Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-14

Other Democrats" found in the clover of
assessorship are John w. .Boileau, Jr.; Louis
Alexander John j. Curey, Richard Shevln
and A. A. Dunton John O'Donnell, minority
party leader of the 36th Ward was real
estate assessor until Governor Tener recently
made him Registration Commissioner, at the
same salary, but with the added power of a
voice in naming the four registrars for each
of the 1884 election districts of the city. In
Guiding oDonnelL there was $4,000 cut UP
annually among Democrats" in the appoint
ments of the Board of Revision of Taxes.
Who are the members of the Board of Re-
vision of Taxes? Very well-known gentle
men! One is Simon Gratz, brother-in-law of
the late Alexander K. Mcclure. Mr.. Gratz
also has his finger in the Board of Education
Another member is J. Wesley Durham, broth
er of the late Israel w. Durham. The third
and last member is David N. Fell Jr., son
of Chief Justice d. Newlin Fell of the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania. All were ap-
pointed by the Judges of the Courts of Com
mon Pleas, Mr. Fell's selection being accred-
tied to United States Senator Boies Penrose.
All are Republicans"
In three wards out of As there are magis-
trates who as ward leaders for the minority
party decline to act as decoys-William H.
Belcher, John j. Grelis and Joseph S. Boyle.
a decoy is lure, a net to snare the unwary.
Magistrate Boyle, who is a follower of Post
master Thornton, was always independent of
THE Organization" but the two others are
recruits. AS for the minority party in the
remaining 45 wards, it is an annex to the
majority party. Jim McNichol and the Wares
let Charles P. Donnelly run six of the wards
and the rest they control direct through
patronage to the decoy city committeeman.
Saloonkeepers and small fry usually are the
of r11ar in tn taLr ebor
Before the registration of voters was re-
quired, the boys" of the merged majority
and minority parties used to vote the entire
assessors list. Assessing voters was meas
ured by the requirements of a candidate.
Only provide each tin soldier with a list of
names, and list of polling places, also 80
cent poll tax receipts to match, and he
worked regiously. north and south from
Market street, sun up until the gas lamps be-
gan to twinkle They called it getting out
the vote" and they got you out for the
party with or without your consent. Busy
business men and tired working men were
relieved from all personal attention to the
making of government, But the contractor
oVerlords never coloniZed. Horrors! No! 1t
was so unnecessary in those days.
Then came registration, and the pressing
needs for more scientific methods Double
duty was required of the poor tin soldier"
He must register as well vote. In Phila-
delphia, the city of great distances, this Is
not so difficult. An old residenter in Chest
nut Hill is a total stranger at League Island.
Who would recognize permanent guest OF
an unimportant street, in behind Logan
Square as the September-made citizen of
ManayunS Frankford and West Phiadel-
phia? Think this Overt
Better government asks for an honest
count of the ballots. Each election division
has Judge and two inspectors. The Judge
and one inspector is the majority represen-
tation, and the other inspector is the
minority party man. Before these election
division instruments voted for they must
be o. KID by the ward leader OF "The Or
ganization." Jim McNichol and the Wares
never worry over an election, Why should
they when the odd man in the polling place
is their secret ally?
The allies are going to give Mr.. Penrose
10000 Democratic" votes in Philadelphia this
fall. This is the pledge Of the captains of
the mounted mercenaries Looks like an
easy task unless the foot soldiers-but what
is expected of foot soldiers anyway In these
piping times of war? To be crumpled and
crushed by shrapnel from masked artillery,
for the foot soldiers OF peace are only our
honest, trusting, patient taxpayers