The Irish standard., 1905-06-03
The Quaker City Has Queer Way of Flaring
Up Every Now and Then and Falling
Listlessy Back.
1t Went Through Such Storm Seven Years Ago
When One Attempt Was Made to
Steal the Waterworks

such flare OF reform, then the torch
went out. after this long night"
was the impassioned question of Sam
uel Crothers at Saturdays mass meet,
ing, sis it possible that you are going
to tighten the reputation of Philadel-
phia?" All they had to do was to
vote. Il don't say which way you
should vote," Mr. Crothers went on;
'just vote. No, never mind the pri,
maries; but go and vote at the polls
on election day; vote any way you
please. II you only vote, instead of
staying at home, you will have good
government, for the people always de-
termine rightly"
When they do not personally vote,
he pointed out, the machine, checking
off the assessors list, puts a ballot in
for them, perhaps several for the same
name. 1.-TWO men stuff each ballot
box-one checks off the names of
those Of you who have not-appeared,
while the other puts in ballots for
you" They put them in for dead men;
and everybody recalls how once the
machine even voted a dog! Mr..
Crothers' declared that in the Fifth
ward, where the Durham machine
could roll up a majority OF 1000, there
were really not more than 25O voters.
Keep up interest for two years." he
appealed; don't forget this gas steal.
You have seen what you, the people,
can do if you but take hand in the
government. You have all at once
made OF this boasted perfect impregna-
BILE political structure mere house of
cards."
Extraordinary as the exhibition of
anger has been, no violence has been
done. Hearts have been dilated; civic
devotion has been at high heat. One
set purpose, one stiff pride, one un-
swervable interest connected every.
body not bound up with the fortunes
of the Republican machine and the
United Gas improvement company.
Very rich responsibilities, as in New
York's contest for cheaper light, were
on the side of the grafters. Mayor
Weaver found that he must go to New
York for legal counsel. Only one
Philadelphia lawyer of high ability
would advise him. All the rest, all
except ex-Judge James Gay Gordon,
were retained by the United Gas I'm.
provement, or the machine, OF persons
concerned in one or the other. Mr..
Gordon, being John Wannamaker's
counsel, and the counsel of the anti
ring North American, thus became
alone available. The mayor and the
people saw what tremendous support
the grafters could count upon Great
corporations and leading financiers
are in the state ring-and therefore in
volved with the city ring-"S STANDARD
Oil, Cramps, Pennsylvania railroad,
promoting capitalists, bankers having
their deposits" Restrained as the
people were up to yesterdays capitu-
lation to them, the spirit in which
they were operating could not be mis-
taken
Councilmen were hunted and har-
ried. Bills were posted on boardings,
giving portrait of one that could not
be caught and labored with, with a
picture of his house, and the fact that
he might be found after dinner at the
police station. There, at last, he was
captured by automobile scouts, fol-
lowed home, lectured, and finally in
duced to say he would not vote against
the mayors veto. Another was forced
to address delegation at midnight in
his pajamas or bathrobe. Another
yielded because his friends would no
longer shake hands with him." An
other because his children came from
school, crying that people called
their father thief" Others gave In
when their wives were ostracized, or
their trade or practice began to drop
away. For the infamy of their votes
they were pariahs, and were passed
by as unclean.
A few days ago the people were.