Middletown transcript., 1917-10-13
PHILADELPHIA'S SHAME

PHILADELPHIA'S SHAME
PHILADELPHIA, emulous of New
l York's shocking record as a mis-
governed city, has itself grown quite
metropolitan in it's civic wickedness.
Distrustful of it's home talent-which,
however, is by no means small-it must
needs import eighteen thugs from New
York to play the leading roles IN the
carnival of police assaults and murder
that disgraced their primary election a
few days ago.
AS a result of the rivalry between the
two factions of Bosses who for years
have misruled, and plundered that
city, scores of peaceful citizens were
assaulted, falsely arrested. their homes
invaded, and Carey, candidate for the
city council, shot and nearly killed,
while an honest, clean policeman named
Eppley, trying to save Carey from as
sassination, was himself killed by one
of the hired New York gunmen.
The city mayor, politician named
Smith, his lieutenant of police and
number of his thugging policemen,
have been arrested charged with a
wholesale conspiracy to murder, intimi-
date the voters. AMI carry by fraud
and force the election in the fiftf
ward in favor of Boss Ware.
What monstrous perverson of city
government, that the mayor, his lieu
tenants of police, lis detectives, and
policemen, all sworn to preserve the
peace and protect the citizens in the
exercise of their rights, should be made
the instruments to oppress, assault ard
murder
Several of the thugs both local and
imported, have turned states evidence,
and the strongest kind Of a case is made
out against all the accused.
A monster mass meeting, of some
$4,000 people, the largest ever held in
the city it is said, recently filled the
Academy of Music, and was addressed
by leading citizens denouncing the
outrages, while as many more people
in big overflow meetings were also ad-
dressed by speakers of note holding the
infamy up to popular execration.
Not many years ago like demonstra-
tions of the peoples wrath were hel'
denouncng the other Boss for an i'm
rudent attempt to steal the city gas
Iks, ana threats Of lynching that
Boss were made, and big mob hooted
him before his vn darkeaed home.
Truth to tell, there is not the toss Of
a copper's differences between Boss
McNichol whose practices aroused that
ltbreak, and Boss Ware sail to be
the head and front of this present Of
Tending.
They are both thru their organz4.
political machines, plostituting the
city 5 honor and government to the low
purposes of their own personal gain a:
cIntractors To their eternal shame be
it said that Philadelphians years ago
abdicated all their rights and functions
of government in favor of this wretch
ed, pilfering Boss-Contractor rule
Every once in while, as in this case,
these citizens experience spasm Of
virtuous indignation; fire off lots of
Lerfelvid oratory denouncing their in.
famous masters, The Bosses; pass lot
Of resolu .ions-and then the whole th,rg
is dropt, and the Bosses begin anew
their shameful tyrannies
One will watch with some curiosity |
tS see if this present upheaval of good
citizenship shall amount to as little.
1t i hard to see how Mayor Smith and |
Boss Ware can escape an indictment for
conspiracy and murder along with the |
hireling thugs who will no doubt pay
the severest penalties Of the law for
their share in these grave crimes.
Again, one wonders if the aroused
citizens will as usual turn out and elect
the Boss ticket including the greedy
reoister of wills who besides $40, 900
salary has grabbed some $4,000 of
foes taken from him by the legislator :,
and vet was rehominated by gang die
tation in spite of the peoples protests.