The Irish standard., 1902-08-09
MAYOR AMEs HAS RESIGNED,

The putrid administration Of Dr..
Albert Alonzo Ames is at an end, to
the great relief of suffering CON-
munity, and the Augean stables of po-
litical corruption whose loul vapors
have vitiated the moral atmosphere of
the finest city in America are being
thoroughly cleansed and fumigated.
The genial son Of Esculapius, from his
retreat at West Baden Springs, has
rendered This resignation With the re-
quest that his brother, Col. Fred tAmes,
be ousted from the Office of Chief of
Police. HIS resignation cannot be ac-
cepted at this time, for the vacancy
thus created would necessitate a spe-
cial election which would cost the city
about $4,000; and to avoid that ex-
pense, David p. Jones, president of the
council. will serve in the capacity of
acting mayor during the mexpired
term and until new mayor is duly
elected and takes his seat in January.
During the absence of Mr.. Jones
from the city. Alderman Powers WELD
ed the official axe and chopped off the
heads Of Superintendent Ames, Capt.
Hill. Coffee John,' Tom Brown, the
mayors secretary, Adelbert l.. Gard
ner, the license inspector, and filled
their places with efficient officers in
whose capacity and integrity the peo-
pie have more confidence. On Jones'
ton is expected, and in very short
time the police department will be rid
of the dirty gang of fellows appointed
! by DR.. Ames as his Instruments of cor
ruption. Capt. Getchell was promoted
to THE chieftaincy by Alderman Pow
ers, and he will remain at the head Of
the department until Alderman Jones
selects his successor. Perhaps his
temporary appointment may be made
permanent for the rest of the term.
| On the 18th of January, 1901, when
A. n. Ames was inaugurated as the
Republican mayor of Minneapolis. Ire
promised to give "a business admins
tration' and declared that ''the devel-
oping tendency of the age is that spe-
cial or class legislation should be
avoided" He then handed in re-
vised roster of the police department
and threw 105 of the best men on the
force out of employment in THE begin
ming of winter. OF the discharged
men, about one-llalf bore Irish names.
Some of them had worked and voted
for him to retain their positions, after
vilifying the race and creed to which
they accidentally belonged, but the
ticipate actively II the campaign and
attended strictly to their duties.
The fact that they We're honest, up
right and conscientious men whom he
could not use for his tools in the per-
petratiOn of wrong and in the prOtec-
ton of criminals was sufficient cause
for their dismissal from the positions
they had won because of their effic-
ency and strict attention to duty. Not
single man of them regrets being dis
charged by Mayor Ames, and not one
of them would exchange places with
him today. He has been indicted by
the grand jury, and though he may
never he convicted or even tried in
Hennepin county. whatever reputation
he had is blasted forever. He has
brought indelible disgrace upon his
name and has injured. as far as he
has been able. the name of the city
which honored him four times as its
chief magistrate.
Some of his subordinates hav, been
found guilty of bribery and are now
in Jail awaiting sentence to the Still
water penitentiary, while others are
under Indictment for aiding burglars
and "big mitt' men in their nefarious
pursuits. Thus ends THE administra-
ton of 4. a. Ames. THE biggest pllit-
zeal demagogue THAT ever cursed the
metropolis of Minnesota.
The time is fast approaching for the
primary election at which candidates
for the mayoralty are nominated. The
| Republican party which had DR.. Ames
for it's standard bearer in 1900 finds
it exceedingly difficult to get any pop
ular candidate courageous enough to
run to be sacrificed in 1902. Mayor
Gray has withdrawn his candidacy on
the Democratic ticket. but two other
capable candidates are in the field.
both of whom have enthusiastic sup
porters They are James G. Haynes
| and Julius !. Heinrich. Either of
them is satisfactory to the Irish Stand
ard and either of them can be elected
this year.
The question for tire Democracy to
decide is which of them would get the
most votes at the polls in November.
| Without expressing any preference for
| either candidate, the Irish Standard