Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-06

civic-betterment projects ran afoul OF
some profiteering from among ms own
supporters. Across the street from ms
own factory was a half block OF lana
the Archers had under lease for storage
purposes but the land acquired for the
site of the new works did away with the
necessity of using this half block any
longer In terminating the lease 1t oc-
Cured to Jerry that there was MADE
Cluate playground space for the children
of the neighborhood, and that the vacant
lots might be turneG TO that acsoun., !,
He talked to Ward Leader Fritz Schar
about getting the city to buy the ground
and equip it. Schaff was taken with the
idea especially provided he could ap-
pear to make the first move in the mat
What does the land cost?' he asked;
Three hundred and eighty thousand
was what Simpkins priced it to us tor
six months ago, when , we were 81 irE rniained
Jerry. THAT was high enough them ana
il is high enough now.
That was the Simpkins who had
arisen to move to make Jerry the real
Republican candidate for Mayor,
Select Councilman ,Schaff, big with the
bigness of his idea went to work on
his playground proposition, with Nlgor,
He aligned the other ward Leaders ace ,,on ON
went to the ruling power in the CITY
committee. Anxious to do something 70
placate the people of the district AFTER
over the tool works franchise, the organ
ization eagerly agreed to the pro1ect
But one day Sohaff called on Jerry with
excitement in his manner; w oso"
You said s3s0.000, didn't you-yes!
Il did" recalled Jerry.
"Weu. Simpkins says that was tne
price TO you. If the city wants IT, "S
"Preposterous '" declared Jerry. Why,
I didn't think-Simpkins-ll talk to
And .1 he did, but simpkins was cold
"The city wants it. That's different.
That enhances the value" he snapped
with an avid CLEAN in his ishy eye; l..
But what kind of good citizenship is
II that holds up the crty in purchase
like this, which is for the peneht OF 'ne
children of the poor?'
ats not a question of citizenship,
rebutted simpkins. ITS matter OF pus,
iness to get all i can for my property"
ITS a question of graft" said Jerry
bluntIy, looking Robert n. Simpkins
through and through with glance OF
ms sGraft fren !" 'I Protested simpkins coloring
with Indignation but striving to retain
that self-control which was the hall
mark Of his breedng M95hifs To thsre ef wae sas
graft in the proposition that came to
me. That fellow Schaff's proposal wa
$3.50 900 for the lots, 100000 to me ana
s50.000 to him"
A ShddOW crossed Jtil lhNc'
not much surprised at him, Simpkins'
ne retorted after a moment. but you
| $4,000 I didn't think that OF you'
Simpkins."
Look here, young mani" and the out
ragged Simpkins adjusted his glasses Tor
a Anal and demolishing gaze, ''f's my
opinion that you're making public nui-
sance of yourself. ! never did see one
/ Of these reforn,er bus ybodies yet that
wasn't going around rsmming his nose
into everybody's business"
After this the angel chorus was short
| by the voice and checkbook OF Mr.
! Simpkins but Jerry only smiled while
| the playground project went slickly
| through Councils and the City Solicitor
instituted condemnation proceedings
aimed at the lots in question.
1t is but just to say, however. thaI
these defections did not represent the
majority of the Real Republican
! finance committee: the majority stood
pat hemming sometimes and having a
| little. but Loyalty supporting. The near
| est to anything like another disaffec-
| ton arose when Jerry, prodding into the
| Bureau of Highways. stumbled upon two
men drawing comfortable salaries for
no visible services.
| With the whole city government under
| fire one of these men was promptly dis
! charged Immediately il was developed
| that this man was "A cousin-in-law OF
! Ellis Chamberlain. who was faithful
and generous contributor to Jerry's po'