators aired themselves;
wagons were covered with Signs urging
one thing and another; women were
organized into clubs and secured the
city. and on Sunday before the election
nearly every pulpit was turned into o
ros,rum with Tammany as the text.
From Harlem to the Battery, across
the river to Brooklyn and Its neighbor'
Ing borougbs, Richmond and Queens,
Tammapy and Croker were denounced
unsparingly as twin monsters OF
rspaoity and ruin. The democratic par
ty. or those worthy to be called DEM
ocrats, we're not entirely silent, and az
times INDUCED In the spectacular TO
attract the voters attention. On every
available place 1t had painted. and at
night In electric letters, one could read:
ANDREW Carnegie says New York Is
the best governed city 10 the world"
Mr.. Carnegie returned from England
a few days before election, but he on
this subject would not be interviewed,
and remained as silent as II dumb.
Last week at meeting of the reformers
Mr.. Carnegie admitted that ne made
statement OF this character 10 London,
which OF course surprised the mutual
admiration society there assembled.
Bot this, after the election is over, is
followed by an admission upon the part
OF the immaculates equally as startling.
A few days ago Mayor-eleot Seth Low
was invited to "White House dinner"
to obtain few tips from the President
as how he managed things when he was
"it" as police commissioner 10 New
York. Upon his return to New York
Mr.. George L. Rives was selected by
the mayor-elect for corporation counsel.
Mr.. RIves recently delivered an address
to large audience OF women OF the
Berkeley Lyoeuw, explaining some of
the provisions of the new charter,
which viii! be effective January l. He
said, in concluding bis address: "Of the
charter 1t may be said that 1t 10 q
mighty maze, but not without plan.
When one considers the magnitude OF
the task of governing this immense city
one is inclined to wonder, not that it
has been run badly, bat that 1t has been
run so we'll az 1t has. The opportu-
mites for plumber, too. are 20 great"
A tribute to democratic rule. On the
day after the election Mr.. Croker said
he was much surprised OF the re-
suit; however, 1t was evident the
people, through their votes, wanted
q change; they would have 1t. and he
hoped the change would be beneficial;
time only could tell. Mr.. Croker is
neither q gutter. kicker nor boiler.