Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-04-09
GINGER Snaps
By 80. II. T."


Sic transit gloria mundi. If the ancient
phrase-maker had known what was COM
ing he would surely. have made it Tues
day. No wonder it showed Wednesday.
1t was sure a great surprise. can i'm
agine even Van himself rubbing his eyes
to see if he were really awake when the
returns began to come in.
Didn't say that "Virtue is its own Re-
ward" But then | have sometimes
known an office to make man as we'll
at man to make an Office: and if Van
gives US all the water we want, and pays
our taxes for US, the anti-saloon forces
will not have lived in vain; nor will we
ever again doubt his temperance ssnti-
msnts. -
But it's saving grace Of the American
people that they can take their political
defeats good-natursdly. Over at the
Salvation Army barracks. where the
"ultra-drys" had their headquarters
Tuesday this was sxsmplifisd. Some Of
US went over early after supper 90 as to
get front seats and hear the good news
first. It came from Ward 2, lin the
shape Of l45 majority for Van on the
straight tieksts.) And they were all
straights in No. Q. The fellows who
came dropping in later were little hard
to convince that this wasn't josh.
Phil Rsifsl. who lately got home from
California and hadn't helped to mix the
convention tickets. was heard to ejaeu-
late my God !" and then noticing the
mottos on the walls. he added 'tf-r-e-y."
The next batch Of inform alton was
from Ward One and added about so to
Vans tally. About this time Rev. Davsn-
port arrived. and he was promptly invit.
cd 10 conduct our funeral services.
Sprinkler suggested that IL we could
wait till he got thru giving out cheerful
information over the phone he would put
Us all in one box and give Us cut rate.
About ten p. m. somebody on the rural
wires called up to know how the thing
stood:
20 about 'stsen hundred for Van."
That so! Thank you!"
"You're weleome!" said Sprink.
81 said: Thank you'll"
20. all tight. Don't mention IT," said
the retiring Alderman Of Ward One.
whats the majority ?" said the fellow
at the other end. DO you think there's .
nigRer in the woodpils."
swell. no. not exactly" said Sprink.
but there is the North end to hear from
yet" -..
Then the news from the Third began
to come in.
Lets 60 home and tell our wives
about it." said Charley Baldwin.
Lets turn i. over to the W. c. T. U.."
said John Young.
John Bowman called up Central" and
told them to come and take the phone
out. and charge it up to Van Buskirk;
and one by one we drif.ed out into the
moonlight.
Down at G. Harvey Norton's drug
store the moderately drys" had their
headquarters. 1t was full. The new
mayor elect was handing out the cigars.
and pretty nearly everybody seemed 70
be smoking the pipe OF peace. And those
who weren't were getting their first in
stallmen. Of free Waterfront the soda
fountain.
-. ,.-k-
Twas the English put tho French to rout
But what they killed each other for
never can make out"
Now in view of this interesting and ex-
pensive campaign have a suggestion to
make as to the future selection Of our
city administrators. 1t is this: That the
first week in January. say. proceeding
our April election we hold a joint pri-
mary. or ward primaries. at which we
eiee. a commission Of say twenty good
citizens. whose business it shall be 70 look
up good candidates for all the elective
offices Of the city. and IL possible reach
unanimous choice and so save the large
expense Of an election contest. II unani-
nifty is not possible. then submit list Of
competitive candidates, to be passed up
on by the regular election law methods
in April.
The new council could make this
scheme. or something like it, a part of
the written or unwrittsn law OF city gov
srnment. and by this means save US from
finding ourselves without available num-
eipal timber at the last moment: and
save US from repeating the foolishnsss Of
the recent campaign.