The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-14

League of Republican clubs chose him
for It's president.
The TALL handsome, CHEEKY, courteous
merchant made friends on all sides and
soon there came manifest a spontaneous
demand to have him for mayor.
There was no politics in the move
ment, it had no manager, no campaign
fund, no promoting. Lots of people
liked Stuart, and thought him the right
man for the place.
Eventually they put him there.
During the years of his rise, stuart
affection for his mother was the MAIN
spring of his life, and he remained a
bachelor in order to be with her. He Is
still unmarried.
Shortly before his election to the
mayoralty of Philadelphia, his mother
died, and this spoiled mucch OF the joy
of taking Il place of such honor.
Stuart had a trying administration.
it fell to his lot to be mayor when Il
trusted city treasurer, ohn Barosley,
robbed the city of great sums OF money.
Other offenders of his own party, men
who had helped in the movement %
make him mayor were involved.
Many a man might have thought it
political wisdom to shield the offenders,
but Mr. Stuart had rugged sense of
old fashioned honesty that was not to be
compromised with. He instituted a
most rigid investigation, and prosecu-
ted the guilty without fear or favor.
As result, John Bardsiey went to pri-
son.
Stuart had also to deal with rapacious
trolley companies, but he forced them to
concessions in the way of street paving
in return for franchises that have made
Philadelphia one of the best paved
streets in the United .-tates.
/This was Stuart's record when he left
office and went back to private life.
Three mayors-Warwick, Ashbridge
and Weaver-have ruled in Philadelphia
since that time. and Mr.. Stuart held no
public office in the interval.
All during ms term of office as mayor
he had held onto the old book store,
thouh the active management was III
trusted mainly to his brother, William
III. Stuart.
But although the former mayor was
willing to escape from the limelight, his
friends still remember his qualities and
his services. Without having been
candidate. he was chosen president of the
Union league, perhaps the highest social
honor that can come to Philadelphlan.
His next and highest elevation is the
selection to be governor.
Mr.. Stuart has two homes. one IN Oak
Lane. suburb, and the other in the
southern section of the city, on Broad
street
Since the death of his mother, Miss
Cora A. Stuart his sister, has had charge
of his home. and to her will fall what
ever social duties devolve on1ife at the
capital ~
The government elect formed the habit
of walking to his place of business when
he was an errand boy and could not
afford to spend care fare. He has chung
to it ever since, and scorning carriages
or automobiles. though he is fully two
miles away from the center of the city.
His tall figure and kindly face are
known to everyone, and man, woman
and child delight to exchange greetings.
On the morning after his election the
children of the neighborhood, knowing
his hour for starting uptown, clustered
around his step in order to be the first
to salute him with the title of "gov-
crnor."
Mr.. Stuart is a Mason, a member of
the board of city trusts and a promin
cnt clubman.
His success shows that man can
come up from nothing, and it proves
equally that in the process he can still
be kindly and honest, and not forget the
rights of feelings of his fellowmen.