New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
A "RUGGED HONESTY'' MA YOR.
HOW DENIS MJIVIHILL BECAME CHIEF
MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL IN
BRIDGEPORT.

Denis M,llvihill for thirty-fve years coal snow
eller in the freroom of sewing machine factory
is Mayor of Bridgeport to-day because ne Is an
honest man. Rugged Honesty the battle
cry which rang above the noise of the LANDSLIDE Oh
which the big Irishman went triumphantly INTO
office ..Strict economy" the policy which he has
followed for years in his affairs, is his polcy
as Mayor and he Is carrying it out in spite Oh all
the efforts of machine politicians TO preak II
down.
The story of Mulvihrs election has been told
again and again. Some one mas even "ii''e'
nostrv about the rise of Honest Denis. the man
who wanted to know. He swept the city, carrying
every ward. and in one ward receiving every soie
except ten which were cast fer Soctaits'. AS
the "Stoker Mayor he has become national
character He has been Mayor for 1Ve months
now and yesterday told a Tribune reporter
what he had accomplished. and how it felt
This mayoring is harder than stocking. Mayor
Muyihill said he rocked himself IN an easy
chair in the parlor of his home In East brlose-
mort It was cosey parlor. with its piano and
RrusseIs Garnet and lace curtains. There was a
Morris chair a red plush sofa, and the pictures
on the wall had giided frames All these things
he had before he became Mayor. for he was saw
ing. and his wife.
Yes sir il is harder work than shovelling COAL
he continued. THE way politics and seihshness
creep In is simply disgusting. The very people VINO
ought be for helping me are making the most
trouble. ! simply couldn't have filled the place IL
IL hadn't been Tor the HFe Hsht'HB Se'io N4''Nii
put In a alderman l did more ebstruetng In those
years than any other Bridgeport alderman has
ever done and learned all the tricks Of the poll
ticians. They can't fool Denis.
II belong the faction here that is known as
the ant-bonders. We don't believe in running the
city into debt We set 100000 every year in taxes
and should pay we 60 1t is bad business this
building things credit. They wanted to build a
new City Hall si25 coo and to borrow the money
do il. l knocked il out with plan fer remodel
ling the old City Hall at a cost $4,000. DO you
that vacant lot there?'-he pointed out OF the
window II that lot and some day I'll build
house upon It. but I'm not going to borrow the
money to do II with. l try to the ctys affairs
just though they were my
When / went into the City Hall Mayor 1 left
my politics outside the door. Then l said to the
politicians Keep your hands off or youH get them
burned No honest should fear the light OF
day, so l have been trying to do away with the
transaction of city business behind closed doors.
But after al economy is the real issue and we
woTkingman govern a great city
The Mayor was about to start on one of his per
went With him He buttoned his sturdy figure into
we s gaspe hs 2 y
its middle and started out Cutters, sidewalks.
passing m he po
remen whom he MAJOR psse9 all rseey ana ehe
ton. He has boards and commissions which are
to look after the boards and nds the PERSONAL in
are in the work of governing Bridgeport and while
he may make mistakes they will be on the safe
side. and the city knows that she win have a
Mayor more faithful.
Mayor Muivihill. unlike the new chief executive of
Hartford. is not labor agitator- He belongs o
no labor union and has never taken part in a
strike, yet the union voted for him almost in a
body, for he is one of them al heart Political am
bttion has no place in his makeup. and never has
had place. The offices which he has held sought
him. He will be disappointed If he is not re-
elected Mayor; in fact he quite expects he re-
tired. for you can't please all the people when you
depart from the regular policy, even il that policy
means the financial ruin of the city he saws.
They tell many stories about the 'Stoker Mayor''
in Bridgeport, but they all reflect to the credit of
the man There is one, for instance, about the first
time machine politicians attempted to influence his
action in the Board of Aldermen
Some of us going down for little refresh
nentS ana Wei Ike you TO come along. said the
machine man one evening after Mulvihl had
ce@ded in ObStructing one OF their pet schemes
Just much obliged was his answer, but
never where / can't afford to take others
The day after his election he went into the main
office of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine
Company TO resign the humble position which ne
had held for thirty odd years. AS he entered the
door he pulled off his hat
Put your hat. Denis said the president of
the company; you're the Mayor now
Yes. I'm the Mayor" he said smiling but T m
the ole Denis"
A few months ago he had the pleasure of ap-
pointing his former president important civ
hoard The busy capitalist accepted the commits
sion. for the strongest of Bridgeport are try
ing help Rugged Honesty make his admins
tration success.
There is one sorrow in Mayor MulvihilIs life be-
sides that which is caused by his old enemies the
professional politicians.
Ny friends used TO call Denis'" he says
"bUt they think they say your honor;
and touch the brim of their hats. It's nonsense
I'm just Denis AIulYih: plain hard working
Denis