The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-03
BEING A SOCIALIST, He QUITS.
JOSEPH MEDTLL PATTERSON OIT
or PLBLIC, OFFICE.
ChicaGo's Youngest Commissioned Of Public
Works Resigns. sendink n Letter In
which lie Discusses Present Social
Conditions ana ApOstrOphIzeS Riches.

"Vt NHNbhF NF'NE'
which lie Discusses Present Social
Conditions and ApOstrOphizes Riches
CHICAGO, March 2.l-Joseph Medill Pat
terson, Commissioner OF Public Works, has
resigned. Writing from his fathers resi-
dence in Washington, u. &C., on February
%, Mr.. Patterson notified Mayor Dunno
of his decision to quit the clty's service, his
resignation to take effect at once.
His letter was received in the City Hal
this morning and caused consternation In
the Mayors office. Tho resignation was
accepted with regret by Mayor Dunno.
In his announcement Of his decision to
quit the city's service, Mr.. Patterson makes
the fiat statement. Il am d Socialist
Beyond this he gives no specific cause
for his resignation at>this time except the
statement that there are many reasons
for his act. He expressed regret that he
was compelled to sever his official associa-
lions with the Mayor, but gave no hope
that his action might be reoonsidered and
that he could be induced to continue in the
service of the city.
Mr.. Patterson's letter in part is as follows
Money is power and dominion. 1t is wine.
oman and song. 1t IL art and poetry ana
music. 1t Is idleness or activity. 1t Ia
warmth in winter and GOODNESS in summer.
II is clothing and food. 1t is travel and sport.
1t is horses and automobiles and silks ana
diamonds. 1t IL books. II Is education
1t is self-respect and the respect of all others.
No one possesses 1t. but 1t possesses every
body. ,
In life money means everything. and
therefore anybody will do anything to get IT,
1t enslaves those whom II possesses ana IL
likewise e~nslaves In a more sordid way those
who have none of IT, The man who has
money masters the destinies Of those who
have 1t not.
A man is expected to risk his life, but he is
hardly expected to risk his fortune he
would give away money before he would
give away life, because If he were dead he
would have no money. anyway. But he
would and he does seriously risk life for
the sake of money. / cannot. therefore.
| see why money. which is the greatest thing
In life. should not be more or less evenly
distributed, just as the ballot Is.
The universal ballot gives every male
| citizen an equal political opportunity. The
| common ownership of all the means OF pro-
duction and distribution would give every
body an equal chance at music. art, power,
sport. study. recreation. travel seli-respec'
and the respect OF others.
| for one cannot see which those things
should be concentrated more and more in
the hands of a few.
Joseph Medill Patterson was appointed to
the position of Commissioner of Public
Works by Mayor Dunno shortly after the
Mayors Inauguration and took charge OF
the Office April "a, 1905. He was the youngest
COMMISSIONS of Public Works ever APP
! pointed in Chicago, being now q years old
During the Mayors ca mpaign he took the
stump for Dunno and municipal ownership
although he was then a Republican.
Mr.. Patterson is to-day in New York,
having left Washington yesterday.
Although he is by training and associa-
ton a Republican, being a son of the pro-
prietor o fthe Chicago Tribune, and formerly
| engaged as an editorial writer on that paper
| Mr.. Patterson threw himself heart ano
soul into Mayor DUNES campaign be,
cause of his earnest belief in municipal
ownership. His appointment ollowed the
success Of that campaign.
Young Patterson was a member OF the
Legislature of 1903, and although he was one
of the youngest of the Republicans he
evinced there the same earnestness Of pur,
pose for the right, hatred Of graft ano
enthusiasm for the Mueller bill and honest
municipal propositions that have since
characterized him.