The Calumet news., 1912-09-28
ELECTS
A LORD MAYOR
Sir David Burnett, Senior Member
Board of Aldermen, Elevated
to High Position
SALARY is $4,000 PER YEAR
Will Govern Small, But Rich Sec
tion of the City
SALARY is $4,000 PER YEAR

London, Sept. 2S,--In manner both
dignified and picturesque, and closely
in accord with ancient tradition and
precedents. Sir David Burnett. senior
member of the Board of Aldermen. was
today elected Lord Mayor of London
for the term of one wear, beginning
with November 9. For Londoners this
annually repeated quaint but never
varying ceremony has lost much of the
charm Of novelty; some of the young
er folk are even inclined 20 poke fun
at il in mild and inoffensive way:
but TO strangers visiting London the
ceremonies accompanying the election
of new Lord Mayor are invariably
interesting and even fascinating.
Among the throngs in the vicinity of
Guild Hall during the election ceremo-
nies were many Americans.
The interest of the day had it's CEN
ter i'm the Guild Han, where the cleo
tion took place. Outsiue the historic
building a barrier had been erected,
with a score or more of gates, inscrib-
cd with the names of the various
guilds or CITY Companies" In ac-
cordance with an ancient custom
sweet herbs were strewn outside of the
gates. "to preserve the civic dignitGr-
les from the fevers of the crowd"
Ceremony of Election.
The members Of the city companies
assembled at the Church of Old Jew
ry, where they attended the customary
services preceding the election. From
the church they walked in stately pro-
ccssion to the adjoining Guild Hall.
After they were assembled in tie big
han OF the building. the town crier sol.
emnly announced that only the "liv-
erymen" or members Of the city com
palhes were permitted TO remain,
while all others must Withdraw on
pain of Imprisonment. Even the retir-
ing Lord Mayor and his colleagues of
the Board OF Aldermen were thus ex'
cludcd from the privacy Of the mo-
mentous gathering.
Then the common sergeant from the
hustings Of Guild Hall read the names
of the two candidates available for
election, Sir David Rurnett and Sir 7
Vansittart Bowater. The name Of the
senior alderman. Sir David Burnett,
was received with cries of acclamation
from the liverymen. while the name
Of the other candidate was greeted
with cries of Next Year" This really
settled the matter. but in accordance
with the prescribed rules a show of
hands was taken and the common ser
geant declared that the choice of the
liverymen had fallen on Sir David
Burnett and Sir T. Vansittart Bowater
and that their names would be sub
mitted for final choice to 3 court OF
aldermen.
The aldermen assembled in their
room in Guild Hall were then officially
informed with great solemnity of the
action Of the liverymen After a short
dellberation the retiring Lord Mayor
and the aldermen marched in process
sion TO the large hall, where the an
|
nouncement that Sir David Burnett
had been chosen to fill the office OF
Lord Mayor was greeted with cheers
Having been invested with the chain OF
office. Sir David Burnett returned
thanks for his election in a briei
speech. He will take the oath of Of
fee and formally take charge of his
office on November Q. known as LORD
Mayors Day.
Sir David Burnett was born in 1851
and has been alderman since 1902. He
served his term as sheriff in 19O7-S. In
prlvate life he is member of firm OF
surveyors. He was knighted after the
completion of his term as sheriff, IN
1908.
Governs Small Section.
The city of London, over which tht
Lord Mayor is elecred TO rule, is not
great metropolitan London, the larg-
est city in the world, but veryfnsig
nificapt part of It. It lies between thu
town Of London and Westminster Abb
bey. Is about one mile square and con-
tains probably $4,000 inhabitants The
area encloses, however, = number oi
important Institutions. first amonf
them being the world-famous Bank oi
England. behind the walls of which re-
noses at all times a reserve fund OF
500. .OOO, 900 in gold. This small terri
tory is divided into twenty-six wards
zach of which elects one member OF
the Board Of Aldermen every year
From time immemorial II has been tho
custom that the senior member OF the
Ioard of Aldermen was elected LORD
Mayor. after he had served his term
as sheriff. The salary OF the Lord
MAYOR is $4,000 a year and his duties
are principally representative and or
namental. The Lord Mayor Is by duty
hound 10 attend an incredible number
Of public and semi-public dinners and
other public functions at which he
rcprcscnis the city proper, not, how