The National tribune., 1905-10-19
THE PHILADELPHIA "REFORF'
RING.
Mayor Weaver Organizes . More Oh
nsxisas DesDotisn TAaa Any TIE City
Has Known.

Special Correspondence. National Trib-
une.
Philadelphia, Pa, Oct. IA. 1905
The political situation here reminds me
of an old Ohio story. The Black Swamp
country was thickly settled with old
| fashioned Germans. very sturdy and
very set in their ways. It was the
practice in one Township for the
| hrawny political boss to station him.
self in front OF the polls with a big
club and compel every one to show
him his ticket as he approached to
vote. Some Of the younger genera
ton resented this tyranny against what
they had been taught to believe was one
Of the dearest rights Of American free
men. They canvassed the situation an
grily, but the boss had big muscles and
a savage disposition. and none of them
cared to tackle him. Finally one young
fellow who felt his muscles growing on
him volunteered to be their champion
and tackle the boss in the interests of
| a free ballot. He went UP at the head
OF the band and angrily asserted his
Independence as an American freeman
his right to vote as he pleased, and re-
fused to show his ticket. This was a
direct challenge which the boss could
! not refuse. and he Immediately mixed
up with the presumptuous youth. The
combat was long, fearful and for time
indecisive. At last the youngster got
the better of the boss. choked him into
| yelling enough" and wrested from him
his club. the symbol of his bossshfp.
The youngster jumped up with the
club in his hand and turning to his
companions said:
Now, by gosh. every one of you fell
lows show me your tickets or you don't
vote"
The Weaver Ring.
Something very much akin to this
has happened in Philadelphia. There
has been the most vociferous exclama-
ton against the alleged political ring
which has been governing Philadelphia,
and a large part of the Reform Move
ment inaugurated with such fanfare
last Summer was directed toward
breaking down the ring" 1t was held
that If this could be accomplished all
the other desired good results of Civic
Government would follow. The head
of the Reform Movement was the May
or of the city, man who had been for
years identified with the "ring," if
all his public advancement from it, and
who had worked his association with
| 1t industriously and for promotions be-
yond what his abilities and character
| warranted. There was more deserved
criticism of the so-called ring for
what it had given Mr.. Weaver than for
most of it's appointments. His re-
| markable accumulation of worldly
goods in the comparatively brief time
that he had held office was one of the
reasonable indictments of the ring"
But he was the best material that the
Reformers had at hand, and they had
to make the most of him. After the
first flush of the Reform Movement was
| over the character Of Weaver and those
who had been putting him forward in
his revolt against the regular party
quickly became apparent 1t was like
the young German in Ohio in his re-
volt again the political boss.
Weaver at once began to organize
another ring more ironclad, more in
tolerant. moro aggressive and If oppor-
| than the charges made against the old
ring asserted.
PrOstituting the Police.
There had been much talk about the
interference of the Police and Fire De-
partment and political matters under
the old regime, but under Mayor Weav-
er there has been no disguise Of their
work Orders have been issued to the
police over the Lieutenants desk to
take part in the political meetings and
to do everything possible to embarrass
and prevent the success Of the regular
Republican ticket.
Caucuses are being held in every
| ward in the city, composed of office
holders Of the various departments
under the Weaver administration and
at which the policemen and firemen
predominant. Campaign assessments
are there levied to further the cause
of the Weaver-GOrdon-Wa
Party and to plan for the formation
| of John Weaver Marching Clubs made
1 of In
| rades in the interest of the candidates
of the City Party.
AT these caucuses Police Lieutenants
| and Sergeants are among those who
address the employees of the city, ali
of them Republicans and tell them
| that they must turn in for the City
Party ticket. as their bread and but
| ter" is at stake.
| These are the exact words used by
one of the Police Lieutenants who
spoke to his men in station house.
The orders to the Lieutenants to do
this come directly from the City Hall
and are given with the full knowledge
| of Mayor Weaver The LieutenantS
have not their hearts in the work, but
are simply obeying orders.
| Policemen are being used to canvass
election precincts against the Republi-
can ticket. They are detailed in full
uniform to deliver calls for these meet
| ings to the other city employees.
Policemen are employed in the dis
| tribution Of campaign buttons for the
| City Party, and the police patrol wag-
ons are used to deliver boxes of these
| buttons.
Cabinet Officer Issues Orders.
A member of the Mayors Cabinet,
Director Shoyer, nightly makes his
headquarters in the police station house
in the Nineteenth Ward. and gives in
structions to Republicans employed un-
der the city administration to work
and vote for the City Party ticket.
City employees in every department
of the Weaver administration are be-
ing assessed to defray the expenses of
the City Party campaign.
| Where Republican office holders UNI
der the Mayor refuse either to work
for the City Party ticket or give part
of their wages to go into it's treasury,
they are discharged without further
notice, while the Republicans who are
so unfortunate as to hold place under
Mayor Weaver are being intimidated
and terrOriZed in the campaign to
wreck the Republican organization.
| Much of the animus behind all this
are the aspirations of John Wanamak-
err for the Senate. Wanamaker, who
is the Addicks OF Pennsylvania, has been
for years the fly In the Pennsylvania
l III 1sr,A