The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-13
English Spelling Reform.
The Degeneracy Of Philadelphia.

. The shame of Minneapolis and the
shamelessness Of st. Louis are not to be
compared to the almost hopeless degener-
acy OF Philadelphia. Minneapolis shame
was merely the work of a bad or weak
mayor, and the rottenness was confined to
small part Of the police force and was
quickly eradicated therefrom. The shame
1essness of St. Louis is not so bad but
that fourteen convictions have been Sc
cured on fifteen indictments, and the flu
ture. there is not without hope But
Philadelphia has ben for years comfort
ably stewing in corruption and betrayal
OF public interest. Compared with such
disgusting depths as the politics of Phila-
delphia has descended to, Minneapolis lit
tie spot Of scandal does not even leave a
skin scar. In Philadelphia the boodlers,
In the face of the protests Of the out
ragged people, leased the city gas works to
private company for thirty years. Then
the whole country was astounded by the
villainous nerve with which the street
railway and telephone franchises were
presented to certain favored politicians
Now the jobbers have their eyes on the
city water, and have caused to be intro
duced into the Pennsylvania legislature a.
bill authorizing municipalities to sell their
gas works, water works or electric liett
plants to companies that shall have a mo-
nopoly Of such service for not exceeding
fifty years. Nobody claims responsibility
for this bill, but it is progressing towards
passage. TIE Philadelphia boodlers look
forward to a rich dividend of brides when
the bill becomes a. law. 49,
But that is not even the worst part of
the indictment against Philadelphia. It
Is. the only city in the country where the
schools are in the hands of the ward poli-
ticians, and where teachers have to bnv
appointments. Recently three members
of a ward school board We're convicted of
eNtorting money from teachers in return
for promised positions in the public
schools, One teacher had to pay $40 a
month for three months for $47 position,
which she did not get because too many
teachers were elected. She was elected
again, and had to pay again.
schools" says the Outlook, may be
judged by the fact that g. daughter of Dr..
w. w. Keen. the world-f famous surgeon,
was compelled. after specially admirable
and self-sacrifcing record, to retire as
member OF ward school board, and on
the eve Of her retirement was forced to
leave the room In which meeting was
being held, because Of the offensive and
profane language used, with the purpose
Of humiliating her, by the boss of the
ward, who used autocratic power over the
board, though not himself member of it.
The arrogance Of the man may be judged
by statement of his which we quote from
the Philadelphia Public Ledger:
" Anyway he said, a woman must not
Come into the school board and expect to
run things as it suits her The men
know as much about education as Miss
Keen does. Nor because she is a. woman
the men should not be bossed by her. No.
sir! dom t want such men on the board,
won't nave it. They
cannot be run by a woman in this ward.
I'll seesto that Mr.. Myers was asked:
In your statement you use the word, II:
MI. Myers replied, Ismean