The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-14
DAMNED n I'll DO IT."
supt. Carke's Remarks Of MIXING Politics
With street Cleaning.

William ). Clarke, superintendent Of the
Street Cleaning Department in Brooklyn,
discovered yesterday that after -four years
and nine months Of work in that borough
he was not satisfactory because he re-
fused to make his Office a political
machine. SO Mr.. Clarke aid last night in
discussing the resignation Of COMMISSIONS
Woodbury..
They've been after me since I've been
over here, but I've ignored politics. For
a man 10 use his position as a superior over
another TO influence his way VI voting
and to try TO control the mans free will
il a crime against God Almighty said Mr..
Clarke. And I'll be damned II I do It,"
When l first came over here the poll
ticans came to me with requests OF all
sorts. | gave them the regulation blanks
tina We have in this department and they
had the men I'LL them out. requesting trans
fers and the like. II the requests were genu-
me and worth while on account OF the men
who were concerned / granted them. But
in all that time / never once knew the poll
tics OF any man that worked for me. | did
not heiong to any clubs and | did not adj
wise any men under me TO join one. / wanted
them to ave their evenings to themselves.
And that I find il the wrong thing.
Il can understand why senator Nc
Csrren doesn't want me here. IL is simply
BECAUSE / am not the right Kind Of man.
Under me the men were instructed To clean
the streets. II keeps me busy day and
night attending to complaints and routine
work. and / would hAve no time to devote
to politics and serve the people. That is
why l ave not been satisfactory. As I say,
the function Of a street cleaning depart
ment Is To keep the streets clean, cart away
ashes and in general do shat the charter
calls for. This Is no political engine.
The last two years | ave not been
troubled IN this way. They have gotten
Ia know thar I was here to attend 10 bust
nesS. and they stopped coming to me with
requests. Why. IL | had when first l came
here msddled at all with politics Woodbury.
would have cut me "a in q minute. He
wouldn't sand for that sort Of thing He's
honest and a gentleman. and I'm sorry to
see him 60. 10 are the other men under
him. don't believe that any body Of men
could show more genuine regret over the
loss Of any chief.
It's no new thing for me to feel that they
want me out. Mayor Low wanted II, Bird
S. COler wanted it, and now Senate McCar-
rem wants IL. It's the old story about the
Israelites. They d idn't want the judges;
they wanted a king. Here in Brooklyn they
want a deputy commissioner; a superinx
tendent ~ not good enough for them. Mayor
Low wanted TO have a deputy and there
we're twenty-eight men after the place
Commissioner Woodbury. told him that he'd
resign IL l were put out. He said, I want a
professional over here; no amateurs for me-
And that settled il.
However, il I have to go I won't mind
so much. II has been a tough Job over
here. and I'll be just as glad to go back to a
dist net once more where there won't he
so much responsibility. l am nothing
but a soldier. I have to obey orders. n
Senator McCarren can get me out II
simrly v TO go. But a. I said I shan't
mind. I will be able to sAe the next man
do the work. and I shall be the first to con-
graduate him IL he does il well.
Honestly, it's a shame to see Woodbury.
go. He was q man who never thought OF
politics. The whole thing must have been
new TO him. l mean this situation where
they forced him out. Only a week or 30
ago he was over here and We were discuss-
ing things a. far ahead as snow removal.