Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-04
WHAT pRoF1TETH IT A c1TY7

| YESTERDAY the city lost n public servan
i whose efficiency in office viii be talkec
Of and remembered long after he is dead ant
the enduring monument to whose abit!
win be living, throbbing arteries of thi
metropolis when the little fellows who OBJ
structed with what power they had tn,
achievement of his great purpose are i'm
mersed in the dust and buried in oblivion
1t is perfectly obvious, Of course, that the
retention of A. Merritt Taylor in office would
have lent to the Smith Administration an
immediate prestige and a public confidence
| which would have combined to win for it
| success from its Inauguration. But this could
| not be. for 1t is an open secret that powerful
! financial interests, to which the accomplish
ments of the Taylor regime have been more
than mildly unpleasant, in lending their
active support to the Organization candl-
dates did so with something more than a
hope that payment would be rendered, in
the event of political success, by the election
from office of the one man who by common
consent was recognized as the most able and
logical occupant of it. It was no surprise,
therefore, when Mr.. Smith announced that
Director Taylor would have to co. but It is
a humiliation to this community that It ever
cast It's votes that such a sacrifice should
be possible, and it is shameful commentary
on the intelligence of the electorate
1t is known, of course that Director Taylor
longed to be relieved of his arduous duties
duties which for him had always meant large
financial sacrifices, and which he had under
taken only from a sense of civic RESPONSE
bility and pride. But the dsCouraging thing
il that If he had been willing to remain in
office his willingness would have been vetoed
by politics.
1t was unfortunate for the city that Mr..
Taylor was without political ambition and
did his work with goal except the work
before him. At one of the great mass meet
ings, held to protest against the manner in
which the Organization was attempting to
hamstring the transit plan, enthusiastic
auditor cried out that Taylor should be the
next Mayor Dramatically the Director
walked to the edge Of the stage. 81 am not
a candidate for that ofIlce!" he shouted, 81
do not want it and 1 would not take it,"
He meant what he said. Otherwise, 1t may
not be doubted public pressure would have
forced him forward last summer. His
would have been a political campaign,
a fight for business administration, and he
would have put into it the extraordinary
energy. skill and enthusiasm which picked
the transit plan up. when the odds against
it were hopeless, and wrought out of the
elements of defeat signal triumph.
Mr.. Taylor could have been elected Mayor,
and under him there would have been four
years of progress such as Philadelphia had
never known. But the mans modesty and
love of retirement, well his implied
pledge, forbade and the city has him neither
as Mayor nor as Director.
Treadng a maze of trick ordinances and
other snap devices used by opposition lead
ers to sdetrack the transit plan and delay
It indefinitely, Mr.. Taylor was able finally to
catch the obstructionists mapping, and be-
fore they knew it the city was dedicated at
east to the beginning of construction work. |
There was some criticism because he ac- |
,epted the s6OOO,OOO loan proposal, with its |
Inclusion of an extension OF the Frankford |
elevated to Rhawn street and its exclusion |
'f the delivery loop. The judgment of Mr.. |
Taylor has. however. already been vindi-
lated, for it is tacitly accepted now that his
entire plan must be carried out certainly so
ar as the construction part of it Is con-
.erned.
Again. the Director had every confidence
n the intelligence of the electorate, and
doubtless felt that the November election
would afford opportunity TO the people
o enforce their will in transit matters.
They took no occasion to do so, unfor-
unately although a great number of the
andidates for Councils were compelled to
tut themselves definitely on record, and the
1ayor himself, while avoiding pledging him
elf to any details. was broadly favorable
n his declarations. There is scarcely any
ritic now who thinks that acceptance of
he s6.000,00O loan plan by the Director was
n error.
To this citizen in whose debt the city is
lready bound beyond measure, the EVENING
LEDGER rejoices to voice the gratitude of
ems OF thousands OF citizens, users of COM
non carriers. in whose interests his her
ulean labors have been performed. What
rofiteth it city for man TO serve so
plendidly If his reward is to be elected from
he office he so honored? What inspiration
will there be for men of ability following
i'm to dedicate their services to the city?
Yet the work he did can never be undone.
Ie set standard in his department from
lithout popular uprising. He showed the
yay clearly that the straight path must
e followed In private life he will stand
s the watchdog OF transit, a power still
0 be reckoned with and, as 1t were, a
wing guarantee that nothing can be put
ver'' In the dark.
What profiteth IL city to lose such a
ervant? But the Yicissitudes OF politics
gil continue to exhibit such shameless
vents until common sense has revolution
zed our system OF metropolitan govern
nent and efficiency instead OF Handwriting
ecomes the test of fitness for public office.