The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-30
DEVERY I'm SILENT PRAYER.
AFTER THAT HE CALLS GREENE
A FLOWER POT GENERAL


Flower ON Garibalali's Oyon--Con.
graduates staten Islanders That
Murphy Hasn't Seized Their Docks.
Big Bill Devery went to Staten Island
last night as the guest of the John F. Decker
Command Of the Spanish War Veterans at
their picnic at Rosebank.
He stood half an hour In a pouring rain
making a speech and fighting mosquitoes
He might have made his speech In the
shelter Of the picnic ground dance hall,
but it was explained that the outside stand
was built fer his benefit and cost $50 and
must be used. The decorator had 80
arranged the lights that big red one
was just above Devery's head but he didn't
seem to mind that
Before Devery went aboard the Staten
Island ferryboat he poked the deck with
his cane and stamped with one foot to see
il it was safe On the way from st. George
TO Rosebank he made two-second platform
speeches from the rear car at the Tomp-
kinsville Stapleton and Clifton stations
Crowds were out all along the line to hear
him.
At the Rosebank station he and his dele
cation Of fifty Bugs" from the North were
met by drum corps and the most gorgeous
drum major that ever led a parade. When
the drum major went up 10 shake hands
Big Bill looked at his uniform and asked
him IL he ever fought with Greene.
Capt. John T. Oates announced that tho
meeting was a patriotic one and then ex-
planned Devery's presence by introducing
the ex-Chief as a man who was fighting
for the people, az the boys of 10 fought.
Where the hell is the Seventy
asked Bug" He means the Ninth
Devery startled his followers by asking
all hands to join him for minute in silent
prayer.
Il want you all to think Of the dead hero
for whom this camp ia named and then
say with me, but silently The Lord save
him"
There was second Of dead silence and
then Big Bill said Amen But he got into
his regular stride right away and the Bugs"
recovered from the shock.
He was on the programme to talk about
Patriotism and Our Institutions, but he
talked mostly about tubs, meaning the
Staten Island ferryboats, and flower pot
generals meaning Police Commissioner
Greene.
II may live here with you all my life, my
friends, began Bill, because the tub that
brought me down may never make another
trip, 49,.
sink remember that Big Bill died fighting
for the people. But If ] get back alive
I'll I've elected Mayor and you folks down
here will have some ferryboats that will be
fit 10 go and come in.
Il wouldn't bring my dog Pump in one
of those boats because he amt good water
dog and il he was drowned he wouldn't
have the satisfaction OF knowing he was
dying for the people
"You've got an old Mr.. Muller down
here and you've got young MIR. Muller
What have they ever done to get boats
or anything else for your Get one of those
big guns down to the Hook up here and
blow the Mullers of the island and you
may get something.
You've got good many miles Of water
front down here l want TO congratulate
you on the fact that Charlie Murphy hasn't
robbed You of it before this for docks.
When YOU see him coming over the bay,
mai down the bea aches and sit on the nails.
"You brave boys fought for your coun-
try and YOU deserve better things. There
amt one of you that isn't more entitled to be
a General than that Police Commissioner.
He's a fowerpot General, and the pots
cracked
II passed through both wars Forty
years ago 7 was a cook on boat and all were
ordered down TO Sandy Hook under the
guns because they thought the Merrimac
was coming up,
And then when | was Chief of Police
the Spanish Viscaya came here. was
Chief, and the police patrol boat WIS down
alongside and the Viscaya sneaked away
in the night. And when you boys Of the
Seventy-frst came home from the war
you were st; rvng and I helped carry you
into the armory
But I'm no f,ower-pot General. I'm
shedding more blood this minute than
Greene ever did. tDevery killed three
mo squtoes with one whack on his neck
to show what he meant)
I'VE are willing to fight for the country
any time. but we don't volunteer to starve,
and that's what you did in the Seventy
first, and the high binders and the grafters
lwho made you ought to he sent 10 the cleo
trio chair TO give the young man chance.
That's what I'm fighting for now. Let's
throw down the silk upholstered Mayor
we've got now, kick Tammany Hall OF Of
Manhattan, put knife into the old stick
whittier over In Brooklyn and elect Bill
Devery Mayor and the people will get all
that's coming to them.
II see on the picnic grounds that you've
got the oVen that Garibaldi used to bake
in when he, was camping out on this spot
after the Charlie Murphies of Italy threw
him out. But Garibaldi got back and made
the Tammany Hall Of Italy look like 80
cents.
II put flower on Garahaldi's oven to-
night when your chairman told me what it
was and next election we'll do for Greater
New York what that great man did for
Italy. and the poor, hardworklng push
cart men will have a chance with the rest
of the people.
Devery was elected n member Of tho
Sea Side Hose Company Of Rockaway Beach
yesterday.