Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-26
FORGOTTEN DYNAMITE

| A MAN does not become a successful
A politician until he has learned to act
consistently upon great and Infamous
maxim, THE people forget" The first
pages of all the newspapers OF a State
will be filled for week with accounts OF
a notorious deal or ripper bill All the
politicians sit tight, calm and unmoved,
as II they were being praised instead of
denounced. Time proves their clever
ness. The big story dwindles, public
curiosity wanes, presently the unblush-
ing coup d'etat Is accomplished without
difficulty.
The biggest thing that Philadelphia has
ever done was done this year, and 1t is
already forgotten. The city authorized
the s114,525.o 900 loan, put a greater sum
of money at the disposal of one man
Mayor Smith-than any public official in
America has ever been personally respon-
sible for, and then dropped the matter. 1t
was nine days. wonder. The people for.
get.
1t is as II a vast amount of dynamite
had been stored in basement. The first
few days every one goes about on tip
toe and scrupulously obeys the most far
fetched rules for precaution. Presently
a rule Is disobeyed. but nothing happens:
later all rules go by the board, and still
nothing happens. And one day somebody
drops something. and then everything
happens at once.
Who is the gentleman whom we are
trusting so blandly7 A renowned captain
of industry and born leader of men,
schooled, to the constructive welding of
millions like ]. j. Hill or an H. H. Rogers
tried in the fires of disciplined organiza-
ton like Goethals or an Edison7 No.
Mr.. Smith is just one Of U.S. His very
average human feebleness and foibles. as
we'll as his better traits, are intimately
known to every one who can read. He
has confessed, as much as any politician
is capable of confessing, to having given
to his political friends, the Wares, every
gift in his power to give-he has even
naively handed out half-dozen plums
to members of his immediate family. less
closely related kinsmen and dear friends.
not one of whom had been obviously des-
ttnad 70 viaa aaxya hu atara of Ipolr
This urbanity, this docility. this gen.
erosity. spring. perhaps, from the good
heartedness Of the man. He is not un-
kindly, his compassion for the unfortu-
nate, as. for example, the inmates OF
Blockley. is transparently sincere. But If
there is to be no sharp drawing OF the line
between the soft heart and the soft head.
IL there is to be no distinction between
the payment OF shabby political debts and
the payment Of conscientious service to
the city in its gigantic constructive EFFORT.
now already under way, what guaranty
have the people of the city that great
part of the money which the law puts
under the hand and seal of one man will
not be squandered, that the debt viii not
turn out merely burden for posterity2
It is no criticism of Mayor Smith to
say that more than any other Mayor we
have ever had he should be watched like
hawk. A Lincoln should be watched.
The Mayor should invite all good counsel
at every step OF the letting OF the con-
tracts and the floating of the loans. For,
look you. he stands between those two
contracting firms which for long-standing
clutch upon a city,s resources have no
rivals in American municipal history.
They are tiptoe at his elbows. famished
for guzzle at the public crib after the
four lean years Of Blankenburg. II the
past history Of contracts hereabouts
means anything. 1t means that our S114.-
900 900 looks TO them like Juicy peach
to thieying boy. and the peach is ready
to drop. And now. on the eve OF the par
tition OF the spoiIs. has come Thar
mOny" announcement OF most sinister
aspect.
VIII the people forget once more
WIN they wake up some day to nnd
themselves bitted and saddled for the
supreme Organization joy-ride OF all timer
Or win they remember to watch. step by
step. day by day. the building of their
future and OF the future OF their chill
dren,s children7