The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-29
BRIDeEPoRTs sToKER-MAYoR.
Denis Mulvihill Thinks His Old Job
the Easier.
New York MorIdN

the Easier.
New York World.)
Typically Irish in temperament, good
natured. witty, stubborn, suspicious,
generous and altogether whOle-hearted,
typically Scotch in his habits, keen at a
bargain, shrewd in investment. strong
in the disposition to LAY by for the
rainy day. typically American in his
instincts, loving freedom and justice
and recognizing no class distinction be
tween mill hand and mililOnaire-Such
is Denis Mulvihill, former cOal-shOveller
and present mayor of Bridgeport, Conn.
When Mr.. Mulvihill was first mentioned
as possible mayOralty candidate the
suggestion was regarded as a huge joke.
When the nomination was rendered and
accepted, and Denis MUlvlhillS name
placed at the head of the Democratic
ticket, the Democratic population of
Bridgeport declared their party leaders
placed an impossible dummy on its ticket.
But the Democrats of Bridgeport did not
know the power of their candidate. They
knew he was a labOTer. but they did not
know he was an unusual one.
They knew he earned his living shovel
ing coal into the furnaces of the Wheeler
& Wilson sewing machine factory, but
they did not know the high order of sys-
tenatic method he had applied to his
humble calling, in pursuing Il for thirty
two years without a break for rest or
recreation. from $3.50 in the morning until
Z at night.
They did not know that out of a salary
of 81 a week for thirty-two years he
had reared a family, bought a home and
become a taxpayer
And, above all. they did not know
even superior factory hands who patron
izingly called him Denis did not
know that Denis MulvihilI, lsborer, with
spirit meek as his calling and hands as
hard as work could make them, had
- AH-- II
lars that placed him on a level above
them all. 1t was the ore Of content.
Strikes and strife, grumbllng and dis
content, these elements found no quarter
in the lie of Denis Mulvihiil. He is per
feet specimen of the ideal workman As
such he came to be known and loved by
employers and fellow wOTkmen. As such
he became a shining example to others of
his class of which the population of
Bridgeport Is largely composed, which
class, regardless of party politics, backed
him and doomed him and elected him to
the highest official position the city af-
fOrds. Whether an ideal workingman can
govern city; whether a cOntented mind,
a continuance of purpose, system, honesty,
earneStneSS and a fair share of ordinary
horse sense, can effectively take the place
Of education, culture, diplomacy, knowl-
edge or human nature ana familiarity
with men and events viii be an interest
ing side light on the social problem dur
ing Denis Mulvihills term of office
At any rate, the mayor of Bridgeport
has limitations which he never would
have discovered had he not discarded the
workingman's cap. Truly the good things
as well as the bad. all have their COM
pensations. That Mayor Mulvihill at least
suspects these limitations he plainly
showed in an interview.
Mayor Mulvihill is a short, thick-set
man. with deep gray eyes and strong
features. When ! entered his chambers
in the city hall his eyes followed mine
n OILS nf no
furnishings, and he said, a trifle un-
easily:
sure. I guess III get used to it.
I'm not used to working in quarters
like this. and habits a strong thing; but
I'm not too old to cultivate new ones.
How old?"
Fifty"
You don't look IT,"
ITS the best tonic in the world he
replied. 1T makes you healthy and
happy. It's both cure and preventive;
and I'd Ike to get patent OF hard work
as an instant and permanent relief for
all ills-and do you know who I'd pre-
scribe it fOr?"
"Who?"
Every rich mans son. I suppose they
talk me OVer-talk about my lack of edu-
cation and lack Of bringing up. Well, now,
I've word to say about their over-edu-
cation and over-bringing up. / don't mean
to say it isn't good for man TO be cul-
tured and educated and all that. It's
a good thing, If he knows how to apply
it and has the more necessary qualities TO
go with it,"
What are the more necessary quail
Iesg"
Good sense and enduring power. DO
you know what I'd do with every rich
mans son. I'd put him in a factory for a
year, and let him shovel coal, or break I
stone or run machinery. I'd teach him (
he Of no Ta1
mans standpoint I'd harden his mus
cles with work that would show him why I
workingmen go on strikes. And If he I
wanted to be mayor of a city or hold a 1
government position, I'd show him that 4
the only way to learn the wOrkingH1an's I
needs and know how to help him is to 1
be a workingman himself, and work as /
they work, and live as they live, and feel 1
what they feel"
HAS the workingman a grievaneew I /
asked.
He has if the government is run ex- /
and his tax money is 1
wasted"
"But you've been workingman, and 4
you were content"
Yes" said Mulvihill slowly; that 4
was"
More than you are hereY'
''Well"-the new mayor shifted about in 4
his chair-"I amt just used to this yet. 4
It doesn't seem quite right. I've been !
used to the other way so long itll take I
time. ] can't stop waking up at 4 O'Clock 4
In the morning and feeling hurried and I \
can't quite get used to thinking I'm the /
boss. At the end of my term I'll still be 4
plain Denis MulvihilI; my head won't j
swell a bit You come around here in a /
year and see If / amt Just the same But /
there's a lot of things l hadn't counted /
OF. Folks seem to expect a whole lot 4
Of a new mayor. About 400 people that
voted for him expect to hold down the /
same job Its a perpiexing problem for
Il