Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-19
MAYOR SHOWS HIS OLD
VIM IN OPENING SPEECH
ON STUMP FOR PORTER
Loyal 800" of 22d Ward Make
Old Town Hall, Germantown,
Ring With Their Approval
of His Address
PSLLoRIEs CONTRACTORS
Bv M'LIss

Tate one Mayor with venerable white
bearti and stlll more venerable reputa-
tion '4r well-doing; put him In an historic
hall II an historic neighborhood; hll that
hall With 800 or more men and women,
imbuedA with n profound respect for we'll
doers, and an eager readiness to pay
tribute to them and you have the
elements Of one of the most successful
and one OF the most enthusiastic mass
meetings ever held In the city OF Phila-
delphia.
II was such a meeting that Rudolph
Blankenburg, veteran of more political
battles than 1t would be possible to
recount, addressed last night. He stood
on the lower balcony of the quaint stage
In Town Hall, Germantown, and in
words of earnestness and hope told the
12d Ward why George ID. Porter ought to
be the next Mayor OF Philadelphia.
Not that the 22d needed TO be told Far
from II. The 22d and the young may
orally candidate Of the Franklin party
are on terms of perfect understanding,
and what George d. wants the 22d wants
and vice versa. IL was here that Porter's
political aspirations were born. and It
was the 22d that nursed them for him.
To the 22d Ward proper government and
Porter government are synonymous
terms, and so they just come to snow
their respect. admiration and love for
Mayor Blankenburg and his political pro-
tege.
BLANKENBURG'S SPEECH.
Looking something like a patriarch of
Biblical times and something like a
prosperous and kindly burgomaster,
Blankenburg in a notable speech, replete
with irony and chock full of humor,
rendered an account of his stewardship
and the pathos of the fact that a man
who has grown old in waging a war for
reform should have to defend himself
against charges of inefficiency and pusl-
lanimity was not lost on the audience to
whom he rendered IL,
In resounding voice and with a vigor
that seemed to belle his white hairs and
T3 years. he alternately made his listeners
chortle with mirth and pulse with in
dignation as he poked the finger of fun
or scorn in some vulnerable spot of
"Uncle Dawes" or Lord Jim's" political
anatomy.
When he referred to the subway as a
bit OF underground work that he had
started on the surface, but which Nc
Nichol was anxious to finish underneath.
the crowd roared its approval, and when
he told them an anecdote to prove that
"Jim" was not likely TO achieve his de-
sire in this respect, their applause made
the walls of the old Town Hall rever-
berate.
SPEAKING ON OLD SUBJECT.
More than SO years ago." he explained
10 tnem 81 addressed just such a gath
ering in this building. I spoke on the
subject then that I'm speaking on now
and IN the three decades that I've been
speaking I've never lost heart. The sub
ject is reform.
THE status of reform then and now"
he continued, his blue eyes twinkling
behind his spectacles, reminds one OF
the remarks of a man when he saw
locomotive for the first time.
Betty he said to his good wife. that
thing will never 60
The locomotive did go.
Betty he said when he saw it in
action. they'll never be able to stop it.
That's the position OF reform today"
he continued. We've got 1t going and
no one can stop it. Forty thousand more
OF our voters registered in this election
than in the last one and the next Mayor
of Philadelphia, George d. Porter, is go
ing to win by a $1,000 majority"
Three cheers for Blankenburg. Loud
huzzahsl Hats in the air. Much clap
ping. '"The old mans all right" Vet
erans, who have watched the more or
less uncertain progress OF reform in
Philadelphia for a half a century and
who would guard the honor of the 22d
with their lives. wiped away the tears.
And then the storm broke loose all
over again. II was after 10 o'clock and
already the vague whispers had been
heard: where's Porter?" Isn't he go
ing 10 be here?"
WELCOME TO PORTER.
Up the centre aisle he came, like IA
vorite son in the bosom of his family.
about to receive the blessings Of his
father Stirred by the tremendous enthus-
iasm of the gathering. Blankenburg, with
arms extended, leaned down and en-
bracad theman for whom. In his declining
years, he has taken the stump and on
whom he has pinned his faith. Together
they paced the platform. while the band
and the loyal 800 endeavored to outdo
each other in the matter of noisy appre-