Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-06
CONGRESSMAN MooRE'S
. LETTER
Fairgrounds Endangered by Politics
Gossip About AdoIphus g. suV-
Inaer, John H. Rankin, Major
Chew and Others ..,

TT is the belief of Joseph Wood Wagner,
l. president Of the Fairgrounds Association
of Philadelphia. and his opinion Is supported
by Otto Mallery and Montgomery harris,
former president of the ASSOCIATION, tnat
Philadelphia has chance to- become tne
Fairgrounds city of the United states IL
politics is not permitted to enter into the
direction of these recreation centers. ANY
one who has given consideration to the prob
lcm of congestion in large cities can under
stand the interest and concern OF these
gentlemen with respect to the work they ana
their associates have Mt heart. I'iaygrounds
for children should not become the sport OF
politics. Wherever they do fall into the
hands Of politicians. the standards are low
cred, because political appointees, as rule,
do not take the same interest in the welfare
of the children as do those who have been
specially trained for the work. phe play
grounds question in Philadelphia is becoming
OF greater and greater importance because of
our narrow streets md thc heavy vchcuar
traffic. Washington has its Fairgrounds. but
they are not much needed for the use OF
the children ns they are along the river
front wards of Philadelphia. When William
Penn laid out the city he did not dream Of
its growth to present proportions. He
thought ample breathing space would be
'''' ~ ''H'IN i'l IHpiiN uNS ihosC
blocks which are now known as Washing
ton. Franklin. Logan and Rittenhousc
Squares. If we could clean up some of
the squares now covered by tenements and
enable the people to snrcad out. It would be
n godsend to those who are obliged to re-
main in the old city proper.
A DOLPHUS G. BCYINGER, of the
Builders Exchange, holds the record as
trustee and general welfarer" of Apollo
Lodge. f. and a. NJ. of which William t.
Magee. of Cobbs Creek Parkway. is now
worshipful master. One of the old timers In
this lodge is William Eiscnbrown. war horse
of the Democratic party and magistrate for
many years Its chaplain is II. Cresson
McHenry. whose work in the river wards has
made him the particular friend of the un-
fortunate. The long list of past masters OF
Apollo includes some of the best known men
IN the fraternity. George W. Seeds, of the
Thirty second ward was one.
SECRETARY WILSON, of the Denart
~ ment of Labor has given assurance n
those interested in the retention of the Phila
neIphia immigration station Mt Gloucester
mat the transfer to New York would not
np made as originally announced II seems
mat the buildings at Gloucester are in nced
OF repairs especially with regard to SANTA
uon' and that the number of detained per-
sons during the war has been so few az
scarcely to warrant the number of govern
ment employees retained on the lob 7 g
1oton. OF the Maritime Exchange: r.
~ ioung. OF the International Mercantile
Marine lines. and George F. SprouIe of Tho
commissioners of navigation, nav. tberoforo
rest easy for the present, II ia oyidont th.t
government EXPENSES must be reduced but
INC ihiladclphians hold that the cIos;nv %
thelr immigration station. against which thor
fought so hard and strenuouslv wo,,ls :.
poor alternative. ''u'u oe
John HALL RANKIN. one Of pb;,odo,.
phia's leading architects. is roru.,,,
.hut residence just over the City ine nro-
Nn'H MS taxing part in the mayoraIty oa,,
aiEn; Mr. Rankin belongs to that ernmn
o' fh'iadelphians who believe in 50 dave,on'
ing our traihc facilities that existing con.
Ersli'n may De relieved and life on the high
ways may be little more safe. The nn,,
city charter contemplates n citv nIo,n;,.
commission and other features that are bounS
to attract the attention of progressive and
forward thinking men.
SENATOR AUGUSTUS DAIy. who is =.
~ pretty good Republican, and poto-
boiger' formerly. civil service commissioners
who is pretty good Democrat are. non r
neighbors up on North Thirty third street
The politics of these two publicists does NOT
seem to interfere with their personal rela .
tions. and while Daix does not write any Of
Peters official reports. and Peter does NOT
write any of Augustus's Demosthenian
speeches. they do say that occasionally these
two distinguished citizens swap notes.
There is verse in Proverbs which saws
without council. purposes are disap-
pointed; but in a multitude of counselors.
they are established Thus the senator and
the former commissioner can confer and not
offend the political propreties.
TAMESf +. DALEY. who does not hesi
y tate to take hand in political affairs ond
crack a head wherever he sees il. is still
the same old DEXTER he was in wears ron,
by when making up the form under the eagl,
eve of Jim DALEY, foreman of George w
| Childs's fine force of typesetters. Dexter
| Daley has always been outspoken on th,
liquor question, but he never hesitated II
| private talk or in public print to tell wha
| he thought about the fellow who flayed tn,
saloon and reserved drink or two on th
side. Dexter has always had a suspicion
| that political methods in the downtown
wards operated unfavOrably to the Italians
| He thinks the Italian has not had squar
| deal nor a chance under existing condition
70 become thoroughly Americanized.
MAJOR D. s. b. CHEW takes liyel,
INl interest in Delaware river improve
ments. The major who is scion of tn
flmous Germantown Chews, has been doin
much development work on the opposite sid
If the river, close by the new town O
.'Yorkship," and every time new vesst
comes up the Delaware, it is grist to hi
mill. The major believes in n great port
| and knows what it means when a new trans
nortstion line establishes itself here. Tn
major has been booster for good man
Years. and when he drops over into tn
vicinity of the New York shipbuilding plan
they take off their hats to him as man
Vision. The major remembers Newton cree
os a sluggish, meandering stream with splat
terdocks all about it. Now it is almp'
smothere6 with shipways and large structurs