The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-08-22

NEW YORK, Aug. 22--In the hear
of the thickly consested lower Eas
Side new municipality has arisen
Its growth has been almost like tina
of boom towns in the west thai
spring up In n night.
Boys constitute the citizens of this
playground city. Girls may visit and
play there, but boys alone fill the
offices and run the government.
These lads are sons of immigrants
who have come to this country within
the last few years. Their fathers
prize the right to vote as the most
precious privilege that has come to
them In the new land So, like father
like son, these youthful East Siders
have longed for the privilege of l<ing
the ballot. Their time came when
Hamilton Fish park. a big play
ground. was opened in the heart of
.fhe tenement district
The park has been given into the
care of the youngsters and they rule
1t as thought 1t were their own
Daniel Y. Kelly. supervisor of play
grounds, originated the novel plan
His idea was to have n regular city
government, with all the offices held
by boy frcqucnters of the park. Thus
there should be added to their games
lesson in practical politics.
Nathan Kase was chosen mayor at
an election that for spirit and hust-
ling would have done credit to Tam
many. There were also elected a
president of the council controller,
five presidents of the different Dor
oughs and 90 diminutive city faith
ers. Kase's opponent was Sam Me-
liter. who run on an anti-corruption
platform. Pure party politics was the
kasc slogan.
For days before the election the
young campaigners canvassed every
tenement house in the neighborhood
of the playground. The older people
became as tensely partisan as those
of tender years, and the respective
merits of the different candidates
were discussed by the tailors bending
over their work In the heated sweat
shops, by the hundreds of push cart
owners, and the mothers over their
tubs and in the little kitchens.
The little girls of the neighbor-
hood took on decidedly naughty airs.
Equal suffrage was talked of but not
extended to them.
Perhaps Wen lot the girls vote
next time" was the mcditative re-
Spouse Of Mayor Kasc, after the
polls were closed They amt much
good in sports, but their ballots will
count"
All the day that the little white
pieces of paper fiuttercd down into
tho ballot boxes the feminine por-
ton of Hamilton Fish park. at least
the younger part of 1t, gathered in
scomful groups ON the outside OF |
tho park fence and jcered at their |
brothers. They were not to he en-
tirely outdone by the more fortu- |
nate sex. and at least they could bear |
n banner. Little girls, tall girls, fat |
girls, thin girls. girls who were in |
rags and those who were neatly |
frocked and their hair pleated into |
stin tight braids, paraded on election |
day. ana this was the inccndnry |,
statement that their blue banner
bore:
women has rites,
And we have rose I'm our might.
"The hand that rocks the cradle
rules the world"
But the boys never even knew
that they were there.
The day OF the election was damn.
1t poured all day, but that did not
matter to the enthusiastic lads who
were exercising their masculine pre-
rogative for the first time. There
were some sluggards, but the ward
workers of the various candidates
were soon on hand to drag them from
their beds.
True grown-up party methods were
also resorted to by too partisan fol-
lowers. One lad was found trying to
stuff the ballot box. while another
attempted the repeating act In voting
under a false name.
One youngster insisted that he Ind
been assured that he would be made
of police If he delivered