The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-07-12
} p EXPOSED
MAYOR JOHNSON, OF CLEVELAND,
SHOWS UP FRANCHISE BOODLER.
Makes 1t Decidedly Interestine for
Bribe-Givers i'm Cleveland-Ex-
poses = Man Who Offered = Coun-
Gilman 45,OOO-Johnsoa Advised
Councilman to Take 1.-THE Did
and Turned 1t Over to City Clerk.

In the city council Of Cleveland, Ohio,
on the evening Of Monday. June 23rd.
a most dramatic proceeding took place.
The occasion was the final passage OF
franchise to company offering to
introduce natural gas into the city.
and materially reduce the price Of fuel,
The franchise was strenuously opposed
by those now furnishing gas.
Mayor Tom L. Johnson, Of course,
was one Of the central figures, and an
honest councilman, Charles Kohl. was
another. The story is told as follows
by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. !; -.
THE gas ordinance had been put up
on it's passage. The crowd which
choked the galleries and the lobby was
straining forward toward the little
body Of their representatives who occu-
pied the center Of the stage, eagerly
the question Of gas and expecting ex-
element which should reward them for
their long, wait in the cramped quar-
tiers provided for the public.
What followed exceeded their ex-
pectations
''The. councilmen had ceased to read
or write or chat on the introduction of
the topic Of gas. They, too, appeared
to expect repetition of the lively little
succession of scrimmages which have
marked the previous episodes In the
history of the ordinance. It was some
thing to relieve the tedium of the aver
age council meeting routine.
It was with evident pleasure and
keen anticipation that they hailed,
friends as well as opponents, the real
beginning of the fray to which they
were alike keyed up.
what followed left the spectators
breathless, the councilmen pale and
stunned. The one listened with open
amazement; the other with evident
1.-THE discussion Of the ordinance had
barely commenced when Mayor John.
son took the floor.
Much has been said about detec-
tives shadowing councilmen,' he be-
gan slowly and in his ever pleasant
voice. At once he had the undivided at
tention of every person in the hall.
However that may be- he con-
tinued, I will not discuss it here,
and I have no report prepared on that
line to offer you
"There was a perceptible letting down
OF the close concentration of moment
previous. A few members and certain
Of the spectators exchanged glances and
smiled.
Butt the mayors voice rose
sharp as a trumpet call, a member Of
the city council came to me today and
said he had been offered $1,000 for his
vote One could feel the silence that
filled that pause.
: g r told him. to take si IL e ohnson's
voice rang through the council cham
Der. He tells me that he has a part Of
the money! He tells me that Mr..
Daykin gave him the money!
Mr.. Daykin was here few minutes
ago but see he has left. But that
councilman is here and he can tell you
the rest
I'm the deathlike silence which fol.
lowed the mayor to his seat Council.
man Kohl pale in his intense excite
ment, slowly rose from his seat in the
front of the chamber and without a
word dramatically held aloft a long,
thin package wrapped in tissue paper.
''Then from the galleries arose a
wild yell that seemed to split the roof.
Kohl Kohl they shrieked. What's
the matter with Charley?'
IT am sorry began Kohl, and ST.
lence was instantly restored, that we
have people in Ceveand who are trying
to keep the common people down with
their money
"'I have but $4,000 Of the $1,000 Of
tn
PRODUCTION Of this anendment'-Kohl
held second piece Of paper aloft-'but
I could have got another $500 more
for the mayor in less than two minutes
walk from the city hail.
''Slowly and deliberately Kohl undid
the tissue wrappings, and long, thin
package Of greenbacks appeared to the
gaze of the councilmen and the crowd
who gazed upon him fascinated.
"Again that wild yell went up from
the galleries.
" Kohl, Kohl Well, what's the mat
ter with our Charley?' they cried.
two thousand won't buy my vote
cried Kohl as silence once more pre-.
vailed. Five thousand won't buy my
vote in the city council. There isn't
enough money in the Society for Saw
ings or in any other bank in this city
to buy my vote. =.
But i've got the money that was
paid for gas. paid to have an anend-
ment offered in this body: Mr.. Clerk, I
will hand you this money. think you
had better take care of it, and would
like to have you read this amendment
it was to buy"
The amendment was read, and, Of
course, promptly beaten. Then the or
dinance itself was taken up and passed
by a vote Of Is to s. Mayor Johnson
opposing any postponement on the
ground that "the price Of votes might
get so high as to bankrupt somebody"
The DR.. Daykin referred to, was i'm
mediately arrested, and is now forcing
criminal prosecution. The council is
also investigating. and Mayor johnson
is quoted as saying that "other council
men have gas money in their pockets"
f1wwobjtaofn cmfwyp shrdlu etaoinmw
THE EMPTY DINNER PAIL.