Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-25
The !
Reformer
-
'oy CHARLES NJ SHELDON.
Author Of I'm His Steps," '"Robert
da1dy's Seven Days." Etc.
Copyright, 1901. bv Chdsles Ii. Sheldon
COpt0tQht. 1901. BIZ C1,dSlIa N. EhsIdosa

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[coHr'nusD]
Town at Hope House all day John
Iorqon. Grace Andrews, the assistants
duo score of surgeons worked to save
lie, with heart breaking doubt in their
sous as they labored as to the future
Aa'e OF the mangled, crushed, burned.
ua1ned humanity that did not merci-
4ully Ole. In the feverish horror of it
ALL as the work of searching the ruins
went on and dense throngs of curiosity
seekers choked all the district. John
Ioroon was aware of one prominent
.Asure that was apparently omnipres-
ent-Tommy Randall. He was on hand.
cneerfully encouraging those who had
1osr everything, securing temporary
quarters for those who were wander
Ing bewildered through the streets or
sitting dumb and stolid on their dam
aged piles of household goods, distrib-
ut11g wagon loads Of bread and coffee
and In several cases hunting up lost
children and bringing together families
that had become separated during the
confusion.
Once as he stepped out Of the hall for
a moment to get breath Of fresh air
Gordon almost ran into Randall, who
mad one child by the hand and another
In his arms, both of them devourine>
sandwiches. Randall nodded to Cor
don, but did not speak, and Gordon
stepped back without saying anything.
But all the rest Of the day he had
vision of Tommy Randall and those
children.
Both morning and evening papers
contained full accounts Of the 'Tene-
ment Fire Horror on Bowen Street."
The News printed a list of names Of
property owners, and Philo II. Marsh's
name was prominent among them as
owner of the double decker fire trap"
as 1t was labeled. Every paper in the
city had an editorial on the subject,
but only one Of them, the Index, called
attention to the fact that for years the
nature Of the construction. had been
fully known and nothing done because
city politics did not wish to interfere
with property owners who paid a GER
tain amount of blackmail for the priyi-
lege of ignoring city ordinances. A
especial meeting of the city council,
called to consider the condition of the
people in the ruined district, took &C.
-t1on to provide temporary quarters for
the homeless. Meanwhile public indig-
nation cooled almost as fast as the
ruins in Bowen street, when it was ru-
mored that several prominent men and
women had subscribed several thou
md 1~h0 - AH,~
las one result of the fire set of model
tenement buildings would be built in
the burned district. John Gordon, read
ing all this in moments when he rested
from the great strain that continued
for many days, could not repress q
;strong feeling (that nothing but Chris
tan grace kept from being bitter ha-
tired Of class that the real cause of
all the horror had not been touched by
all the editors and all the public ex-
.citement The landlords were not ar
rested for anarchy in breaking ordi-
nances W lch If obeyed would have
made the hssacre of children impossi-
ble. The Professional politicians and
:spoilsmen continued to hold their
places and plan for future plumber Of
the people. Tommy Randall, boss Of
Ward IS, was winning golden opinions
from the sufferers by his lavish distri-
button OF food and clothing and shell
ter. The disaster was a godsend to
Tommy. How should the poor, igno-
rant, stolid people of Bowen street
know that the bread and coffee and
beer and clothing and collins that Tom.
my Randall distributed with such
.cheerfulness and good will were bought
with money which men like Mr.. Marsh
and Mr.. Rufus Gordon had paid as
part price for being let alone in their
business methods?
How should the people know that
Tommy Randall '*touched'' the pocket
OF every saloon keeper and every keep
er of disreputable house and every
prominent criminal in Waterside dis
trict to get the sinews of political war?
And what difference if he did, as Miss
Andrews had so often told them?
Wherever the money came from, it
bought the things the people needed,
and Tommy was the best friend they
had. Flowers at christenings, turkeys
during the holidays, jobs on the street
force, stand-in with the city hall
why, even Miss Andrews and Hope
House had no such gifts for the people.
To be sure Hope House was a good
thing, and Miss Andrews was all
right, but Tommy Randall was the
peoples friend, and well never go
back on Tommy" was the settled con-
viction of every man in the ward who
owed his job to Tommy. Surely, o
boss of Ward 18, you understand your
business as well as If you were an an
gel of light. Hats of to the ward
boss" says the devil, as his best agents
n, norrnnfinfy the modern CITY file nv in