Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-03-03

ny AN EX-MAYoR OF ONE OF THE
LARGEST AMERICAN CITIES.
PERFORMERS are of two kinds; those
IN actuated by principle and those ac-
mated by a principal. Some of the
most cunning attempts to corruptly Sc
cure valuable franchises from the city
while | was mayor wore the cloak of
Eeform
For instance, there was the syndicate
which was organized with the deliber-
ate purpose Of acquiring the streets
and alleys of the major portion of the
city for certain public corporation,
This syndicate was made up of men
representing other public utility cor
porations and its personnel included a
Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian
and Baptist. The first was a finan-
cier, the second manufacturer. the
third large retail merchant and the
last professional man. M
All of them were known as men Of
high personal character and reform
ers" Not one of them was director,
stakeholder or known employe of the
corporation which wanted the blanket
ordinance from the city.
Our board of aldermen, like all NUM-
cipal legislatures, had in it fighting
faction whose members were aggres-
ssively honest men; clique formed of
the aldermen who had sought the office
for the sole purpose of making an easy
fortune by the sale of their votes;
and an unorganized, leaderless element
made up of the weak sisters" alder
men whose natural inclinations were
toward honesty, but who were suscep-
tible to influences.
An election was approaching when
the syndicate began its reform cam
paign. This took the shape of an agi
tation for nonpolitical business men on
the board of aldermen and was con-
Quoted along nonpartisan lines. Mass
meetings were held in several of the
wards and bulletins, circular letters,
printed appeals and wellwritten
pamphlets were mailed to all the vot-
ers. The campaign went forward with
well directed energy, and the result
was that both political parties nomi-
mated for alderrc.' men who never had
hell IL sought Office before and who
belonged TO The class grouped under
the head business men"
( The reform propaganda was con-
Quoted with such vigor and address
that the newspapers gave it much pub
Iicity and editorial approval. The adj
vocates of municipal reform became
much enthused and predicted that a
few more such movements would give
the city strong working majority of
honest dependable aldermen, and
make it possible to run the city hall
on correct business principles.
One day, while studying the political
situation, | was struck by a singular
conference.-the reform movement al
fected only those wards whose repre-
sentatives were what ] called weak
sisters" In all the other districts the
contests were of the partisan order;
ordinary fights between the two great
parties. The reform wave did not even
lap the edges Of the wards whose alder
men belonged to the "gang."
sent out half a dozen discreet men
VINO soon reported that the severa
reform efforts in the various ward!
were conducted from a common head
quarters in the business center, ant
that considerable money had beer
spent for halls, bands, printing, speak
ers and incidentals, They We're una
Die to discover the source OF this cam
paign fund. but found that the activ.
heads of the movement were the afore
said fi.-ancier manufacturer, retail
merchant and professional man
though many ardent and sincere advo
Gates of municipal reform were also en-
ergetcally at work
The election over, the new board 0
aldermen met for organization. an
when its work was finished it wa
found that the element placed in tn
board through the reform campaig
held the balance of power in the i'm
portant committees This second CO
incidence excited my suspicious, al
though there was nothing in sight t
warrant them | kept my counsel an
awaited developments.
Some weeks after the new board G
aldermen had taken hold numerousl
signed petition for the extension of
certain public utility into an unserve
district was brought to me. | told tn
committee which brought the documer
that I would transmit the petition t
the board of aldermen--the ordinar
procedure Soon after another petitio
of like import came, to be quickly TO
lowed by third.
One morning the daily papers toll
of Joint meeting of various improve
ment clubs neighborhood association
and local leagues. At this meetin
there was adopted strongly worde
resolution demanding the extension
the public utility referred to. In a sho
time there was lively campaign j
full blast and the aldermen represen
ing the agitated districts repeated
called my attention to the demands
their constituents.
In the midst of the excitement a
ordinance was introduced by one of q