The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-08

the office. believe it is a good thing
to let the people see their candidate,
and I'm going to make speeches"
The leaders retired, discounted. Mr..
weaver went before the public and his
plain, brief talks caught. Even in the
Irish districts he was we'll received; so
much so in fact that when the Irish
heard that an organization, with anti
Catholic tendencies, was supporting the
leading opposition candidate, they went
in body to Weavers support, and
virtually elected him by their $4,000
votes.
Almost as soon as he had assumed
office with the declaration that he
would act unhampered by any consid-
GRAFTON except that of the public well
fare his words were put to the test.
A coterie of men, who had been in
dicted for ballot-box stuffing and had
suffered exile under the previous dis
trict attorney, returned to town and
surrendered.
"Ah, ha," said the men who had op-
posed Weaver. I'VE told you so. We
knew he'd be hand in glove with the
politicians who hauled him from
oblivion"
Several weeks later, when the trial
began and his critics read how the
machine district attorney is vigorous
ly endeavoring to convict the indicted
machine leaders," they changed their
views. The papers that had bitterly
| opposed his election declared that ''he
is the right man in the right place;
and even when the prisoners were ac-
Quilted there was only praise for the
prosecutor.
1t was remarkable winning of pub
lib opinion, but the trial resulted in a
still more remarkable thing. While it
was going on, the Republican leaders
were busily engaged trying to decide
upon successor to Mayor Ashbridge.
Look here" said one leader, when
the trial was at its hight, what we're
looking for is man who will unite all
the warning elements and stop the in
dependent movements that have been
source of worry for the last four
years. The man that can do this is
John Weaver. If you don't believe ne,
see what the opposition is saying about
him."
The sentiment struck home Weaver
was decided upon, and he was told of
the decision while he was making his
charge to the jury and saying blunt
things about a political organization
that would tolerate or even wink at
the violation of the ballot.
Mr.. Weaver has been Mayor of Phil
adelphia since last April. In six months
he has driven policy out of town,
though the business done formerly
amounted to 100000, and there was
an annual protection fund of $175,000.
Pool rooms and other forms of gam
bling have also been eradicaued. He
has stopped police blackmall and TAX
en- the force out of politics. He in
sists that all public contracts shall be
awarded without favoritism, he is en-
couraging new trunk lines to enter the
city, and he has effectually broken up
the system of jevying tribute on school
teachers for positions by sending four
school directors to the penitentiary.
The story of the last reform reveals
the secret of John Viewers success.
The case first came to his attention
while he was district attorney. He
called it in court several times, and
each time refused to try 1t, because
he was convinced that the jury was
packed, and he openly expressed him
self to that effect. When he was nomi-
mated and elected Mayor the case was
still untried, and there were those
who felt cock sure that he would not
take up the fight again. But on the
day that he set sail for England to
visit his old home, he said to Robert
Won MoschZisker, one of his assist
ants:
"They say I'll let go this case.
never let go anything when 1 know
I'm right Some time during my alb
sence you will get cable from me
naming a date. That will be the date
on which want the trial called Ar
range it with the court, and I'll be
back in time to try the case before
I resign the district attorneyship to be-
come Mayor"
Mayor-elect Weaver got back from
England about a week before his in
auguration. He went into the court
room, called the case of the four indict-
ed school commissioners, saw to it that
the jury was not tempered with,
fought the case with all his might, con-
victed his men and three days later
was indicted into the office of Mayor.
He has shown the same determined
spirit in the Mayors chair, and that
is why all Philadelphia is praising him.
Incidentally. he recently revealed it
to Gov. Pennypacker of Pennsylvania
to the latter's discontinue.
A vacancy occurred by reason of
death on the bench of the Court of
Common Pleas of Philadelphia county,
and the Governor put forward a can
didate in the person of a noted Quaker
City lawyer. The Mayor had not for
gotten that Robert Won Moschzisker
had given him able assistance while he
was district attorney, and so the May
or backed Mr.. Won Moschzisker in turn
The Governor was surprised. "Why
he's too young for the bench" he said
81 want a man of mature years, not
boy"
And I want Mr.. Won Moschzisker,"
replied Mr.. Weaver, land I'm going to
have him."
Robert Won Moschzisker was nomi-
mated. He is now one of the youngest
judges ever elected in America