Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-29
ALLEGED POLITICAL SCHEME ~
On the Part of Some Republicans
Who Want to Ger Jobs.

Who Want to Get Jobs.
Reported Effort of Politicians to Secure a
Foothold In the street and Sewer and
Water Departments-1he Attempt, 1t Is
Believed, Has Been Baked.
A report is current in political circles
to the effect that some scheming Re
publicans who pose as leaders, have
inaugurated movement by which they
hope to get foothold on the Water
Department and the Street and Sewer
Department.. Their object, it is said,
is to get into the good graces of Presi-
dent Thomas ii. Melvin of the Street
and Sewer Department and Commits
sioner James p. Jones Of the Board of
Water Commissioners and manipulate
a plan whereby those officials would
unconsciously fall into the trap. The
idea, it is said, is to first get the scalp
Of Street Commissioner Pierson, and
from this it is evident that it is a fight
against the Big Six.
For some time it has been limited
that there might be reorganization
of the working force of the Street and
Sewer Department, which would in
clude the election of new man to
succeed MIR. Pierson, and shortly after
the new members of the board, Messrs.
Johnson and Melvin, assumed their
duties, it was pretty generally believed
that q new street commissioner would
be elected. Several Republicans we're
mentioned for the place, including City
Councilman Hamilton Stewart, but it
was understood that the members of
the board were unable to agree on any
one and no effort was made to remove
Mr.. Pierson. Now it is reported that
the politicians who are said to be
interested in the project referred to
above are making an effort to bring
out candidate for street commissioner
who would be agreeable to at least two
members of the board, which would
probably mean his election, and after
his election he would be expected to
resign and the candidate who is really
favored by them would be put forward,
with the hope of securing his election,
there being vacancy and it then
being incumbent upon the board to
elect somebody to the place. 1t would,
| of course, be necessary to get Mr..
Piersoni out of the way first, and it is
argued that this could only be done by
bringing out really strong man for
the place who is not identified with
any faction of the Republican party.
One man of this character is said to
have been approached on the subject,
but declined, to participate in the
project, and, so far as is known now,
| the parties interested in the proposed
change are all at sea. The details of
the plan would, of course, not be
| known to the members of the Street
| and Sewer Board, had the scheme not
leaked out, but as an intimation has
now gotten out it is believed to have
been ripped in the bud.
| Another method, it is said, was to
be worked with respect to the Water
Depsrtment, As q preliminary step,
| an effort was to--b6s made to have two
employees who are receiving good sala-
| ries resign, if that could be accom-
plished, with the hope of having the
| board fill the vacancies by electing two
politicians, one Republican and the
other Democrat This, it is under
stood, was to be the beginning of an
effort to obtain patronage for the afore-
| said schemers as result of the build
ing of the proposed new reservoir and
other large operations of the depart
ment which would give employment to
additional help, including men and
| teams.
! When President Belts of the depart
ment was spoken to in regard to the
1 rumor he said he had heard nothing Of
| it and he did not believe any of the
employees contemplated resigning. As
| matter of fact, it is believed that
any effort to turn the Water Depart
ment into political machine would
be spurned by the commissioners as
they have avoided doing anything that
would put politics above efficiency in
| the service. 1t has been the custom OF
| che board to employ competent men
because they were competent and re-
| tain them on their merits, regardless
| of political considerations,
| Notwithstanding all of these apparent
+ timpossibilities, there is a we'll defined
rumor that the above plan is the dream
of some of the political schemers men
toned, who are hopeful that sooner oi
later their ambition will be gratified
and they can profit theraby 10 the
extent Of building UP Ii political organi-
'zation which will obtain its strength
from the two factions OF thu kepubli
can party, making % tbirG faction,
which will enable those in control tc
dictate to the leaders OF saa Regular
and Union Republican parties to the
extent Of receiving political prefer.
| ment. For Gn6 present III Is Del1eVeG
that there is no hope of accomplishing
anything, as the details of the plar
have come to the surface, but it is be,
lieved that the effort will be continued
until the promoters meet with success
or hopeless failure.
Those interested, it is said, have
been hopeful of ingratiating themselves
into the good graces of Mayor Fisher
as we'll as Street and Sewer Com
missioner Melvin and Water Com
missioner Jones, as both are warn
friends of the mayor. OF course, il
was not intended that these official!
should be made acquainted with the
scheme, as that would mean instan
defeat, but it is believed to have beeI
the hope that the mayor would US,
his influence with the commissioners
toward having capable men appointed
to places in the two departments ant
the promoters would rely upon fate tC
get their designations afterward.
REU 1 INN 0EMnGRATS