Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-13

But II Tom Cunningham, backed by
the Mayor. plays his cards right he can
put his factional opponents in hole
deeper than that which they have dug
for him.
In the first place. a chairman Mr..
Cunningham has only to announce that
he intends to obey the provisions of tn"
charter. That document expressly for
bids anv officer. clerk or cmrl"ve of the
city TO directly or indirectly demand,
solicit, collect or receive, or be in any
manner concerned in demanding. so
Letting. collecting or receiving. any as
scssmrut, subscription or contribution.
whether voluntary or involuntary, in
tended for any political purpoef what
ever" Tho purpose of this is clear.
II is, intended to protect the city en-
ployes against being held up for cam
paign contributions.
The charter is more definite in its
protection of the policemen and fir"
men, for it provides that no uniformed
employe shall pay or give any money
or other valuable thing or make any
subscription or contribution, whether
voluntary or involuntary, for any po-
litiCal ru-rosn whatever
II further provides that any police
man or fireman who violates this pro
hibition shall be guilty of n miSdemcanor
punishable by a fine of not moro tnan
$4,000 or Imprisonment for not longer
than two years. or by both fine and
Imprisonment.
The firemcn and the policemen ran
thank the men who framed the charter
md secured it's passage through the
legislature for the protection thus af-
forded TO them. They know that Sen
ator Ware did his best 10 defeat the
charter until he found that he could
not do it, Then he reluctantly gave it
his support. The gratitude Of the uni.
formed force is due 10 Mayor Moore
and the men backing him, for it was
they who emancipated them.
An announC ement from Mr.. Cunning.
ham that he will be the first TO demand
the punishment Of any one who at
tempts to hold up the fremen in the
engine houses or the police in the police
station houses in the old manner will be
wholesome warning 10 captains and
licutenantS on whose consciousness it
has not yet dawned that a new regime
inS been iuaugurated.
This announcer should be fol.
lowed by another one, namely, that the
nonunifOrmed employees of the city are
10 receive the protection Of the Mayor
and his heads Of departments in the
enjoyment OF their salaries and wages,
and that the payment Of a campaign
contribution will b. regarded as that
use of Office ITO influence political
movements which is forbidden by the
ChaIter as explicitly as campaign con-
trIhutons by the polio" and tiremen.
Such course carried out to the
limit would omancipatr every clerk and
cmployr who has believed in the past
that he could not retain his job unless
he came across with the amount as
rr>,cd 20 him by tho figur"rS in the
headquarters Of the city committee.
II would deprive the Ware controlled
city committee Of the funds used in re-
tanning its hold on the organization and
would be evidence that the promises
made in the mayoralty campaign were
meant 10 be kept.
And il would do more. II would in
dicate to the chairman Of the city
committeo that political strategy is
game at which two can play, and that
when one of the contestants plays it
on the high grounds Of justice he puts
the other fellow at a terrible disad.
All the funds needed for The conduct