The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-05-25
MAYOR OPENS WAR
ON ORGANIZATION
GREATEST POLITICAL rtaHT IN
HISTORY or PHILADELPHIA.
ECHO or GAS LEASE FIGHT
Mayor Weaver Removes from ONCE
the Two Principal Members Of
His Cabinet--others Marked
for Dismissal.

Philadelphia, May 2i.--fn his effort
20 defeat the consummatlon Of the plan
20 lease the city gas works TO the United
Gas Improvement company for rs years
for s25,000,000, Mayor Weaver on Tues
day dismissed from Office the two prin-
cipal members OF his cabinet and there
by delivered staggering blow to tho
dominant political organization OF this
city, which has caused probably the
greatest sensation In the history OF
Philadelphia municipal affairs. While
the citizens were expecting some sort
OF move on the part OF the mayor, they
were not prepared for the immediate re-
moval from Office OF David J. Smyth, the
director OF the department Of public
safety, and Peter II. Costello, the direc-
tor OF the department Of public works.
The removal OF Directors Smyth and
Costello did not come until after the
mayor had asked them TO resign lmme.
diately. In reply each sent letter to
the mayor Offering his resignation to
take effect when his successor shall be
qualified" The mayor answered them
by demanding their immediate Teslgna.
ton. The answers the directors re-
turned we're 10 the effect that they had
rendered their designations "in the
usual form and In accordance with the
provisions OF the city charter" and that
they would stand by them as rendered.
Mr.. Weaver then ended the correspond
ence by sending TO each n letter In which
he peremptorily removed them.
The fight over the form Of resignation
was an important one In that the new
directors can only be qualified by tho
confirmation OF the city councils, which
is controlled by the organization The
department Of public safety has charge
OF the police and fire bureaus, electrical
bureau. prisons, building inspectors
boiler inspectors, city property and In
gpectors OF fire escapes. The bureaus OF
gas, highways, lighting, surveys, street
cleaning, water and city ice boats, are
under the supervision OF the department
OF public works. Each director receives
10000 year, and together they have
control Of 10000 ofIicehoIders.
Reason for His Action.
Neither Mayor Weaver nor the re-
moved men would make statement as
70 the specific reason for the changes,
beyond the general statement that the
proposed lease OF the gas works was the
cause Of IT, The organization, to man,
was In favor Of the lease, while tho
mayor was unalterably opposed to It.
He was utterly ignored In the transac-
tion and he has been urged by the news
papers and reform organizations 10
veto theordlnancc passed by the councils
last Thursday. This no has announced
he would do, In the meantime, he
brought every influence 10 bear on
councilmen 10 sustain him In his veto.
In this he has had little success. The
two directors refused 10 use their infiu-
ence 10 help him, and this led the mayor
10 ask the directors for their resigna-
tions.
Will Fight 10 Bitter End.
The mayor has announced that he is
in the fight 10 tho bitter end, which
means that great political battle is
now on and will be carried 10 the polls
next November. In his fight against
the gas lease and the republican organi.
zation the mayor has called In az coun-
sci Elihu Root, OF New York, and former
Judge James Gay Gordon, OF this city,
Judge Gordon Is a democrat. The may
or's stated purpose In going outside the
city for his principal counsel is that ne
wants a man who is not identified with
any faction In the struggle now on.
The news OF the mayors action spread
quickly TO every section OF the city, and
all afternoon the RiaIto, around the
city hall where politicians gather eyery
day, was donsely crowded with political
workers and citizens. Everyone wanted
10 know what the Organization" was
going 70 do. The leaders, however.
made no public announcement beyond
the statement that the organization
would stand pat" on the lease, and that
II the mayor wanted a fight the organi-
yatlon was ready.
II is evident that the organization Is
planning for great contest. The next
city election will be held In November.
when a sheriff and coroner are 10 be
elected The candidate for sheriff is
Harry Q. RansIcy, president OF the Sc
lect council and an advocate OF the gas
lease and IL is likely that tho reform
organizations OF the city will center
their strength 10 defeat him. While tho
mayor refuses 20 say what HIS future
action will be regarding other ofiicehold-
ers who oppose him, II is believed that
he Is not yet through with HIS work in
this direction. There is much uneasi. |
ness displayed by thousands Of once.
holders lest they be caught in the DO
iitical vortex The new directors refuse
70 say what plans they have mapped out,
and untl they make some announce
ment the political situation will re-
main In chaotic state. Some OF the |
organization leaders fear that many OF |
the oficehoIders win side with the |
mayor and thus weaken the organiza-
tion forces.