Evening journal., 1912-05-04
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1912
TOMKINs AND PURDY.

Wilmington spend hundreds Of thousands of dollars
for the development OF the Delaware river waterfront
and then turn over the riparian the bulk Of
that development for their own private proht Ihat
the sixteen members Of the Board OF Trade acted as
they did to be regretted. although it was not un-
looked for Of the fact that its Riverfront Com
mttee attended the Star Chamber meetings in City
Hall and had committed itself to the plan to have
the Federal Government and the city combine to de-
vclop that Waterfront for the city receiv
ing two small pieces of IT,
The chief address delivered in the meeting last
night was by Oscar c. Purdy, president of the board
and manager for the Atlantic Refining Company,
subsidiary Of the Standard Oil Company What he
said was as Incorporate IL foreign 10 the real
questions There thing he did say,
however, that is worthy Of the consideration OF the
taxpayers Of Wilmington Il that when Calvin
Tomkins the intelligent and progressive Dock Com
missioner Of New York City, here several weeks
ago he told Mr.. Purdy that the city OF Wilmington
ought that Delaware river waterfront even If
Il had to spend S100O000 to get It and borrow the
money TO pay for IT, Mr Purdy seemed TO think that
was excellent advice coming from Mr.. Tomkns Then,
show his own inconsistency. he launched out in a
speech in which he did not advocate the municipal
ization Of that waterfront. as Commissioner Tomkins
had done but It's exploitation by private interests with
the aid Of Federal and city
II is useless to devote much space 20 Mr. Purdy's
speech We think the taxpayers will understand
clearly that who extols a New York official
for suggesting muncipalizaton of waterfront and
then turns around himself and delivers mpassion-
ed appeal for its private exploitation, can have little
90 say them that contains merit To be effective,
argument must be consistent II Mr. Purdy TO
talk from the crack of doom he could not
reconcile what Commissioner Tombins said when he
here and what Mr.. Purdy said last night
One great fact that stands out more clearly than
any other fact is that Commissioner Tomkns knew
what he talking about because he has charge
OF tho greatest municpazed waterfront in the world
and is aware Of it's benefits The other fact is that II
Mr. Purdy knows anything about IT, he failed to show
Y by his speech perhaps would pay him to get a
copy Of Dock Commissioner Tomkns report and a
few Of his addresses waterfront development and
acquant himself with real facts before discussing
in public such question Affecting vitality the com
mercial future Of large and growing city like VIII
mngton.
Mr. Purdy so FAR forgot himself as to say that
one Of the present owners OF THE EVENING JOUR
NAL is member Of tho Riyerfront Committee OF
the Board Of Trade Ho practically accused that sup
posed owner not only of having failed to perform
his duty as member of that committee but Of hay
ing turned upon the committee in the columns OF THE
EVENING JOURNAL. Such assertion in keep
ing with the rest Of Mr. Purdy's Incorporate speech.
which was based scant and inaccurate information.
No owner of THE EVENING JOURNAL is now or has
been member of the Rverfront Committee. Prior TO
the sale of THE EVENING JOURNAL many weeks
ago Mr. Gilbert S. Jones, then OF the owners,
was member of IT, He favored the Wilmington Ter
minal Company's harbor development plan and at
say that he did furtherance OF that plan than
did Mr. Purdy, and that he discussed with greater
intelligence and temperateness than Mr.. Purdy dis
played last night Mr.. Jones Is not now. nor has he
been for weeks, Of THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL We understand that his private opinion still
Is that the city should into this deal with the
Wilmington Terminal Company its allies. For
him to have such opinion is his unquestioned
right THE EVENING JOURNAL is big enough in
It's views TO concede TO every man the right 10 his
oVun nrfvaf onfuf tn-...
Mr.. Purdy said relative to Mr. Jones and THE EVEN
ING JOURNAL merely further evidence that he
did not know what he talking about and that it
would be better for him inform himself on ques-
tons prior to attempting to discuss them in public.
The intemperateness and inaccuraoy Of what he said
last night shows that he certainly is not a on
whom the taxpayers should rely either for guidance
for the protection Of their interests
If Mr. Purdy has kept in touch with current local
events. he know that THE EVENING JOUR
NAL advocated harbor development for Wilmington
years before his voice ever heard in support Of
IT, He also must know that it favors such develop
ment for the benefit Of the public and the
ht Of private interests. Nor he be unaware OF
the fact that Star Chamber methods for the transaction
Of public business have been unpopular in the
States since the time nation was created II Mr..
Purdy desires TO stand for the Star Chamber for tho
exploitation Of the Federal city treasures for
'ac benefit OF the Wilmington Terminal Company and
IT'S allies and for tsx-dodeing it his unouestioned
privilege We imagaine. however. that he viii OK
perience difficulty in winning the taxpayers over to his
Of thinking
It was announced following the favorable action by
me sixteen Of the 400 members the Board of Trade
last night that with that endorsement the riverfront
exploitation scheme will be jammed through City
Council and the Board Street and Sewer Directors
next week In other words. that the stage has been
set tnat the Star Chamber and the Board of Trade
acts already have been played and that nothing re-
mains now except put City Council and the Board OF
street and Sewer Directors in action so the curtain
may be rung down II that is be the result let !,
come ou' 90 not let such selfish sordid and unwse
scheme pass from the public stage with > balo !,
glory surrounding it,