Evening journal., 1905-06-12
WEAVER'S PERSONALITY
Sketch Of Philadelphias Ring
Smashing Mayor.
PYGMY IN STATURE, BUT BRAVE.

From an Errnnd BOY to a Lawyer.
His Entry Into PoIitics-An Enthu-
siastic YachtEman.
After a contest lasting Eve 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-fve years.
Thomas Dolan, president Of the com
pany has Withdrawn his proposition to
advance the city s25,oO0,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
fight with the organization by the with
drawal Of the United Gas Improve
ment companys offer, is a short ruddy
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
cailcd "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 to raise his eyes
when he talks. Down his jaw there
runs long and very deep cash, made
In his youth by a man who was aiming
O blow at some one else and caught the
innocent bystander
English born, Weaver started at the
bottom when he came to America as a
boy. He was an errand boy, but he
saved up enough TO go to a business
college and thus became a clerk. Then
MS clerk be saved up enough TO go TO a
law school and become a lawyer
But he was an unknown lawyer, a
respectable but anonymous nobody,
when the ring took him up. Once he
had Joined an independent movement
70 best a ring councilman for re-elec-
ton, which had failed, but this aberra-
ton had been atoned for by a continu-
Gus regularity thereafter.
The situation was serious for the ring
in 1901. Rothermel. the able and un-
compromising district attorney. had
prosecuted the rings criminals In a
way that gave great scandal TO the or
ganlzatlon and deep thankfulness 70
honest Phlladelphians. He had even
prosecuted Quay and had astounded
The ring by making a persevering effort
TO adorn that statesman with a suit OF
stripes. salter. the ballot box suffer
was In Mexico with bis ear TO the
ground waiting 10 be told when he
could come back and be tried. 1t was
painfully evident that Salter must re
main an exile until Rothermel had
been got out of the Office.
Rothermel was renominated by q
town meeting. The ring did not dare
nominate one Of It's heelers. and YET
must have man who would do its bid
ding. Francis Skunk Brown recon-
mended Weaver. Nobody knew who III
was, and there was no danger Of an!
one saying anything against him. Dur
ham had never seen him, never heard
Of him. "Who is Weaverf" became the
rallying cry Of the Independents. Roth
ermel was defeated. Weaver's majorit,
was 44.OOO
Durham did not make many demands
on Weaver. and the few he did maxi
were granted. When he was nominated
for mayor In 1908 the ring did not ex
pect any trouble with him. But the de
mands made on the mayor were differ
eDt from those made on the district at
torney. The man with the square jaw
found himself puppet. not one act o
whose official life was dictated by him
self. He grew restive almost imme
diately. and as time went on his chain
grew uncomfortable TO him. There wa
an audible clank and rattle Of then
every time he signed his name by Dur
hams orders to an official paper. Nov
be has beaten Durham down 10 hi
knees. He has done it not alone by re
volting, but by revolving at precisel.
the right time and striking just tn
blows that go to the solar plexus. TIL
ring hates him as bitterly as ever, bu
It does not desplse him now.
AS a man Mayor Weaver Is interest
ing, says the New York Tribune. Hi
face beams with good nature whel
greeting callers. He smiles a goo
deal and gives one the impression Of
certain easy frankness that has le
70 the downfall of more than one wit
ness in court The mayor has nothin
OF dogmatic manner. Neither has h
satire, and II would be difficult to in
agine him without good manners. Iii
Is not the face Of scholar nor an aes
thetic nor a subtle humorist He ha
good business head, with a squar
jaw, a combative chin and a pair 0
shrewd eyes. His mouth and jaw Civ
the distinct impression OF a man wh
is not In the least afraid Of his ow
opinion.
He has that tenacity Of purpose
bulldog courage and inability to qu
Characteristic OF the English, whic
has carried the English flag over tn
seven seas.
Mayor Weaver is an enthusiast
yachtsman. There Is perhaps no othe
~ form of sport or amusement I'm whic
skill and intrepidity are important IA,
tors that affords him more enjoymer
or more relief in the leisure hours q
bis busy life. Beating to windwar
across Barnegat bay on broad reacl
W with the green seas slipping beneat
the keel Of his boat. or running befor
81 the breeze, Mr.. Weaver is never NOR