Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-12

scunilty and Kindly assistance 70 hts
neighbors and their interests
HIS LAST SPEECH.
Scotts last public utterance. spoken
last night at the ward meeting, aptiy
summarizes his aim and work He said {:
II am SO years old. I will be Ga ~ /
live until my term as County Commits
sioner expires MY ufe's ambition in
politics has been to provide places for all
Of my friends in this ward. n I live dur
ing the rest of my term I expect to he
able to carry this out. as I have been
assured that places will be provided to
care for all OF my friends in the nth
Ward"
That was scotts way: to win the
friendship Of the other fellow by smooth
ing his trouble, relieving his want or
tightening his burden. He was a ward
leader who believed in home rule and
whose nelghbors voted as friends Of
Dave" Scott first, and as party men
afterward. only there was no second vote.
They trusted him. knowing II they gave
him what he wanted they would get what
they wanted.
As committing magistrate at Central
Station. his broad sympathy sound COM
mon sense and knowledge of human ma
ture enabled him to settle many cases
without resort to the hneness Of the law.
A bit of sound advice to a first offender,
or fine remitted, was his way of check
ing a downward career in its incipiencY
SO lenient was he with intoxicated
prisoners that the Woman's Christian
Temperance Urion in 1911 censured him.
Domestic differences he adjusted with
equal disregard of the punitive power
other Magistrates might have called into
play In nonsupport case, counsel for
the defendant one day insisted upon try
ing the Issue.
counselor, hold on" interrupted Mag
istrate Scott. you are old enough to be
their father Take them out into the
corridor and talk to them as father
should. Help them settle their dlffer-
ences. Don't assist them TO fight" The
case was Settled out of court"
II was different with the professional
with the thief or the pckpocket, espe-
cially II his prey could lll-stand the
loss. Such a case was 'railroaded' into
the Quarter Sessions Court with all speed.
An old follower of Scott was selling
papers at 9Th and Chestnut streets one
afternoon. 1t was cold and the toes of
his shoes were ripped OPEN Scott hap
pened along. How are you getting on?"
he inquired as he greeted the old news
man. The latter replied that things were
going fairly well.
'Then give me a paper" answered |
Scott A So bill slipped into the sellers |
hand and Scott slipped onward without
waiting for change. 1t was his way. open |
charity might humliate but S5 for a |
penny paper was his own business, as he |
had not inquired the price before making |
the purchase.
One season every year Scott left the |
"17th." That was in the summer, when |
he occupied his cottage Mt the seashore. |
Every afternoon he sought the salt air. |
and. Just before the 6 o'clock dinner, his |
familiar onc-armed figure, in blue bathing |
suit, was to be seen on the lower Atlantic |
City beach. He was a good swimmer |
despite his loss of an arm, which dated |
from his 10th year. While boy he left |
the old Harrison School, on Master street |
near I'd, to enter the Globe Mills, then at
and Girard avenues. The |
belt of a spinning machine tore away his |
left arm. Nevertheless. Scott was able |
throughout his life to hold positions which
involved writing, and could sign letters
and documents without difficulty.