The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
Sleeps but Six Hours Night and Hasn't Had Din
ner at Home but Once in Three Years.

only five hours a night, for fifteen years.
/ never get physically tired"
What" I had asked him. in starting
the interview, rs the greatest govern
mental need of American cities?'
looked for an ethical outburst, for an
explosion about integrity and the suf-
fering of the governed. Suddenly the
Mayor halted. He gazed for a while at
the floor Obviously he was thinking.
rhetorical expression crept into his
countenance.
MY answer" he said. will disappoint
your expectations. The greatest govern
mental need Of American cities is an un-
bridled public press, a press that will
follow policy of pitiless and unpre-
JUDGED publicity, a press that will help
the Mayors of all municipalities to cure
the evils which are prevalent, a press
that is not entirely and persistently CEN
serious but is free and willing to assist
in creating public opinion for the good
things which are suggested or initiated.
Now the Mayor is not the only man
in a community whose interests call for
an honest and capable government" We
were walking now side by side. He is
citizen like the rest Of the inhabitants.
Maybe he is large taxpayer and maybe
he isn't To-day he is. going about his
Cwn business. Tomorrow he is called to
the chief Office of his city. Then what
happens? He is Immediately put up as a
target and a considerable part OF the
populace begin to shoot at him. Good
men let him alone unless they see some
fault which they think needs to be re-
buked publicly. 1t is the same with the
Press. Word is seldom spoken except in
criticism. Little by little sentiment is
turned against the merchant, the lawyer
or the shoemaker whom the people them
selves, acting up to their lights, chose
to be their Mayor. The best man alive
can be broken and discredited finally IL
his friends remain dumb and distinter-
ested while his enemies are tearing
away the foundations of his character.
How Undertaking Hurts n City.
Small things, when there are enough
of them, bulk large in business and gov
ernment. A man here and there>grumbles
about the lights on his street. An un-
mended pavement occasions talk and re-
reproof, unchecked or unanswered en-
Iarges and grows into, something worse.
The Mayor is injured, of course. But
the injury to the city is much greater.
The Mayor is one man. The city may
contain a million people. Every evil
word spoken of city hurts that city
more than 1t does any single individual.
The harm is scattered around among
the many, especially effecting, as I be-
lieve the business section.
THE average American, indeed, has
fallen into the habit of questioning the
morality and patriotism Of the men
whom he has voted into Office. II the
average American would closely analyize
his own case as he states it, he would
be compelled to admit that he makes
a fool of himself every time he goes to
the ballot box and the ticket he sup
ports Is successful. He chooses his own
officers. Back of the errors or abuses
Of government is the citizen who has
voted Does he ever upbraid himself?
1 have yet to hear or catch him in the
act
'I deny that our cities, as a rule, are
misgoverned. Neither are the States.
The habit of saying that American pub
lie life is bad Is injurious to the gen.
eral welfare and to our reputation as
sensible men, capable of self-govern-
ment Furthermore, we cannot hope to
get the best value from mayors or gov
erncrs II We are constantly finding fault
with them or attacking the honesty of
their motives and their actions. Thus
we lose part of the service of our public
officials, and at the same time make II
impossible for many able and high
spirited men to take a personal part in
government and politics"
"why does public office develope graft
ers2" 1 asked.
1T doesn't" Mayor Fitzgerald replied.