The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-03
Lake Eric and tho Mayor.

Lake Erie and tho Mayor.
The Hon. JAMES @. WOODWARD,
Mayor Of Atlanta, is q man OF much
originality and activity and OF a per-
fectly frank independence Of mind. His
refusal to wear evening dress or 60 to
functions where 1t ID required or ex-
peoted has made him many enemies IN
the Gate City. A prosperous, illimitably
energetic and charming community.
but not without desire to exalt and
blow it's horn. Nothing is too good for
Atlanta. There Is sort Of feeling
among Atlantans that the chief magis-
trate Of 90 illustrious a city should be
on dress parade all the time, live, move
and have his being in glad rags, DO
swathed always in purple and fine linen.
Yet these same worshipers OF purple
howl to the skies when their excellent
Mayor is accused, in gamboge des-
patches Of painting town or body Of
water red.
At the meeting of the League Of Ameri-
can municipalities in Toledo, Mayor
WOODWARD made some perfectly sem
sible remarks about Chicago and the
public ownership of municipal utilities
Toledo is rich in cranks. Some Of them
were in the audience. A man that talks
sense must be crazy or crazy drunk.
Put him out!' they yelled as he spoke
the words Of truth and soberness. The
gan1boge dispatches showed the worthy
WOODWARD Baccho plenun,, loaded
with the old familiar juice. Great pre-
tense Of indignation in Atlanta. Espe-
cially In the Common Council, where
there is bitter anti Woodward faction.
This collection Of thinkers has passed
a series of resolutions deploring and
condemning the Mayor. We pick few
choice bits from this feast Of mind:
1T appears from the press reports through tho
country and from other reliable sources that tho
Mayor on tho door OF the convention and during
its deliberations was in state Of partial into1ica-
tion."
Tho condition and conduct Of Mayor WOOD
WARD on tho occasion mentioned are In nowise
typical Of Atlanta. but met with the severest CEN
Sbre OF this body and the strongest condemnation
Of our people"
What are Toledo, the League Of Ameri-
can municipalities to think? The Mayor
sin a state Of partial intoxication" was
in nowise typical Of Atlanta. Where
upon the wicked in Savannah and Au-
gusta and Brunswick grin and say: ANo,
to be typical Of Atlanta, JIM ought to
have been wholly drunk. He wasn't
thoroughly soaked and representative.
There's where he made his mistake"
We regret that these gibes should be
thrown at Atlanta at time when, for
the sake of both art and charity. she is
sailing the wet ways in HoKE SMITHS
Gilded Gehenna and meeting the Gal
at the Fountain. But we must submit
these considerations:
1. II Jim" was jug-bitten and tosti-
Gated at Toledo, and thereby brought
discredit upon Atlanta least said SOON
est mended. The Common Council should
have let that flea stick in the wa.
2. How can it discredit Atlanta to
have her Mayor talk sound sense?
8. Since when was the utterance Of
sound sense held to be confirmation
strong as proofs Of Holy Writ of the
jug-bitten and tosticated condition Of the
utterer?
The Hon. JAMES G. WOODWARD has
made an official and final statement
which every lover of fair play and a
reasonable peck Of malt will read with
pleasure and conviction:
II have no apologies 10 mako to NJ dunno
and no other gang OF that kind. While had some
beer In me was not intoxicated. On the boat
excursion II was . case Of drink beer or Jump into
tho ocean and drink salt water. but did not drink
much at that"
This is true eloquenoe. Lake Eric is
not exactly the ocean, but it is just as
wet. and the Mayor speaks figuratively.
Self-preservation poured down that
modest dose Of beer. It was drink or
drown. The Mayor knows Toledo. He
has 'vindicated" himself thoroughly.
II the Council doesn't think 80, the Coun-
Gil can 60 to Toledo.