The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-02-22
An American in Politics
APPOINTED TO OFFICE
BY ERNEST MGAFFEY.

cial position, and the CONSERVATION
in the ward. among my enemies, was
complete. / had no friends there. as
friends really go. although there were
trusted
What was the chief emotion which
thrilled me over this appointment?
The confidence of the mayor in me
felt deeply; the honor of the position
| esteemed sensibly; the difference
it made in my income-the opportu-
nifty it gave me to square up few
debts and carry out some long cher
ished plans-all these were factors in
the matter which weighed percep-
tibly in the scale. But the chief par
ticular delight took in it, the emo
ton which warmed the very cookies
of my heart was the thorough
come back which it gave me on the
fellows of the ward who had plotted
to throw me-" and on whom my re-
venge was complete. If you have
never repaid treachery with retribu-
lious sOu nave never uttu.
For time at last sets all things even,
And If we do but watch the hour,
There never yet was human power
Which could evade, if unforgiven,
The patient search and vigil long
OF him who treasures up a wrong"
Getting beaten was all right, but
being bought out Of nomination
rather "riled" me.
AS member of the board of local
improvements, / wish to remark, and
my language is plain, that / was mo
dead-head in the enterprise" Habits
Of early rising and diligence en-
abled me to be at the city hall at
few minutes before ten o'clock
a. m, and We often did not get
home until six or seven p. m. We
worked at least eight or nine hours
day, and we did our work con-
scientiously. and without fear OF
favor. Personally, l had an ordi-
nance put through the city council
which did away with plank sidewalks,
except where the I'LL" or under
foundation was more than three feet.
thus providing for cement sidewalks
or cinders, where planks had been
formerly used. and thereby reducing
largely the accident suits against the
city resulting from injuries received
on decayed wood sidewalks. / also
helped the wide-tire ordinance along,
and loath as / am to say it for my
self, made good, live, capable and
honest member of the board. 1t was
good board collectively and indi.
vidually, at the start. and we worked
hard to do our duty.
The opposition papers to the admin
istration Jumped u.s.. with ghoulish
glee in their columns, but we did not
mind that any more than the gibber-
ing Of apes by the Dead sea. Oppo-
sition papers of all parties iuvar-
iably hammer" the appointments OF
the mayor Of the opposite party. How
ever, we were simply reviled as .
bunch OF incompetent numb-skulls;
no suggestion was ever made that We
grated
In looking up streets for repaving,
we first sent out notices, after an In
spection of the territory, and day
was set for the residents of the street
to come in and choose their material.
That was done when the board start
ed the Improvement. When the resi-
dents of street did not want the
street improved, particularly if it had
only been paved once, with ce4Ar
block. and from II to IL years back.
they would come down in force and
almost start a small-sized riot in the
board rooms.
One instance of this kind recollcct
wildly. We had ordered a street
paved with the cheapest grade of
granite-top macadam paving, cur
cheapest material, the locality being
in the western part of the CITY, This
street was really nayigable for s,dffs
at all times except during the win
tetr, when it froze up. If it had been
little further out in the country the
residents could have thrown out de.
coys in this street." and shot ducks
in the spring and fall, for it was
simply water-course and nothing
less.
We set the day, and the inhabit-
ants poured in to protest. Our presi-
dent explained the plan. 1t was re-
sisted vigorously. One old lady in
particular was loud in her denuncia-
ton of the ''villainy of it, as she ex-
pressed it, Our president at that
time was an Irishman, in his late
forties or early fifties. A finer man
never wore shoe leather Rigidly
honest, warm hearted, able, and q
man of wide culture and reading, he
commanded the respect and enlisted
the affection of all who came to
know him.
He tried to show the old lady that
the improvement was meant for the
acfual health as we'll &C the cop,forf