Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-11
AS AN APOSTLE
OF BIGNESS

Undressing specifically the iudepend-
o1>1mittee of Councils yesterday after
oon. chairman Gaffney pointed oft that
nore had really been no necessity for
aring them on the committee, but that
had advocated their appointment be
k0se he felt that even the opposition
bould "ofiicially be familiar at first hand
1th the important legislation that has
y Initiation in this committee" And he
6ntinued: Permit me to advise that IL
81 must oppose measures let that oppo-
<ion be along big lines and not petty
Id subtle
We have great respect both for the
pinions and the purposes of Mr. Gafinoy.
y has been trained in a political. school
hence emanate odors n little too strong
br the nostrils of some of us, but we have
Violence that he is one of the best products
that school. with a civic morality that
h not been blunted and "A political con-
cience responsive to sentiment and high
eling. The gang gave him the glowing
nd or red-hot poker when it uuloaded
him responsibility for getting the nee
|bafy cash wherewith to administer mu-
cipal affairs. lie did not drop it, but
ing on. and there are many things to
3 credit that the public knows little of.
e's been running up blind alleys, we
link. plenty Of times. but on the whole
has stuck TO the middle of the road.
b pats OH the back which he deserves
p Hladly give. not forgetting the com
MS he trails with. It Is something To
better than the gang even If one is per.
eevcqe Of the gang.
~ recollect that after the CONTRACTORS
" stabbed Mayor Blankenburg III the
ek. put priclly pears III his bed. stuck
olks In his chair and goaded him steadily
malicious interference with his splendid
ms for the Improvement of the city,
~ and their representatives suddenly
let us forget factionalism and all work
kether for the good of the city, they
ID. and they said il with such solemn
ces that many even among the elect
sre deceived. The lid gentleman him
H. we fancy, could never he so drenched
|th perfume that. lie could not smell a
Il He had seen many leopards in his
hut never one that could change its
o}A Nor could he be convinced that
ode was humming bird by mere vucf-
6un assertion OF the theory. He sat
mt and It was well that he did, for
pfe was no time during his term of
~ that the boys did not have their
Yves out. and they did their most effec.
~ were most serene.
~ second the motion OF Mr.. Gaffney
Exposition to measures should lie
eig big lines and not petty and subtle"
So cannot help hoping that the indie.
mt councilmen will decide for them
Yo6 what lines are big and what petty"
Subtle" mean. SO many of the
&4nest betrayals of the people are masked
Innocence that ii is well always to have
= eye open. Even Mr.. Gaffney himself
occasionally be deceived. We some
~ suspect that the more petty gang
nres appear to be the more subtle
really are. We oppose making
aims out Of molehills but too often
topble with Legislators and newspa-
= that they permit molehills TO be
out Of mountains. That they are
1nins becomes apparent too late It
- pity IL independents for fear OF
~ to be petty should he neglectful.
Ne they compromise by endeavor-
rely To be intelligent
41ney intimates that he has some
<sfructive plans up his sleeve. We
has. for we should like to get in
Hreally big. honest program and
May we not suggest. for in
>aat Industrial and factory dis
~ 70 the Bush Terminal, as a
for certain more or less re-
pncoordInated enterprises plan
n<ilization OF waste and other
lputh Philadelphia?