Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-14
MIR. WEBB MEETS
MANY MEN OF MANY
MINDS, WOMEN ALSO
Visitors to Mayors Office Bring
Varied Ideas There Which
First Pass the
Major Domo

Mayors may come and Mayors may so.
but Mr.. Webb goes on forever Mayor
after Mayor appoints him TO the same
old place-where courtesy and tact ere
greatly needed-at tho door OF the
Mayors private ofnce. Mr.. webb Is tho
genial presiding officer over the big re-
ceptlon room where fine leather chairs
are provided for YOU to sit on, n you
have to wait before you see the Mayor
himself.
Ever since the beginning Of the late
Mayor Ashbridge's term Mr. Webb has
been at his post, and knows the routine
Of the office work so thoroughly that nons
OF the succeeding executives can do with
out him. lie knows how to soothe the
ruffled feelings of every one-politiciars
who wai' there without getting their ap-
pointments as quickly as they think they
should, and oranks who nock there with
plans for tho millennium by the next
morning ,--a
"The cranks are coming already said
Mr.. Webb yesterday. Even the office
seekers can't crowd them out Yesterday
one came for his annual visit to the
Mayors office, and he remarked that he
was celebrating his marriage anniversary
and wanted TO tell the now Mayor about
II, i knew eX-Mayor Blankenburg since
he came TO this country in 1866, said he,
4
my wedding anniversary visit to him.
I've been married So years now and I've
como to tell Mayor Smith about IT. con-
tinued he. I'm 50 years old now, and I'm
sorry didn't get married earlier even
than I did "
When he was refused admttance and
had left, Mr. Webb spoke as follows:
He's regular; comes every year, no
matter who's In the Mayors chair. to tell
his Honor about his own wedding anni-
versary. ] think I'll let him in next year:
he's so old. he won't be able to come
many more years yet and his wife is
very Ill now, so he'll not have many ad-
ditional anniversaries with her to tell
about"
Another visitor, also refused admit
tance to the Mayors office, sat down be-
side Mr.. Webb and Immediately saw
spirits in the reception room. He also
saw the paintings on the walls moving
from place to place. but nobody else did.
Still another came in breathless declar-
ing he was the Mayors detective, and
had discovered wonderful secret to tell
him. go to Captain Cameron, of the
city detective force" said Mr. Webb.
hell give you the keys to the Office
and you can take entire charge and tell
the Mayor all the secrets you want to-
And the man went
Mr.. Webb gently turns n dozen such
seers away every day. some rush in
with schemes to end the war. others with
wonderful plans to make Philadelphia
perfect city long before any one would
even dare to expect the millennium. and
still another party has Just bosieged Mr..
Webb with a request to sec the Mayor.
who promised him the "one missing
ingredient" to complete a wonderful IN
vention that would move tho Atlantic
Ocean from place to place. Mr.. Webb
almost admitted that man to Mayor
Smiths private office, but on second
thought refused him
A little while before Mr. BlankenburB
left office. an equally strange visitor ap-
peared. who wanted Mr. Blankenburgs
help In killing n shadow that followed
him from place to place why dont
you kill the man who makes it?' asked
Mr., Webb. IT'S not a man." came the
reply. ITS only a shadow that goes
wherever / do and interferes with my
work" Sorry" said Mr.. Webb, but
the Mayor can't kill that kind of
shadow you'd better, go to a doctor.
Mr.. Webb tells of a man who always
wore ruffies on his sleeves when he came
to see the Mayor, ''and until recently,
said he, there was a certain woman
whose house was robbed of $500, who
came here frequently. declaring the
money was Somewhere in the City Hall.
and that eN-Mayor Blankenburg ought
TO get II for her. Then another woman,
continued Mr.. Webb. who was em-
ployed by the last administration, but
who was dismissed thought that detec-
tives were following her wherever she
went. She called on Mrs. Blankenburg.
who sent her here to see Mr.. Foss, the
Mayors secretary. For three years sha
came regularly and made her complaint.
which, of course, was groundless. Last
June she said she was going to leave
Philadelphia. and that II she remained
here any longer she would surely XIII
some one. / asked her not to experi-
ment on me, and she hasn't"
All sorts of queer demands and COM
plants are made TO Mr.. Webb that never
reach the Mayors ears. A big negro in
terviewed him last autumn to ask MIR.
Blankenburg TO get him ticket to Allen
town. so that he could register for the
fall election. He said he was friend
of Senator Penrose. and ought to have
what he wanted.
Those who have serious complaints or
requests to make are usually asked to
write to the Mayor, as not one-tenth OF
those who call can see him. MY hardest
job" says MIR. Webb ''is satisfying the
people who come here with kick"