Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-07-01
SET FOR
COL. Slower AS HE
Leaves council
Large Loving Cup and
Twelve Goblets Typify
City and Wards
MR.. HASTINGS Hands
over Gift OF FRIENDS

AS a fitting token of the esteem in
which he is held by his friends and
residents of Wilmington. Colonel Wei
Ter e. Stover, of the Seventh Ward,
chairman of the finance committee Of
City Council for the past two years,
was presented with a handsome sill
yer service in Council chambers last
evening. II was a complete surprise
to Colonel Slower. and he was stump
ed when it came his turn to acknowl-
edge the gift. It was a striking
tribute to Councilman Slower, who has
won and held friendships while per-
forming his duties in an efficient man
ner.
Council chambers we're decorated
with the national colors, and on each
Councilman's desk was a large bou-
uouet of white carnations, gifts to
the Councilman from their friends.
II had been whispered about that a
surprise was to be rendered Council
man Stover. and several hundred
citizens we're present.
The presentation of the silver ser
vice was made by City Solicitor
Daniel o. Hastings. who was given
the privilege of the floor by Presi-
dent White on motion of Councilman
Kane. Democratic leader. Mr.. Hast
ings in his remarks lauded all the
members of Council for their untir-
inc efforts to serve the city, and he
was unstinted in his praise of the
work accomplished by Colonel Stover.
In presenting the service, which was
carried to a position in front of the
Presidents chair, City Solicitor Hast
ings said
"In this great country, where every
man has a voice in governmental al
/ fairs, those who seek public office are
| in the habit of stating before hand
the particular policy which he has
outlined for himself should he be
/ elected. This is particularly true IN
national and state affairs. But mos
of us believe that the panacea fol
nearly all the ills in municipal affairl
is honest and efficient public ser
"The system may become antiquat
ed and out of date. the old chartel
may not permit the wheels of progress
to move as smoothly as an enthusi
astic municipality may desire. Diff
cult questions may arise upon which
honest men of good judgment ma,
differ. All of these things may a
times affect the beauty as well as the
usefulness of the structure, but the
only enemy that can affect its founda
ton is dishonest and inefficient pub
lie service.
81 doubt whether public service Il
ever entirely satisfactory to him who
! 90
for any great length of time. He who
serves the public has hard master
at least a master hard to please. He
is the servant of the daily laborer who
has none other that he can call his
own. He is the servant of the mar
of means who is accustomed to have
his orders obeyed. He is the ser.
want Of the newspaper man, whose
special dispensation il is to give full
some praise where praise is due anC
to let loose the fires of hell when {
fair and frank criticism would suffice
1T is what this combination of mas
ters say that constitutes what W.
commonly call public opinion, and this
public opinion guided by our con
science of what is right and wroni
must be the light by which all pub
lie servants shall see the path of duty
That this body has done its worl
reasonably we'll all who are wont t.
be just will admit; that it has dom
its work honestly and unselfishl!
none but fool can deny All thos'
who are retiring tonight carry Will
them the thanks and we'll wishes o
all the good thinking people of thi
municipality which they have served
so faithfully. While they have rea
son to hope for oven greater things
from those who remain.
"The success of a public servant some
times depends upon the appointment
given. In this body the most responsi
bic position. the one carrying with it tn
greatest opportunities and at the sam
time the heaviest burdens is that of dis
bursting the finances of the city. Surely
Mr.. President, regardless of whether W
sometimes have differed with him O
not. il must be admitted by all that tn
present chairman of your finance CON
mittee has done his work well. Tha
he has made mistakes his most enthu
siastic admirers must admit. Nay,
f,oot;,,od IN pace Tualva