Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-17

Z
muck of misrepresentation anonymous
obstructionism and sordid abuse was a
revelation-a revelation not only to hold
backs but also to the people themselves
of the prodigious power which is theirs
when they wish to use IL.
Factionalism rampant was as harm
less as dove. The people cared moth
ing about IL. They wanted rapid transit,
and they had at last a chance to get IL.
They weren't fooled, and they couldn't be
cajoled into a betrayal of their own in.
terests. So they marched to the polls by
the thousands, and stamped their o. X
SO deep on the project that no politician
will ever again trifle with it. They not
only indorsed the Taylor plan, but they
gave also a mandate that it be pushed
to completion, without undue delay and
without hesitation.
This means new Philadelphia. II
means a growth in mere numbers of
population far greater than the city has
known since the Centennial 1t means a
grant of superb facilities to citizens. who
will be able to find in Philadelphia as
modern conveniences as are to be found
in any city on the globe. 1t means an
opportunity for broad intelligent ex-
pansion, for the abolition of tenemcnts,
for every citizen to have light and air
about his home. for working men to have
a wider market for their labor. II work
is not available in one part of the city,
1t will be no great inconvenience to work
in another part of the city. It means a
Philadelphia that will have nothing to
do with lethargy, that has on it's fight
ing armor. that will offer magnificent dis |
tribution facilities not only to its own peo. |
pie, but in it's harbor system of piers |
uneXcelled, over which can move the |
commerce of continent with dispatch
and little expense. 1t means that the
machinery is oiled and steam is up.
This newspaper in January lamented
'SN'e' W
Merritt Taylor, but expressed the hope
that in private life he would be as vigil
liant protector of the public interests as
he had been while in office. He has met
our expectations and the expectations of
the community. He leaped into the
breach when the Mayor proposed an
abbreviated system; he plunged into the
front line of battle when the factionalists
boasted that they would smite the loan bill
and inter it beyond hope of resurrection.
They dreamed that their mercenaries
could blight the future of Philadelphia,
but they did not dream that a. single
leader with vision, a man of Drawn and
mental muscle and an iron spine. would
spike their guns and leave no more of
themselves in evidence than the echo of
their brays.
Men can gather from the outcome of
this campaign what real leadership
MEANS particularly when it is inspired
oy devotion to a good cause. In this
fight Mr. Taylor has lowered like a
Colossus over puny, insignificant and
politicians, who, when they
'ound that opposition was useless.
Jumped for the bandwagon with the
agility Of fieas.
We commend the Mayor for having
een the light, and we hope that it will
continue to guide him, but that sturdy
'itizen whom he would not have in his
'abinet Is the citizen who, in this crisis.
las borne the heat and burden of the day.
ma literally dragged success out of de.
eat Let neither the Mayor nor any. !
ody else forget that the two great S
riumphs for the people, which have been
'on within the last few months-transit Y,
nd reduced electric light rates-have
ONE through two former Directors in eI
he Blankenburg administration. TavIor II
nd Cooke. Yet last fall the politicians p
nd gangsters We're sneeringly asking
hat good reform administration had II
~NNJr ASy NiltAA WOIhS snail We
now them. "
We anticipate and expect that the p.
I. t. which has been silent these many p
Ionths, viii meet the wishes of the people
Philadelphia by prompt and final
ioption of the tentative operating agree.
ient entered into two years ago. We
slieve that the comprehensive high. H
'eed system presages a period of pros. A
Gritty for the company as well as for the -
ty. 1t is indeed, system which is Ger.
in to help rather than harm the com,
my Let it be hoped. therefore. that
e P. r. 7. viii meet the situation in Al
'od spirit, and do its part in the final
Of rapid transit. a
1t is important. too. that Councils
rust factionalism aside. in view OF the :
buke which has been given it, and move
tall -