Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-06
SUFFRAGIST READS
MAYOR A LECTURE


| enburg, too, was so surprised that for a
| time he was hardly able to speak
Directors Norris. Loeb and Cooke and
the Rev. Edwin Heyl Delk pastor of st,
Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
were in the Mayors office at the time.
Mrs. Thomas wasted no time on for
malities. Unfolding n batch of papers,
she began to read The statement
follows:
"This city has upward of $1,000, 900 in
hand, all of which money should have
been applied to contracts, as you know
that the prompt and proper expenditure
of this money would not only have given
5000 men work throughout months past,
but that 1t may be used to give this num-
ber of men work now.
we understand the reason that this
money was not committed TO contract
was because the executives of tho city
and Councils were playing petty politics
to the disgrace of the city and TO the
direct Injury of those who ought to bs
working under appropriations involving
this sum of S7,000,000 If this miserable
and shameful situation exists today. all
concerned are utterly unfit for public
office and should promptly resign"
THE time has passed." she continued,
when the city executives may lay the
blame at the doors of Councils; when
City Councils may sass back as taunt-
Ing children. You who are In office must
now meet the demands of the thousands
who need work. who have right TO
draw regular wages, through the ST. 100000
fund you have now rusting dut in the City
Treasury and we are here to petition you
to do something, and do 1t now
"Wil you serve Philadelphia now or
VIII you persist in playing petty party
politics7"
MAYOR DEMANDS EXPLANATION.
cupying his armchair, arose before Mrs
Thomas was half through with the state
ment, The Directors also arose, and the
newspaper men crowded forward Whom
Mrs. Thomas folded her paper the Mayor
seemed at a loss for words. Finally he
said
II am more than surprised that Won
ladies should come here and read to me
paper such as you have read. | repeat
that am more than surprised. and ] ask
II this paper was written by you or by
some one else?"
ut was the result OF many minds and
many women" said Mrs. Thomas
'jYes, but where did you get the facts?"
asked the Mayor.
From the statement of the City Con-
troller and from the data OF the or
ganized Charities Association said
hrs' Thomas. THE facts in our petition
ana the statement were not intended 10
be any discredlt to you. Mr. Mayor. We
simply know as women, that the money
is there and should be used for the un-
employed. II we have offended you /
personally take all responsibility, l win
personally take all the blame"
II repeat" said the Mayor, that / am
surprised that you should come 10 the
Mayors office TO read such a statement.
IL is really offensive. | am speakinp
plainly. Mrs. Thomas, You have come
here and read paper that is actually
insulting.
You women who wanted information on
the status of the unemployed should have
come to me personally and / would have
been glad 10 discuss the matter with Won
and give you all the facts regarding INV
position In the matter.
This action which you have taken this
morning will do more harm TO your cause
OF suffrage than II can do good to the
unemployed. You don't know what we
city omeials are doing. J could have told
YOU, or my directors could have told Won
] have never played politics since / have
been In ONCE | believe that personally
am well enough known In Phibadetph,a
for people TO realize that l would not
withhold voluntarily any funds for em-
ployment OF the idle, For the last 40 years
/ have been active In tho work OF re-
lieving suffering among the destitute and
idle men of this city.
Il had no idea OF the contents of this
You have been misinfurmed. You are un-
doubtedly under a msapprehension of
facts You say you want Us 10 resign,
but you do not know what we are doing
have spoken plainly to you"
The Mayor then called on Dire ctor Nor
ris, OF the Department Of Wharyes. Docks
and Ferries, and asked him II he had
anything to say about the statement
The Director said:
Il am simply here at your request ana
have nothing to say this morning"
you may be justified 10 saying an you
have said to me-" said Mrs. Thomas.
but We women cannot Understand why
s. 200 men are out OF work"
That Is what could have explained
10 YOU" replied the Mayor If you had
come 10 me and gone over the figures 81
the statement. The millions OF dollars
that arc said 70 be available are not
available until Councils release II from
certain restrictions, On some Of the
items mentioned IN the millions of dol-
lars you say are withheld there are cer-,I
tain restrictions that prevent the work
from being started At the present time
III you he'd only come ana asked me
these questions before reading this state
nent which has undoubtedly gone 10 an
tha newspapers, YOU would certainly nave
saved yourself The nunlllztion of readinH
such a paper before me-"