Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-18

/ surrendered themselves to the authori-
| ties.
1--WE told you sol" said the men who
| had opposed Weaver in the campaign.
1--WE warned you that he would act
with the crowd that put him into office.
He is bound body and soul to the poll
ticians that put him up"
Again he disappointed them. When
the trial began and his critics saw how
the .'machine district attorney was
trying his best to convict the indicted
men they were obliged to modify their
views. The prisoners were acquitted,
but 1t was not the fault of the district
attorney. About this time the Repub-
lican leaders were trying to unite on a
successor to Mayor Ashbrldge. They
were looking for man who could unite
all the warning elements In the party
and check the independent movement
| that had been source Of worry for
some years.
"W1y not put up John Weaver 2"
somebody asked. 'If you don't believe
he's the right man take note, of what
the opposition is saying about him"
The suggestion struck home. Weaver
was decided on. nominated ar d elected.
Within six months after his Inaugural
/ ton he drove policy out of the city. thus
reclaiming over s3000.000 which the
vendors had extracted from their dupes.
Pool rooms and other forms of organ
ICED gambling were practically eradi-
Gated He put stop to police black
mail and removed the force from poll
tics. He also broke up the pernicious
system of levying tribute on school
teachers and sent four school directors
| to the penitentiary.
| These are only a few Of the reforms
| he has Instituted. Most important of
| all, he has maintained his lofty posi-
ton Of political independence even to
! the extent of standing out resolutely
| against the very men who supported
him. Devoted Baptist that he is, he
has been equally firm against the i'm
portunities Of the clergymen who have
| asked him from time to time to remove
some official who showed signs of being
antagonistic to reform. In the face OF
a storm of criticism backed by the
prayers and appeals OF the clergy, Mr..
| Weaver declined to remove the director
| of public safety from Office. To the
ministers letters on the subject he re-
piled: mo. gentlemen, shall not do as
you wish. You have made no charges"
| Threats of impeachment and even inn
parchment itself have no effect on John
Weaver. Cries of "Resign!" fall equally
| impotent. From his sanctum at the
city hall he serenely listens to the COM
plants OF clergymen, the criticisms OF
praying iaymen and the admonitions OF
the Law and Order society and then
does as it pleases him. Over his desk
| hangs neatly framed card bearing this
1So
nations. Your enemies won't believe
them. Your friends don't need to"
Mayor Weaver is not a handsome
man. but he has pleasant face. He is
especially fond Of having callers and is
always ready to talk to them. He
smiles a good deal and gives one the
| impression that he is unusually frank.
He never assumes a dogmatic attitude.
| No one has ever heard him indulge in
satire. and he is never separated from
| his good manners. He does not seem
! to be either fine scholar or a subtle
| humorist He has good business
head, a square jaw, combative chin
| and a pair of shreWd though kindly
eyes. He most Of all impresses one
with the idea that he would be val
liable friend.
John Weaver has shown in the solu-
ton of the perplexing monetary prob
lens which have confronted him in
dealing with the affairs of his city a
most remarkable aptitude for figures.
He insists that the record of the citys
financial condition shall be kept in such
plain and unmistakable manner that
any one at any time may satisfy him
self as to how the account stands. When
Mr.. Weaver retires from the Philadel-
phia scity hall he will not leave behind
him the muddled system which he
found there.
Long before Mr..Weaver entered poll