The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-19
BOOT C TOE As
THE REMEDY
DR.. Henry Watterson's Dras-
tic Prescription for Mu-.
nicipal Disease.
Commends Minneapolis for
Vigorous Promptness in
Cleaning House. "

There is only one remedy for rnunic-
ipal corruption: Kick the rascals out!"
So declared Colonel Henry Watterson
at the West Hotel this morning. when
te inquired about the present status of
the Minneapolis municipal scandal, which
has attracted such widespread attention.
THEORISTS will go on dreaming about
an ideal form of city government from
now until the end Of time" Colonel Wat
terson went on, "and they will continue to
evolve pretty specific cures for all the Ills
that now affect the municipal body polite,
but in the end they will always find
that there is only one antidote when ap-
rather, politicians. To be effective, this
antidote must be administered in liberal
dose from time to time, as the disease,
which lies dormant for a time. again
works its way to the surface. ~ J.
II am glad to see that the people OF
progressive Minneapolis have not hesi-
tated to grapple boldly with the monster
corruption, which has besmirched the fair
name OF the city. The remarkable thing
about the investigation, which, I see, Is
still on, as compared with similar up
heavals in other cities. Is the determined
way in which it has been undertaken
here. While there have been scandals
ing in the corruption of the entire police
department., it is seldom that the good
government element has gone down the
line so thoroughly in administering pun
ishment. While the mayor and the chief
Of police appear to have escaped their
just dues up to date, 1t is gratifying to
know that the prosecution has not given
up the fight against them, and that they
may yet be brought to justice. You must
have an unusually fearless grand Jury to
have accomplished so much. . -.
| "This Is probably the most remarka BILE
| investigation ever ordered by an Ameri-
can city in the thorough-going manner
in which it has been carried on. The
grand jury hardly had probed SO deep
even in the Boss Tweed scandal in New
York. .l.r .=.-:~ ....
Clean for Years to Come.
"I predict, as a result, that Minneapolis
will have clean administration of affairs
! for many years to come. It always fol-
| lows after such a house cleaning that the
men who are in politics for .spoils only,
| lie very low for several years after such
an overturning. But they will gradually
! become holder and as the public is lulled
into forgetfulness of the lesson now being
taught, the crooks who creep into office
| will make themselves felt again. 1t mat
ters little which party is in office. 1t is
always the unscrupulous politician who
gains the upper hand The honest, rep
resentative men of the city take the,least
| interest in politics and leave 1t to those
who seek Office for revenue only by fail
means or foul. 49,
:'Until our best citizens begin to take
more active interest in municipal poll.
tics, we can hardly look for any lasting re-
| forms.' r,
Speaking Of his own city of Louisville
Colonel Watetrson declared that it wal
United States, and that It's affairs hat
been so managed by superior class o
oficeholders from the mayor down, tina
corruption in the municipal government
had never reached serious proportions.
} His Lecture Tonight.
i --.
Although he is. to deliver lecture a
the Exposition building this evening, Col
onel Watterson frankly confessed that b
did not know what his subject was to be
II expect to be informed some tim
before facing the audience, if am luck
enough to have one," he explained
There is nothing strange about that
however, because, you see; I've only 60
two lectures in my repertory. One is o.
Lincoln and the other Is Money an
t Morals 49,, ..s.-..
II can deliver either one of them at
, moments notice. All I ask is that som
! one will kindly notify me which is whic
before I'm introduced. .s.r ... T. .<
This led the great editor to revert t
E some of his experiences on the lectur
lplatform. .5.+. - Efs- ~ %. +
< LAS far as I can discover" he sale
8 my lecture this evening hasn't been yer
r extensively advertised here, but for al
: that there may be large house. I re
2 member once when I was booked for
d lecture in the big Tabernacle. Broadwa
and Thirty-first street, New York cit,
y It was in the interest Of some charit
8 and we rather expected big meetin,
;. When Major Pond, then my manager, an
9 myself arrived, the place looked as Quie
0 as tho grave from the outside. The stree
0 itself was deserted. We asked man wh
: looked like an attendant If there we
9 going to be meeting there that nigh
y and he said he didn't know. I finally pei
:, suaded the major to act as ticket take
in the absence of that functionary while
q stole into the foyer to see. IL there we
: any one inside. Would you believe
the place was packed. Must have bee
5000 people there waiting patiently Il
a the show to commence.
"The people who had managed me hs
% dispensed with advertising altogethe
They Just conducted house to hous
;, canvass among their friends and had II
- house sold out days before the lecture
= Colonel Watterson declined to talk po
!, itics. saying that such gossip would be o.
~ of season now, and that there was notl
ing of particular interest at present
s, state or national politics.
y He Is on his way home after trip
). :. the coast He is accompanied by Mr.
- Watterson.
h ACID ON Her FACE
- Actress Rose Coghlan Is Severe
70 Burned Mt Helena.
Il Special to The Journal Il
n u 49, In