The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-14

still more especially because he
distinctly condemns the use OF
force In any way or manner.
Because, as II seems TO US, that
Mr.. Labadie has been discharged
for HIS economic views and not for
Eg any dereliction I'm duty. either TO
w the water board or TO society. We
respectfully petition your honor
able body that he be Feinstated
The above is copy OF a petition
being circulated. asking the water
board to continue in its employ
Joseph A. Labadie. Detroit's gentle
anarchist" whose official head was
chopped of In meeting Tuesday aft
\ ernoon. The petition is being largely
signed.
Mr.. Labadie was not greatly sur
prised Wednesday morning when In
II formed of his dismissal from the
\ clerkship which he has held for 10
a years.
"Sore?" he said. mo. II would
u scarcely be In accordance with my
philosophy. l have long known that
\ people who hold unpopular beliefs
should not expect much from conven-
y tionalities, but l didn't think Jim
Pound would make the first move to-
ward my dismissal. | thought him
b Undetermined man than that. l.
have known Pound for q good many
years. and We were always friendly.
Il don't think 1t so much from
hatred as from Ignorance that leads
people who believe in the usual order
of things TO deal SO harshly with
those who believe otherwise. Christ
was SO treated. so were the abolishion-
lists, and so have all reformers
through all ages. and l suppose 1t will
n ever be thus.
"The Job wasn't much, but am
4 Eetting TO be an old man and not so
versatile as I was a few years ago,
Times are hard too. now. and II wasn't
anarchists that brought the hard
times. Men who believe as Mr..
Pound does are responsible. Govern.
ment statistics show that every work
iDgman produces $2.4Oo in wealth for
the country each, year, and receives
as his wage $437. AS long as that
condition exists hard times are in
Y evitable.
Il don't thing my friends will let
me starve, although better men than
have starved. But / won't sit idle.
a A. soon as am strong enough | will
h get out and hustle. I have been III
y for two months, and wasn't II some
what cowardly OF Pound to jump on
me when l was In bed?"
Labadie's dismissal was made on
\ motion OF Commissioner Pound.
Il am teetotally opposed to any man
who says he Is against government
n continuing to draw pay from this
~ %
4 board In a mighty bad hole TO have a
man paraded as an employe OF this
board who Is an anarchist. man
who does not believe in property rights
and the safety of property should not
draw pay from the city
Commissioner Pendleton defended
Labadie, saying that he Is not violent
and that his practices would not dam
age any member OF the board Com
missioners Dodge and Lemke upheld
Pound, however. Paul Colombo. for
merly connected with the Peninsular
n Savings bank. Is said to be slated for
Labadie's place.
Pound had a glorious time all
Through the meeting. When the cleo
ton OF president came up. he pro-
posed Commissioner Dodge, while the
latter nominated Commissioner Pen.
4 dleton. Dodge and Lemke voted for
Pendleton. who refused TO vote. and
Pound declared that two votes did not
Il make a majority OF four.
Then Pound criticised the manage
ment for not bringing up bonds TO be
+. destroyed when they were. paid OF. He
declared that records 55 years old are
ntill kept, and ridiculed this.
A committee from the Federation of
n Labor. consisting OF F. ]. Carney
Y lanes McGregor and Charles Shep-
Y nerd, asked the board to have com.
uetitive bidding for the architects
york I'm connection with the new
< uumping station. but they were in
formed that the contract was already
made.
Village officers from Ford we're told
that the Detroit water system will
~ extended to give them service. This
means supplying Wyandotte soon also
70 the Ford pipes could be easily con
nected with those of the adjoining
<lfy.
Besides the election OF President
endleton, the board elected John +
Dodge, vice-president, and Benjamin
"a Quincy. secretary.