The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-20

for it, because it is something that any
good citizen ought to get, and that is
justice"
'Be specific. Justice is not delivered
here in wholesale lots"
s'Is it delivered at alp" Gordon burst
out. The mayor coolly eyed him.
THAT depends. State your errand,
young man. Others are waiting"
do you know Tommy Randal1?'
The mayor raised his eyebrows.
II know a part Of him. Nobody
knows all Of Tommy"
Gle is one Of the biggest rascals in
this city,
"This is not news" The mayor looked
resigned.
"Yes, Mr.. Mayor; it is news to this
administration. What is this man,
Tommy Randall? He is not an officer
CT the city, he is not authorized to take
part in its affairs, yet he dictates
"Be specific. Others are waiting.
State your errand, young man." The
words came hard, incisive, like the bit
ing Of cold steel on steel. Gordon sud-
denly pulled up, and in FIVE seconds he
was as cool and clear headed as the
impassive political figure sitting there
at his desk.
In swift, forceful manner that
characterized him when driven to it by
a hostile listener he pictured Randals
proposed violation of the building ordi-
nance, the long, heartbreaking fight
for childhood that Miss Andrews had
been making, the gift Of the settlement
and Randalrs contemptuous defiance OF
all humanity in his plan Of restoring the
regular causes Of the peoples misery.
He must have stated it wonderfully
we'll, for the mayor was really inter-
ested. Once he interrupted.
sSay that again about the window
space required in proportion to floor
area. Do you mean to tell me there are
5000 dark bedrooms in the Waterside
district?'
ssThree thousand two hundred and
seventeen, sir. And children rot IN
them like
go on the mayor said in a low
tone.
When Gordon was through, the may
or was contemplatively silent
you've come to the wrong place,
Mr.. Gordon. I can't do anything to
Tommy Randall. What you want to do
is to lay a complaint before the city
building department. The whole busi-
ness is under their jurisdiction and
properly should come before them. l
regret exceedingly to hear what you
say about the tenements. I had no idea
matters were so had. Of course the
housing problem is veNed question In
all large centers Of population, and all
reformers, I believe, are agreed that no
problem presents so many
"Do you claim, Mr.. Mayor" Gordon
interrupted, but his blood always boiled
up in him when q man lied to him,
sthat you do not know about the tene-
ment house conditions in Waterside
district? Has Miss Andrews told it so
badly that you have forgotten it?:'
The mayors face was dark. He
raised his eyes to Gordon, but lowered
them again.
"You have come to the wrong place
to prefer your complaint, sir. Go to the
city building department. Is that all
your errandP
"It is" replied Gordon, and he rose,
turned his back on his honor the mayor
and without another word walked out
Of the Office. Gordon had such supreme
contempt for a deliberate liar that he
used to say it choked him to breathe
the same air with him in the same
room.
At the noon meal he told the story Of
his interview with the mayor.
Miss Andrews looked at him quietly.
''The same old story. And now
1'Now for the city building depart
ment.'
'.It's the regular routine. After that
the state board of health, then the state
factory and tenement house inspectors,
them
She spoke with her usual deliberate
patience, and Gordon colored.
81 know I am simply following a
better person than myself, but
"But you are man." she said wistful-
". "You may succeed with some Of
them"
John Gordon looked doubtful But in
the afternoon he went down to the city
hall again, and after long and Texa-
tious delay he managed to get hear
ing with one Of the officers Of the city
building department. The superintend-
ent was In Europe. But deputy lis
tened to him with an air OF polite resig-
nation, as if he were losing valuable
time.
When Gordon was through, lie said:
"Oh, Mr. Gordon, that's altogether
outside our jurisdiction. You'll have to
carry your complaint up before the
state board Of health. I can furnish
you with the necessary blanks on which
to make complaint. Are you regular
tenement house Inspector"
Eyes"
'Then possibly you will be required
to file your complaint with the factory
and tenement house inspectors COM
mission. Sometimes the complaints are
made out to one body, sometimes to an
other"
They have complaints, then, do
they:" asked John Gordon ironically.
''Oh, yes, yes," the deputy replied
hurriedly. Sorry we can't do anything.
But the whole affair is outside our de-
partment. Glad to have met you. Good
day, Mr.. Gordon"
Gordon went right over to the room
Of the state board Of health.
After the usual delay he was ushered
into the Office of a nervous little man
who said, without turning from his
desk at which he was writing:
"Be so kind as to state your business,
and be brief, as time is precious"
&C. :. b,,,oop 1*for' caid Gor6on vho