The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-28
THE MIGHTY MCCOY
Chairman of the Cancellation Com
mittee Discovers Himself for the
Benefit of the Voters.
He Claims Credit for Various Plans
in Which He Played
Minor Role.

One of the amusing features of the al
dermanic campaign in the ninth ward is a
pamphlet published by Alderman Peter
Mccoy. name of author unknown, en-
A perusal of this pamphlet might lead one
to believe that, Alderman Mccoy is a
mighty figure in the city council, and such
| is doubtless the impression the work is
intended to create. Here is where the
joke comes in
No president of the council ever ignored
party lines more than Acting Mayor d. +.
Jones. His sole purpose was to secure
the best results for the city, and to that
end he apportioned the work out to those
whom he thought could the best handle
it. That the democrats were not ignored
| is shown by the fact that Alderman Dwyer
is, chairman Of the very important com
mittee gas. which has charge of all
the street lighting in the city and In
public buildings; Alderman Ryan is chair
man of the important committee on
licenses, Alderman Rand Of bonds of city
officers, and Alderman Peter Nelson OF
the police committee.
Alderman Mccoy, after sitting four
years in the council, is chairman OF the
committee on cancellation, and once a
year has an errandboy's job of burning
up cancelled coupons. This is a pretty
fair indication of the value placed upon
his services by his colleagues.
Alderman Mccoy takes great credit TO
tiifIself for keeping the garbage crematory
out of his ward. The aldermen were not
in favor of placing the crematory IN the
residence section Of the city, and there
never was any serious intention of plac-
ing it in the ninth ward. even though the
board of health did SO recommend. The
crematory was kept out Of other wards,
but the aldermen do not use the fact as
an argument for their reelection.
Then he wants credit for compelling GER
tain firms to agree to fill up certain
streets before giving it permission TO ex-
cavate in the streets FOR the purpose VI
taking out the rock.
1t is the city engineers and street com
missioners duty to see that this work OF
filing Is done and they attend to thelf
duty, except in the ninth ward, according
to Alderman McCoys pamphlet
IT have secured more sewers Tor the
ninth ward than any ward in the city,
says the ninth ward humorist. AS every
one knows, the city is extending the sew
er system in all parts of the city as 1ast
az funds and the populatio will warrant.
The sewers doubtless were placed where
| they needed and because the taxpayers
had the money and petitioned for the
sewers. Sewers are built on the recon-
| mendation Of the city engineer.
In the same selfish spirit, Alderman
| Mccoy robs the city engineer OF the cfeul'
Of starting the street sign movement;
! takes all the credit for cycle paths IN MS
| ward. to the exclusion of the cyclists, who
thought they had something to do with the
! Improvement, and pats himself on the
| back for being the sole factor In securing
| big street cars in the ward without men
| tioning the other eleven aldermen VINO
were Interested in improving the service
on these same car lines. TO cap lhe
climax Mr.. Mccoy discovers that he has
done great good in securing city employ
ment for his constituents. 1.-The little al
derman's opponents admit hat city EN-
ployment was given to nadiy ninth ward,
ers but they comment ION 5the TACT tha'
the ward has large. laporing population
and that the city eAktreer had SO much
| work that he had t6 advertise for men
When it was simplya'a casee Of go and ask
for it, they are notSIeady to give MCCOY
a particularly long. credit mark,