Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-11
THE ISSUE,
SAYS DAVE LANE
Sage Of Republican organiza-
ton Asserts That Hall and
Seger Are Regulars
WILL MEET MOORE ISSUES

Pcnrose IL the real issue Of tho Phila
dclphia mayoralty prcliminaries, as be
tween Representative j. Hampton
Moore and the Republican organization
which made him, says "Tnclc Dave
Lane.
'tnCle Dave" he Of 'publiC scnti
mcnt bah :" fame laid down that pro-
nounCcment with slcdgc hammer force
today at the Hotel Strand, his summer
headquarters in Atlantic City.
Hampton Moore, as n resourCeful
politician, would like to cvadc that is
sue he said. Butt is inCscapable. "
"UnCle Dave asserted the convic
tion that Charles Seger and Charles
Hall his chief of staff, an invincible
combination, as the veteran strategist
expressed it, in the Seventh ward, will
support the organization standard
bearer.
Ready to Meet Isue''
He does not see how they can do
otherwise than stand by the Organza-
ton
Representative Moore" he went on,
in all kindlinPss. is resorting to catchy
phrases at the outset of his fight in the
hope Of catching public favor with
honey.
I'VE are ready to meet this issue OF
contractor government now at any time
Mr.. Moore or any other element in the
mayoralty contest sees fit to raise it
"Contrartor government, as related
to the Wares, is an empty phrase, catchy
but without value when weighed
thoughtfully.
THE city of Philadelphia, like every
other city, must do business largely
through the contract system.
THE Wares are but one of hundred
contractors and contracting firms in
Philadelphia.
As to Contracts
"If the Wares did not get contracts
somebody else would. If they were not
from Philadelphia. then contractors
from elsewhere would do the City's
work
I'VE are ready also to meet Repre-
sentative Moore on the question OF
street cleaning contracts.
W ufh Nv nus At INV a. - va '''"N
score he strikes at them as the contract
ors for but two of the twelve. think,
districts in Philadelphia.
I'VE have maintained heretofore. and
We maintain now. that cleaning Of the
streets Of Philadelphia by contract is
the cheaper system. We maintain that
it would cost more. at least a million
dollars more. annually to clean them if
the city did the work, for politics would
be as inevitable then as it is inevitable
now.
"Public srntiment-bah, :"
Uncle David Lane said that mouthful,
and then, apparently. regret smotp him
cruelty.
Public sentiment-bah ~
Somehow or other it had harsh look
in type. 1t rose right up at Uncle
David and hit him between the eyes. 1t
promised further unpleasant reflex
action.
No. our Uncle David decided he
couldn't have said that. What he must
have said was "Commttco Of one hun
drcd-bah :"
It's just possible for man like Uncle
Davy to bff hundred persons and get
away with it, but when it comes down
to deriding the public sentiment Of a
whole city. that's something else again.
SO. no indeed Uncle Davy is Just
sure he didn't say Public sentiment
bah - Oh, impossible.
But there are some who remember a
crisp little phrase uttered by Mr.. Lane
during the campaign of 1905: Let us
end this talk of civic righteousness" -
and they wonder.
Il was just after Mr. Lane had said
that Congressman Moore would carry
only six wards. that it vas suggested
that Mr.. Moore might win through
public sentiment.
Uncle Dave looked hopeless. as if he
questioned the sanity of the man max
ing the suggestion.
And then, with all the power he
could put into his voice. he snorted:
Public sentiment-Bah."