Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-26
NO. X--LOCAL OPTION

are they planning to have municipal pumps
established along their milk routes? TheT
very number would suggest that mischief OF
some sort was on foot. But no IL milk
dealers of Philadelphia have projected then-
selves into Councils; nor have IL grocers
done so; nor II coal merchants, nor IL oank-
ers, nor Ii representatives Of any occupation
except one-lquor selling. Yes, there are IL
liquor dealers in Councils.
You exclaim that IL these II liquor dealers
were milk dealers, citizens would demand
explanation Of their presence In Councils;
why they were put there, by whom, and for
what purpose? Granted! But remember
they are not milk dealers They are liquor
dealers One is expected to always handle
liquor dealers as gently as possible, for they
are widely reputed to be extremely touchy
about their business.
Considering that Councils Is the municipal
authority which not only fixes the cost OF
government, but determines how the city's
revenues shall be raised, the facts for once
will have to pass rough-shod over this sensi-
tiveness The names of our II Councimanic
llouor dealers and the wards they represent
are
Select Council
Ward. Member Place OF Business
g. Henry ]. Trainer, 500 South Front st.
Q. James n. Neely, 21st and Arch SITS.
a. Harry F. Kennedy, 1900 Wood st.
Common Council
6. Charles A. schwarz, Front and Race SITS.
IA. Timothy D. Mccarthy 1901 Paramount
10. Harry Keene, 144 West Cumberland st.
25. Bernard ]. McGuigan, 2so1 Kensington
80. John L. Dougherty, 5000 Rorer st.
&c. Frank j. Ryan, 14l2 South lSth St'
49, John Haney 2SOO North 5th 81.
45. Fred Schwarz. Jr,, 4I44 Richmond ST.
The mere presence of these II men in
Councils rivets attention upon their bust
ness; the positive proof of the partnership
between rum and "The Organization 1t
is the smoke that curling into the sky re-
veals the location of the hidden campfire.
Denials of the existence of compact be-
tween the saloon and the urban operations
OF Jim McNichol and the Wares are futile
in the face of such irrefutable evidence.
I.iquor dealers anyway natural poll
ticans; their very saloons being places where
men are wont to assemble and grow loqua-
cious They sec in the pursuit of politics
(business politics. moving stairway into
the world of large public influence, as shown
in the careers Of Charles f. Murphy, leader
Of Tammany Hall and the late Anthony n.
Brady, fnancier, both eX-barkeeps.
Besides welcome" is always written in
letters large on the mat under the swing
doors of the saloon Who ever heard of a
saloonieeper with mean disposition? They
are hail fellows" and often "well met
Their general friendly attitude to the foot
loose public might even be cited as an object
lesson of point to the pastor of the church
who has his sexton turn the key in the outer
door at the close of the Sunday night song
service, with the nearby park filled with shiv-
ering humanity.
Instances are known where genial saloon
keeper Councilmen gladly have had streets
paved and electric or gas lights established
or relocated at the request Of bitter foes of
the saloon Liquor dealers are seldom found
lacking in tact They also possess a grim
sense of humor.
But il is the utility OF the entire liquor
business in politics, and not the man with
the smile in the white apron who has become
a Councilman that concerns the public. For
our saloonkeeper Councilmen are no worse
as men than their fellows of higher business
station who vote just badly upon public
matters.
Let us turn our attention TO an anonymous
liquor dealer not a Councilman, but an active
worker for The Organization" There are
about 1000 retail liquor dealers in Philadel-
phia. This particular saloonkeeper is an i'm
portant cog in the political machine. AS a
centre OF election day activity his place of
business, closed for the sale OF liquor, is an
annual menace to better government. Here
rendezvous the repeaters or 'tin-soldiers,"
thugs, strong-arm men and other super
numeraries. hired TO assist in the theft Of
public ONCE.
Observe the pcture Through the gray
dawn, before the polls are opened, we enter
the saloon In whispered converse, standing
along the polished rail OF the bar, or seated
at the beer-stained tables, are groups of
unkempt, shifty-eyed election workers. No
drinks are sold. The men there for an
other purpose. They are Of mixed size. dress,
nationality and degrees OF assurance. Some
carry in their presence suggestions Of New
ark, Jersey City and the lodging houses Of
the Bowery; others call 10 the mind memo
r!es Of Atlantic City and various resorts on
the South Jersey coast
We have stalked into the gutter Of prac-
tlcaI politics-before us are the poor wretehes
who all the trenches Far 20 the rear, away
from immediate danger, are the members OF
the General Staff. ensconced in bomb proof
headquarters downtown orders travel TO
the front via trusted adtutants. First TO get
the orders are the ward leaders at the ward
headquarters, and after them the division
leaders at the division hc adquarters.
listen! We can hear the shufiing Of feet.
'.rhe boys" are moving out from the asylum
provided for them by the liquor dealer.
Thus we place the saloonkeepe- in his inn
portance on Election Day He IS the non
commissioned officer on the firing line the
last link in the chain that connects the cast
Ing OF an illegal ballot or the slugging OF
retormer with the long frOck coat and silk
hat OF the we'll born candidate tor high office