Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-11-19
THE NEW HALL or FAME.
(New York Times, Nov ny

Throughout the country municipal
life has been rendered more richly
varied by the election. Beginning as
near home as Is seemly, the new
Mayor of Buffalo, Frank X. SchwaD,
is brewer who featured" his cam
paign with promise that he would
go to Washington In person and fight
for q modification OF tho Volstead act
permitting beer. AS q preliminary to
that expedition he promised to abol-
ish the present Police Dry Squad.
which has measurably enforced the
law.
"A last moment incursion by Will
liam Fl. Anderson in behalf of the
Anti-Saloon League Is held to have
been the decisive factor in Mr..
Schwab's success, "down-Statc" ill.,
reference being resented.
In Cleveland Fred Kohler is
known to fame as a former Chief Of
the Police Department who was dis
missed from his post by the Civil
Service Commission on charges of
conduct unbecoming to an officer.
The charge was filed "by former May
or Newton ID. Baker" Far from
explaining his past, Mr.. Kohler did
not make Il single speech throughout
his campaign, relying OH his person.
al popularity and n house-to-house
canvass. In the face OF the utmost
effort at suppression, however, it
has leaked out that he Is friend
of the people. r.
Indiana has truly notable addi-
ton to the lengthening list Of Who's
Hoosiers. Lew (Samuel L. Shank
was elected Mayor of indianapolis by
Il majority of some 10000, the ,larg-
est ever given in the city He began
life as clog dancer and has re-
turned to the vaudeville stage at
intervals ever since. He Is also known
as an auctiOneer and as q farmer
HIS nomination found him In the
rustic guise. He said:
1--WE got $50 chickens, all with
the gapes, doggone 'em; about twen-
ty-five pigs, nearly all OF them with
the cholera; half n dozen calves
the rest died because l gave them
too much skinned milk; four goats,
one billy and three nannies. Believe
me, a farmer earns his money!"
With this evidence as to his fit
ness for civic life, he entered tho
campaign rcsolutely but without H.
lusions. II know that will not
receive the support Of q single news
paper IN Indianapolis. I know they
will all jump on me-" They did.
Business men and the self-righteous
OF all kinds fought Mr.. Shank "to
the last ditch, regardless of political
affiliations" But his fame as far
mer-laborer carried him through
that and sweet memories of his po-
litical past. For, when n candidate
once before, he sent a carload Of
watermelons into the San Juan Hill
district OF the Athens Of the Middle
West.
1t is, however, the advancing City
OF Youngstown, Ohio, that bears the
palm for the popular recognition of
leadership. About three months ago
Mr.. G.. l.. Oles Games in from the
country unknown to fame and estab-
lished his Headquarters at Il hotel.
His campaign centred in demand
that the street-car service be dis
continued and system Of buses in
stalled.
Those buses alone would probably
have elected him, but he promised
also to dismiss the entire police force
If 1t did not mend its ways, and,
moreover, to permit "spooning" IN
the city parks under protection of
the law. Thus Mayor-elect Oles ran
far ahead Of the candidates OF both
Republican and Democratic organi-
cations.
Bilious critics contend that dem
ocracy tends inevitably to drab
uniformity. How wrong they arc
may be seen by any candid observer
who will look abroad in tho land at
the result of municipal elections.