Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-10


From sn ErrRnd Boy 60 "A Lawyer
His Entry Into Politician Enthu-
stasttc Nachtsman.
After contest lasting FIVE days the
gas grab machine in Philadelphia has
been forced by public opposition and
clamor TO abandon its effort to extend
the lease of the city gas works to the
United Gas improvement company for
seventy-hve years.
Thomas Dolan, president Of the com
pany, has withdrawn his proposition to
advance the city $25,OOO.OOO In consid-
GRAFTON OF the extension OF the lease
which the company now holds.
John Weaver. mayor Of Philadelphia
who has won a signal victory In his
hght with the organization by the with
drawal OF the United Gas Improve
ment company's offer. is a short. rudy
Englishman with a chunky face. says
the New York Times. He has one of
the biggest chinS that ever completed
a human face. He is so short that he Is
called the little mayor" but his figure
is SO square and chubby that he does
not really look little, even to the me-
dium sized men who tower over him
and to whom he has 70 raise bis eyes
when he talks. Down his jaw there
runs long and very deep cash. made
in his youth by a man who was aiming
a blow at some one else and caught the
innocent bystander.
English born, Weaver started at the
bottom when he came 20 America as
boy. He was an errand boy. but he
saved up enough TO go TO a business
college and thus became a clerk. Then
as clerk he saved up enough 70 60 TO a
law school and become lawyer.
But he was an unknown lawyer. n
respectable hut anonymous nobody.
when the ring took him up. Cnce he
had joined an independent movement
20 best a ring councilman for e-elec-
ton. which had failed. but this aberra-
ton had been Rtoned for by a continu-
Gus regularity thereafter.
The situation was serious for the ring
In 1901 Rothermel. the able and IN
compromising district attorney, had
prosecuted the rings criminals In
ganization and deep thankfulness to
honest Philadelphians He had even
prosecuted Quay and had astounded
the ring by making a persevering effort
20 adorn that statesman with suit OF
stripes. Salter, the ballot box suffer.
was In Mexico with his ear 20 the
ground. waiting 70 be told when he
could come back and be tried. IL was
painfully evident that Salter must re
main an exile until RothermeI had
been got out OF the Office.
Rothermel was renomlnated by a
town meeting. The ring did not dare
nominate one OF Its heelers. and yet
must have man who would do its bid
ding. Francis Skunk Brown recon-
mended Weaver. Nobody knew who he
was, and there was no danger OF any
one saying anything against him. Dur
ham had never seen him. never heard
OF him. "Wbo is Weaver" became the
raltying cry OF the Independents. Roth
ernel was defeated. Viewers majority
was 1900.
Durham did not make many demands
on Weaver. and the few he did make
for mayor IN 1903 the ring did not ex-
pect any trouble with him. But the de-
mands made on tho mayor We're differ
ent from those made on the district at
torney The man with the square law
found himself n puppet. not one act OF
whose official life was dictated by him
self. He grew FESTIVE almost imme-
dlately, and as time went on his chains
grew uncomfortable 90 him. There was
an audible clank and rattle OF them
every time ne signed his name by Dur
hams orders TO an official paper. Now
he has beaten Durham down to his
knees. He has done It not alone by re
voting, but by revolving at precisely
the right time and striking lust the
blows that go to the solar plexus. The
ring hates him as bitterly as ever. but
II does not despise him now.
As man Mayor Weaver is interest