Copyr ight . 1 904 . by
M ccL U R E
.
PHIL L IPS
Pub lis h ed, M arch
,
1904
d I m pres s i on
Se co n
wm an
Co
,
1909. 1903. BY 8 S
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co
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IN T RO D UCT I O N A ND
CO N CLU S I ON S
SOM E
A ND S O ME
C O NCLU SI O N S
Tm s is n o t a book I t is a co ll ec t i on of art icles
e
re prin t ed from M cCl urc s M aga zi n
Do ne a s
j our n ali sm th ey are j ou rn a li sm s ti ll a n d n o
fu rth e r pre t en sio ns a re set up for th e m i n th ei r
ne w dr ess Thi s c la s s ific at i o n may see m pre t en
ti ou s en ough ; c ert ai n ly i t wou l d i f I s hou l d co n
fess what cl a i ms I mak e for my prof ess io n B u t
n o matt e r ab out that ; I i n sis t u po n th e j our
nalis m An d th e re i s my j us t ific atio n for se pa
ra ti ng from th e b ou n d v o lum e s o f th e ma g azi ne
—
a nd re publ i s h i n g practi c a ll y w i thout re edi t i n g
m y a ccou n t s a s a re po rt e r o f th e s ham e o f Am e ri
c a n c i ti es Th ey w e re wr i tt en wi th a pu rpo se
th ey w e re publi s h ed se ri al ly w ith a pu rpo se a nd
they a re repri n t ed n ow t o gether to furth e r that
sa m e purpos e w hi c h was a n d i s— t
ci vic ride o f an a a ren t i sham e l e ss c itiz ens h i
Th e re mu s t be such a thi n g w e r e as o ned All
our big bo as t in g coul d n ot b e e mpty v a n i ty n or
our piou s pre t en s i o ns ho llow s ham
Am e ric a n
a ch ieve m en t s i n s c i en c e art a n d bu si ness m e a n
so u nd a b ili ti es at b o ttom a nd o ur h y poc r isy a
I N TR O D U CT I O N
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3
TH E SH AM E OF TH E CITI ES
4
r a ce se n se o f f u n d a m en t a l ethics
Eve n i n
g o vernmen t w e h a ve give n pr oo fs o f pote n ti a l
g re a t n ess an d o ur p o l itic a l fa ilures are n o t
c o m plet e ; th ey a re si m ply ri dicul o us But they
a re o u rs N ot a l o n e the triumphs an d the st a tes
men the de fe a ts an d th e g ra fters a lso rep r ese n t
u s an d j ust as t ruly Why n ot s ee i t so a n d
say i t ?
B ec aus e I h e ard th e A m e r i ca n p eo ple wo n t
st a nd fo r i t Y ou may bl a me the p o litici an s
or in d eed a ny o ne c l a ss bu t no t all class es n o t
th e pe o pl e Or y o u m ay pu t i t o n the i gn or an t
fo re ig n i mmigra n t o r an y o ne n a t io n a l i ty bu t
n ot on all n a tio n a li ti es n ot o n th e Am e ri ca n
peopl e But no o n e cl a s s is at f a ul t n or an y o n e
br ee d no r an y p a rt icul a r i nte rest or gro up of
ts
Th e m isg o ve r nme n t o f the Ame ric an
is misgove r nm e nt by th e Americ an p eople
Wh en I set out o n m y trav e ls an ho n est N e w
Yorke r told me h one stly th a t I w ould fi n d th a t the
I ri sh th e C a th o li c Iri s h w e re a t the bottom of
i t a ll e v e ry w he re The fi r s t ci ty I we n t to wa s St
L ou is a Germ an ci ty The ne xt w as M i n n e ap o lis
9
Scandi n a vi an city wi th a le a dersh ip o f N ew
E n gl an d e rs Th en cam e Pi tt sbu r g Scotch Pres
by t er i a n an d that w as what my N e w Y ork f rie n d
w as
Ah bu t they a re a ll fo re i gn p o pul a ti on s
I h ea rd Th e ne x t c i ty w as Philadelphi a the pur
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I N TR O D UCT I O N
5
est A m e ri ca n co mmu n ity of a ll a n d th e most ho pe
l ess A n d a ft e r th a t cam e Chic a g o an d N e w Yo rk
b o th mo n grel bre d bu t the o ne a t ri um ph o f re
fo rm th e o ther th e be s t ex am ple of good go v e
me n t that I had seen The f o_
rei gn eleme n t ex
—
c as e is o ne of th eh ypogriti al l ies tlm
us f ro 7
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A n othe r s uch co n cei t o f our egoti s m is that
which deplores o u r po li t i cs a n d l auds our busi ness
Thi s i s t h e wa i l o f th e t y p ic a l Am e ri c a n ci ti zen
N ow th e t y pi c al A meri c a n ci t izen is th e busi ness
ma n Th e ty pi ca l b usiness ma n is a bad ci t izen ; h e
is bu sy I f h e i s a big bu s i ness man a n d ve ry
busy h e d oes no t ne gl ec t h e is busy w i th po li tics
oh ve ry bu sy an d v e ry busi nes sli ke I fou n d hi m
buy i n g bo o dl e rs i n St L ouis defen d ing gra ft e rs
i n Mi nne apol is o ri gi na ti n g corruptio n i n P i tts
burg sh a ri n g w i th boss es i n Phil ad e lph i a deplo r
i n g re f o rm i n Chicago a n d bea ti n g good g ov e r n
me n t w i th co rru ptio n fu n ds i n N ew York H e i s a
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th
e
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h
e
f
s
our
ce
o
f
i
t
w
e
r
e
a
co rr upt io n a n
d
f
)
boo n i f h e would ne g lec t poli ti cs But h e is n o t
th e b u si ness ma n that ne glec t s pol iti cs ; that
worth y is th e goo d c it iz en th e ty p i cal bu s i ness
m a n H e too is busy he i s t h e o ne that has n o u se
a nd th e re for e n o tim e for pol it ics
W h en his
neglec t has pe rm i tt ed b ad go ve rn m en t to go s o
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6
TH E S HA M E OF TH E C ITI E S
f ar that h e can b e sti rr ed to actio n h e i s u n h a ppy
a nd he looks ar o und for a cu r e that shall b e
quick s o that h e m ay hurry back to th e shop
N a tur a ll y to o wh en h e t a lk s poli tic s h e talk s
shop H is p a te n t rem edy is qu a ck ; i t is busi n ess
”
”
“
Giv e us a busi nes s m a n h e s ay s ( l ik e m e
he me an s )
Le t hi m i n troduc e b usi n es s m e th o ds
l i n to p o l itics and gov e r n m e nt
; th en I sh a ll b e le f t
”
a lo ne to attend to m y busi ness
Th e re i s h a rdly a n o ffic e from U n it e d Stat es
S en ator dow n to Alde rm a n i n a n y part of th e
coun try to whi ch th e bus i ness m an ha s n ot b een
elect ed ; y e t po li tic s re m ai ns c orrupt gov e r n m en t
pretty b a d a nd th e s elfish citize n ha s to h o ld him
sel f in r e adi n e ss l ike th e old volu n teer fi r eme n to
rush fo rth at a n y hour i n a n y w ea ther t o pre v en t
th e fire ; a n d he go e s out s om e tim es a n d h e put s
out th e fir e ( af ter th e dam age i s do n e ) an d h e
g o es b a ck t o the sh o p sighing fo r the busi n es s
m an i n pol i tics The busi n e s s m a n ha s fa iled i n
p o li tics a s h e h as i n citiz e nshi p Why ?
Th a t s w h a t s th e
Bec a s e
18 bu s i ne ss
u p olitics
a t s the m atter with
ma
everythi ng — art li ter a tu re re ligi o n j o u rn a li s m
—
—
l a w m e di ci ne th ey re a ll busi ness an d a ll as
y ou s ee them M ak e pol i ti c s a sport a s th ey do in\
E n gl a nd or a pr of essi on as they do i n Germ an y
I
—
a n d w e ll ha ve w e ll s om e thi n g e l se tha n w e hav e
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I N TRODU CTI O N
7
—
n ow i f w e w a n t i t which is an oth e r qu es t i o n
B ut do n t try to re form po li t i cs w i th the ba n ker
th e l a wye r a n d the dry goods merch an t f o r th ese
a re bu s i nes s m en a n d th e re are two gre a t hi n
dra nce s to thei r ach ie v e m en t o f re fo rm : o n e is that
they a re di fferen t from b u t n o be tt e r tha n th e
“
po li t i c ians ; the oth e r is that po l i ti cs is n o t the i r
”
li ne
Th e re a re exce ptio n s both ways M a ny
poli t ici a ns hav e go ne ou t in to b u s i nes s a nd d one
w el l ( Tamma n y ex may o rs a n d ne arl y a l l th e ol d
b o sses o f Phi l ade l phia are promi n e n t fi n a n c ie r s i n
th e i r c i t ies ) an d busi n ess me n hav e go ne i n to
po li t i cs a n d do ne w ell ( Mark H a n na for ex
ampl e )
Th ey hav en t re f o rm ed th ei r adopt ed
trad es how eve r though th ey h a ve s om e tim es
s ha rpened th e m mo s t po i n t ed l y Th e pol i ti ci a n is
a bu s i n es s ma n
m
3 th e bu si ness o f
ma n of s om e oth e r
po li t ics he i s a pol i ti ci a n a n d t he r e i s n ot mu ch
r e fo rm l e ft in him Co nside r th e U ni t ed Sta t es
Sen at e a n d beli e v e m e
c omm e rc i a l s pi ri _
t_is t he sp i r i t gf p ro fi t
n ot pat ri ot i sm ; o f credi t n ot ho n or ; of individual
ga in n ot n at i o n a l prospe ri ty ; of tra de a n d ( lick
”
“
e ring n o t p rin cipl e
M y b u siness is s a c r ed
s a ys th e b u s i ness ma n i n h is h e art
Wh at ev e r
p ro s pe r s m y b u siness is good ; i t m us t be What
eve r hi nde rs it i s wro ng ; i t mu s t be A b ri be i
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F
TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITIE S
b a d th a t 15 Al M
t hin
but
i
t
s no t
1
j
g
g
21331
s o b a d t o g ive o ne
no t i f i t is n ecess ary t o my
”
b us i ess
Busi nes s 18 busi nes s is n o t a po l iti
ca
l s en tim en t bu t our p o li tici an h a s c a ught i t
H e t ak e s e ss en ti a lly th e sa me v i e w o f the brib e
on ly h e s av es hi s sel f re s p ect b y pi li n g all hi s
c o n t e mp t upo n th e b rib e giver an d he h a s th e
gr e at adva n tag e o f c an d o r
I t i s wro n g
”
“
m aybe h e s a ys
but i f a rich m e rcha n t c an
a ffor d to do busi nes s wi th m e for the s ak e of a
co n v en ie n c e or t o i n c r e a s e h is a l re a dy gre a t
w ea lth I can aff ord fo r the sak e o f a l iving to
m ee t hi m h a lf w a y
I mak e n o prete n si o ns t o
”
v i rtu e n o t ev en o n Su n d ay
A nd as f or givi n g
b a d go ver n m e n t or g oo d h ow a bou t th e m e r cha n t
who giv es b a d goo ds or good goods a c cordi ng to
the d e ma n d ?
But th e r e is hop e n ot a l o ne d es p ai r i n th e -c om;
oli
ti
c
I
f
o
ur
pol
i
t
i
cal
l
ea
d
e
r
s
al is m o f o ur
s
p
are
b e a l w ays a lot o f p o l i ti c a l merch an t s th e y
w ill s upply a n y dem an d we m a y cre a t e All we
h a v e to do is to es tabli s h a s t ea dy dema n d for
good go ver n ment
Th e bo s s has us split up
i n t o p ar ties T o h im p a rti es ar e no thi ng but
me an s t o his c o rrupt en ds He bolts hi s p arty
but we m us t no t ; the b r ibe giver changes hi s p arty
f ro m o ne electi o n t o a n o the r f ro m o ne c o unty
to ano the r fr o m on e city to an oth e r but the
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I N TROD UCT I O N
9
h o nes t v ot e r mus t n ot Why ? Bec au se i f th e
hones t v ot e r c ared n o mo re for his p a rty th an th e
po l iti ci a n a n d th e graft e r t he n the h o nes t v ot e
—
wou l d gov e rn a nd that wou l d be b ad for gra ft
I t i s i di ot ic th is dev ot i o n to a mach i ne that is
u sed to tak e ou r s o ve re i gn t y fro m u s
I f we
wou l d le a ve part ies to t h e po li ti ci a n s a nd wou l d
vot e n ot for th e part y n o t even fo r m en bu t fo r
the ci ty an d th e St a te a n d the na t ion w e s hould
rule parti es a n d c i ties an d St a t es and n ati on I f
w e would vote i n ma ss o n th e more p rom i s i n g
t i ck e t or i f th e t w o are equal ly b a d woul d throw
ou t th e pa rty th a t i s i n a nd w a i t ti ll th e nex t e l ec
tio n a n d th en thro w ou t th e o th e r part y that i s
ia—th en I s ay th e comm e rc ial po li t ici a n w ou l d
feel a de ma n d for good g o ve rn m ent a n d h e would
s uppl y i t Th at pro cess wou l d tak e a gene ratio n
or more to co mplete for th e po l i ti ci a ns n ow r e ally
d o n o t k n ow what good gov e rn m en t is But i t
h as t aken a s l o ng to d e v el op b ad go ve rn m en t a nd
th e po li tic i a ns k n ow what th a t i s I f i t wo uld
”
n ot g o th ey wou ld o ffe r s om e th i ng el se a nd i f
th e de ma n d w e r e s t e ady th ey b ei ng s o Comm e r
d el i ve r th e goo ds
cial would
B u t do t he peopl e wa n t goo d
th e pe op le
h o nes t ? A r e th e peo p le be t te r tha n Ta mma n y ?
A re they bet t er tha n the mercha
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
10
t icia n?
I s n t our corrupt go ve rn m en t aft e r a ll
re presen t a tiv e ?
P re side n t Roo sevel t ha s b een snee re d at for
g oi n g about th e cou n try pre achi n g as a cure for
ou r A meric an e vils good c o n duct i n th e i n di
vidu a l s impl e ho nes ty c o u r a g e a n d e ffici en cy
Pl a ti tudes
th e s ophistic a t e d s ay P l ati tudes ?
I f my observ a tio ns h av e b een tru e th e li t e ral
adoptio n of M r Roo se v el t s r e form sch e m e w oul d
r es ul t i n a r e v o l utio n mo re radi c al an d t e rrib le to
e xisti ng i n st i tutio n s f r o m th e Co n gress t o th e
Church f rom the b an k t o th e ward org a niz a tio n
tha n s oci al ism or ev en tha n an a rch y Why th a t
—
would ch a n ge a ll o f a s n ot a l one ou r ne ighb o rs
n ot alo ne th e graf t e rs but you a n d m e
N o the co n t e m ned m e th o ds of our d espis e d pol i
t ies ar e th e ma s t e r m e thods of our braggart bu si
ness a n d th e co rruptio n that s h o ck s u s i n pub li c
a ffa i r s w e pra c ti ce ours elv es i n our pri v a t e co n
ce r ns Th e r e i s n o essen ti al di ff e rence b e tw een th e
that
ge
t
s
you
r
w
i
f
e
i
n
to
s
oci
e
ty
o
r
a
f
a
vor
a
ble
u
ll
p
revi ew fo r y o u r b ook a nd th a t w hich ge ts a
h eeler in to o ffic e a thief out o f j a il an d a rich
m an s so n on the boar d o f dir ectors of a co r p ora
tion ; n on e betw e en the corruption of a la b o r
u n io n a b an k a n d a p o l itic a l m a chi ne ; no ne be
t w ee n a dummy dir e ct o r o f a t r ust a nd th e ca u
c us b o u n d m e mbe r of a legis latur e ; n o ne be t ween
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IN T R ODUCT IO N
II
a l a bo r bo ss like Sam P ark s a bo ss o f b a nks l ike
Joh n D R o c k e fel l e r a bo ss o f rai l roads l ik e J P
Morga n a n d a pol i ti c a l bos s l ike Matth ew S
Qua y Th e b o ss is n ot
ca n i ns
hav e n o t the s pi ri t to be free
u m s ; a w e ak ness r igh t
d“
An
M
w he re w e thi n k w e a re s tro n ges t
O h w e are
good—o u Su n day a n d w e are
fe a rfu l ly pa
o n th e F ou rth o f J u ly B ut th e b ribe w e
t rio tic
pa y to th e j a n i to r to p re fe r our i n t e res ts to th e
l a n dl ord s i s th e l itt le b rother o f t he b ribe passed
to th e alderma n to se ll a c it y st ree t a n d th e fath e r
o f th e a i r brak e s to c k as si gn ed to th e p resi de n t
o f a rail road to hav e thi s li f e s a vin g i n v en t i o n
adop t ed o n his road A n d as for gra ft ra ilr oad
p asses s a l oo n a n d b awdy hou se blackmail a n d
w at e red s tock all th ese bel o n g to th e s am e family
W e are path e ti ca ll y p roud o f our d e mocrati c ia
s ti tut io n
s a n d o ur re pub lic a n form o f gov e rn m en t
o f our gra n d Co ns t i tutio n a n d our j u s t la ws W e
are a free a nd s ov e rei g n pe op le w e go ve rn our
se lv es a n d th e g ov e rn m en t is ours Bu t that i s th e
po i n t We are res po n sible n ot o ur l e a d ers s i nce
w e fo ll ow th e m W e let th e m di v e rt our l oy al t y
from th e U ni t ed Stat es to som e pa rt y
we le t
th e m boss th e party a nd tur n our mu nici pa l dem oc
r acies i n to au to c ra cies a n d our r e pu bl i c a n n a
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
ti o n i n t o a plut o cr a cy We che a t o ur g o v e rnme n t
a nd we let o ur l ea ders l o ot i t a nd w e l et the m
w h ee dle a nd b r ib e o ur s ov e re ig n ty fr o m us Tru e
they p a s s fo r us s t rict l aw s bu t we are co n t en t to
let them pass a lso b a d l aw s giv i ng away public
pr o perty i n e xch an ge ; a nd our g o od an d of ten
i mpo s sibl e law s w e a llow t o b e us e d f o r oppr e ssio n
a n d blackmail A n d what can w e s ay ? W e
b re ak our o wn laws a n d r o b our o wn gov e r n m en t
th e l ady at th e cu s tom hou se the ly n ch e r wi th
his rop e a n d th e captai n o f i n du s t ry wi th hi s
b rib e an d hi s reb at e Th e spiri t of g ra f t a n d
of l awl es s ne ss i s th e A m e ri c an spir i t
A n d th is s hall n ot b e s a i d ? N ot pl a i n ly ? Wil
Ii am Tr a v e r s J erom e th e fe arl e ss D istri c t A t
“
tor ne y o f N e w Y ork s ay s
Y ou ca n s ay a n y
thi n g yo u think to the Am e ri ca n p eopl e I f you
are ho n es t w ith you rsel f you may b e ho nest w i th
th em a n d th ey will f o rgiv e n ot o n ly your can d o r
”
b ut your m is tak e s
Thi s i s th e opi n i on an d th e
e xp e rien c e t oo of a n ho nes t ma n a n d a hop e ful
d e mo c rat Who s ay s th e o th e r thi n gs ? Who
”
”
“
“
say s
Hush
an d
Wh at s th e u s e ?
a nd
”
“
AL L s
well
wh en al l i s rott en ? I t i s th e
gra f t e r ; th e c oward too but th e graft e r i ns pi res
th e co w ard Th e doctri ne of add i tio n d i vi s io n
a n d sil ence is the do ct ri n e of gr a ft
Do n t
”
hur t th e part y
Spar e th e fai r fam e o f th e
IS
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITIE S
The p a rty keeps u p the p ro tect ive tari ff
th a t
I f th a t w ere cu t d ow n m y business w ould b e
r ui ned So l o ng a s the p a rty s t a nds pat on th a t I
s tand pat 0 11 th e p a rty
Th e p eo pl e are no t i nn oc en t Th at i s the o n ly
news i n a ll the j ou rn a lism of thes e a rticl es
a n d n o d o ubt that w as n ot new to m an y o bserv e r s
I t wa s to m e Wh en I se t ou t t o de s crib e th e cor
rupt sy s e m s o f cert a i n typic a l cities I m e a n t to
show si m ply how th e p eo pl e were d eceiv e d an d b e
B ut i n the very fir s t study— St L ouis
t r ayed
the sta rtli ng truth l a y b a r e that c o rru ption wa s
n o t m e rely pol it ical ; i t was fi n an c i al comm e rc i a l
s oci a l ; th e r a mificatio n s o f b oo dl e w er e so c o mplex
vari ous a n d f ar r ea chi n g th a t o ne mi n d c o uld
h ardly grasp them an d no t e ve n J oseph W F o lk
th e tir e le s s pr o s e cu tor could fo llo w them all Thi s
st a te of thi n g s w as i n dic a ted i n th e first a rticl e
which Cl a ude H W e tmor e an d I compil e d t o
gether but i t w a s n ot s ho wn pl a i nl y en ough Mr
Wetmor e lived i n St L ouis an d h e h a d resp e ct
f o r n a m e s which mea n t l ittle to me But w he n I
went n ext to Mi nnea p o li s al one I could se e mor e
i n depen d en tly w i th o u t r es p ect fo r pers ons a nd
there wer e trac e s o f th e sa m e ph en ome non Th e
T w eed D ays i n
fi rs t St L oui s art icl e wa s c a lled
”
S t L ou i s an d though the b e tt e r ci ti z en re
cei ved att en tio n th e T wee ds w e r e th e c en ter o f
14
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I NT R OD UCT I O N
15
”
“
i n t e res t I n Th e Sham e o f stil ln
t he
sapo lis
t ruth was pu t i n to the t i t le ; i t w as th e Sham e
o f M i nne apol i s ; n o t o f th e Am es a dmi n istrat ion
n ot of th e Tw eed s b ut o f th e ci ty a n d i ts ci t
s
iz en
A n d ye t M i nnea polis was n ot ne ar ly so bad
as St L oui s ; p ol i ce gra ft i s neve r s o u n i ve rsal
bood l e I t is more shocki n g bu t i t i s so fi lth y
that i t c a n n o t i nv ol ve so large a part o f s o c i e ty
8 0 I r e tur ned to S t L ou is a n d I w en t ov e r t he
who le g rou nd agai n wi th th e p eo p le i n m in d n ot
alo ne t he c aught a n d c o n v ic ted bood le rs
A nd
“
thi s tim e t he t ru e m e a ni n g o f Tw eed da y s i n
S t Loui s
w a s mad e plai n
Th e art i cl e w a s
”
ca l l ed Th e Shamel essnes s o f St L o ui s a n d that
wa s th e burden o f th e story I n Pit tsbur g a ls o
th e p eo pl e w as th e s ubj ec t a n d though th e c iv ic
s pi ri t th e re wa s be tt e r th e e xt en t o f th e c orru p
ti o n throughout th e soci a l orga niz ati o n o f t he
commu n i t y w as i nd icat ed B u
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Th at w a s th e p l a ce for
s tudy Th e re i s n ot h i n g l i k e i t i n th e
cou n t ry exce pt po ss ib ly i n Ci nc i nn at i
P hi l a
d el phi a ce rtai n ly i s n ot m e rel y corrupt but co r
rupted a n d th is wa s mad e c l e ar
P h i l ad elp hi a w a s
—
t
o
ch arged up
th e A m e ric a n c itiz en
I t w as impo s s ibl e i n th e s pace of a ma g a zi ne ar
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TH E S HA M E O F TH E CITI ES
t iclc t o c o ver i n a ny o n e ci ty a ll the ph a ses of m u
nicipa l g o vernm en t s o I ch o se ci ties th a t typifi ed
m o st st r iki ngly som e p a rticul a r ph a s e o r ph a s e s
Thus a s S t Lo uis exemplifi e d b odle ; M in n e a pol is
poli c e g raf t ; Pi ttsbu r g a po l i al a nd i n dust r i a l
machi ne ; an d Phil a delphi a gen eral civic c or rup
t io n s o Chi c ago was a n illustr a tio n o f re f orm an d
N e w Y ork o f good gov e r n m en t All th e s e th in g s
o ccur i n mo s t of thes e pl a ces Th e r e a r e a nd
lo ng have been reform e r s i n St L ou i s an d ther e
is to d a y p o lic e gra f t th e r e
Mi n n eapol i s h a s
h ad bo o dli n g a n d council refor m a nd b o odl i n g i s
b reaki ng ou t th e r e agai n Pi ttsburg ha s gen
e r a l c o rruptio n an d P hi ladelphi a a very p e r fec t
poli tic a l m a chi ne Chic a g o has polic e gr af t a n d
a low order o f a dmi nist r ati v e a n d ge ne r a l corrup
t i o n w hi ch perm ea te s bu s i n ess l ab o r and s o ciety
ge n er a lly A s for N e w Y ork th e metr o pol i s
might exempli fy a l m o st an y thi n g that o ccu r s a ny
where inAme r ic an citi e s but no ci ty ha s h a d f or
m an y yea r s s u ch a good a dmi n i s tratio n a s w as
th a t o f M a y or Seth L o w
That w hich I h a v e m a de e ach c i ty s t an d for is
th at w hich i t h a d most hi ghly devel o p e d
It
would b e absurd to s eek f o r o r g an iz e d r e form
i n S t Lo uis f or ex a mpl e with Chic a go ne x t do o r ;
o r f o r gr af t i n Chic a go w i th M i nn e a pol is s o n ear
A ft e r Mi nnea poli s a de s criptio n o f admi n i str a ti ve
16
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I7
I N TR O DU CT I O N
co rrupt i o n i n Chi cago w ou l d ha ve see m ed l ike a
Pe rh ap s i t was n o t j us t to tre at o n l y
repe t i tio n
the co ns pi cuou s e l em ent i n e ac h s itua ti o n B u t
w h y s houl d I be j u s t ? I w as n ot j ud gi ng ; I a rro
g a ted to m ysel f n o s u c h fu n cti o n
I was n ot
writ in g a bou t Chicago for Chica go b u t f o r th e
o ther c i ti es s o I p ick ed out what l ight e ach h ad
for th e ins t ru c t i o n of th e oth e rs B u t ! i f I was
neve r compl e t e I neve r ex agge rat ed E vg o ne
of m
utement es peci a lly
F
d the p roo f
wh e re th e m ndi flo r fiereT aE a n
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n
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'
city w
h ich w as
fri en ds i n P hi l ad el p hi a
who k new what th e re w as to k n ow a nd those es p e
ex pressed s u rp rise
cia lly who k ne w what I k new
A n d o ne S t Lo ui s ne w s
t h at I re po rt ed s o li ttl e
p a p e r s aid that th e fa ct s w e re thro wn at m e a nd
I fell d ow n o ve r th e m
Th e r e w as t ru th i n th ese
I cu t tw en ty th ou s a nd words ou t o f t he
fii n g s
P hiladelph i a arti cl e a n d y e t I had n ot wr i tt en hal f
my fa cts I k n ow a m an who is m ak i n g a histo ry
of th e corrupt co n stru ctio n of th e P hi ladelphia
Ci ty Hal l i n th ree v ol um es a n d h e gri ev es beca u se
h e lacks space Y ou a i n t put all th e k n ow n i n ci
d en ts o f th e corrup t i o n of a n A m e ri c a n c ity i n to
a boo k
Th is is all ver y u nscien t ific b ut th en , I am n ot
ted t he
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TH E SHA ME OF TH E CITI ES
18
‘
a sci en ti st I a m a j ou rn a list I did n o t gath e r
wi th i n di ff e r ence a ll th e fact s a n d arr an ge th e m
p ati en tly for pe rm anen t prese rvat i o n a n d labora
tory an aly s i s I
M A
wa
My pu rpo se wa s n o
m o re sci en tifi c tha n th e s piri t o f my i n ve s tigatio n
a n d report s ; i t w as a s I s a i d abov e to see i f th e
sh a m e ful fact s s pre ad out i n all th ei r s ham e
woul d n ot bu r n through our civ ic sh a m el es s ness
a n d se t fi re to A m e ri c a n pr i d e Th a t w a s th e
j o u rnali s m o f i t I w an t e d to mov e a n d to co n
V i nce
That is why I wa s n ot i n t e res t ed i n all
th e fact s s ough t n o ne that w a s ne w a n d r ej ec ted
h alf tho se th at w e r e old I oft en w a s as k e d to
e xpos e s om e t h i ng s u s p e ct e d I coul dn t ; a n d w hy
should I ? E xpo s ur e o f the u nk nown w a s n ot my
pu rpos e
Th e p e opl e : w h a t th ey will put u p
wi th how th ey are f ool ed how ch ea ply they a re
bought h ow d e arly s old h ow ea sily i n ti m id a ted
—
a nd h ow l e d fo r good o r fo r e vi l th a t w a s th e
i n qui ry an d s o th e s ig n ifi c a n t fact s w e re th ose
on ly w h i ch e v e rybody i n e ach ci ty k ne w a n d o f
th e s e o n ly thos e whi ch e v e ryb o dy i n e v e ry oth e r
t own woul d recogn iz e f ro m thei r commo n k n owl
e dge o f such thi n gs to be p ro b abl e But th es e
u n derst a ted w ere ch arg e d a l wa y s to th e guil ty
pers o ns wh en i ndividu a ls w e r e to bl a m e a nd fi n a lly
brought hom e t o th e p e opl e th e mselv es w h o h av
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19
I N T RO D UCTION
i n g the pow e r hav e al so the re s po ns ibi lit y the y
a n d tho se th ey r es pec t a n d those th a t gui de th e m
Thi s was agai n st all the w ar n
i n gs an
d rules o f
e
Wha
t
wa
s
r
e
su
l
t
?
t
h
g
a
dem g gy
A ft e r Jos e p h W Po lk had ex p l o red a nd ex
po sed w i th co n vic t i o ns th e boodli n g o f St Lo uis
Tw eed D a ys i n St
t he ri n gs ca rr ied a n e l ect i o n
Lou is is s a i d t o h a ve fo rm ed s om e publ i c sen t i
m en t aga in st th e b ood l ers bu t the lo c al ne w s
pa pe rs ha d more to do with that tha n M ccl ure s
A fter th e M i nnea po li s gra n d j u ry
M ag az in
e
h ad ex posed a n d the courts ha d tr i ed a n d the c om
mo n j ur ies had co n v i ct ed th e gra f te rs there a n
elec tio n s how ed that pub lic op ini o n w a s form ed
B ut that o ne el ec tio n w a s re gard e d as fin al When
I w en t th e re th e m en who had l ed th e re form mov e
”
m en t w e re al l through
A ft e r th e y h ad re a
d
”
th e Sham e o f Mi n ne apo l is how eve r they e n
t
b ack to work a n d th ey hav e pe rf ect ed a p l a n to
k ee p th e ci t i z ens i n form ed a n d to c o n t in u e th e
figh t for go od gov e rn m en t Th ey sa w th ese un
”
am bi tiou s bus y ci t i z ens that i t wa s up to th e m
a n d th ey res um ed th e u n w el com e dut i es o f th ei r
c itiz ens hip O f r esen tm en t th e re was v e ry l itt le
A t a m ee t ing o f l e ad i ng c iti zens th e re w e re ho n est
s peec h es s u gges ti ng that som e th in g s hou ld b e sai d
”
to cle ar th e n am e o f Mi n ne apolis bu t o ne ma n
ro se a nd s a i d ve ry p le a s a n t ly but fi rm ly that th e
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
a rticle wa s true ; i t wa s p r etty h ard on th e m but
i t wa s t ru e a nd they a ll knew i t Th a t e n d ed th a t
When I retu r ned t o St Lo uis a nd re w rot e th e
fa cts an d i n re w riti ng m ade the m j ust a s i n sul t
i n g a s th e tru th w o uld pe rmit my f rie n ds the r e
ex p ressed dis m a y o ve r the m a nusc r ipt
The
a rticle wo uld hu rt M r F o lk ; it w ould hurt th e
c a use ; i t wo uld a r o use p o pul a r w r a th
”
Th a t w as w h a t I hoped i t wo uld d o I sa id
Bu t the i n dign a ti o n wo uld bre a k up on F o lk
”
a n d re fo rm no t o n th e b oo dl e rs they s a id
”
W a s n t i t o bvi o us I a sked
th a t thi s v e ry
t itle Sh a meless n ess wa s a i m ed a t p r ide ; th a t
i t implied a fa i th th a t there was sel f re sp e ct to
b e t o uch e d an d sh a me to be m o ved ?
That wa s to o s ubtle S o I an s we r e d th a t i f
th ey had n o fa i th i n the to w n I h a d a nd an y wa y
i f I was wr o n g an d the p eopl e sho uld r esen t n o t
th e c r i m e bu t the exp o su r e o f it the n they wo uld
puni sh n o t M r F o lk w h o had n o thi ng t o d o w ith
the a rticle bu t the m a gazi ne and me N e w sp a pe r
men wa r n ed m e th a t they w o uld n o t st a nd fo r
th e a r ticle but w ould a tt a ck i t I an s we red th a t
I wo uld let the St L o uis a ns d e cide bet w ee n us I t
w as t ru e i t w as j ust ; the pe o ple o f St L oui s h ad
s ho wn n o sh a m e H e r e wa s a g oo d ch a nce to see
wheth e r they h a d an y I wa s a foo l they s a id
”
All ri ght I r e pl i e d
All k ings h a d foo l s i n
20
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TI I E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
h o pes o n the a ssu m pti o n th a t
af te r F o lk s
”
term a ll wo uld be w ell a g a i n B e t we e n these
t w o loc a l v ie w s n o o u tside r could choos e H o w
could I read a str a nge pe o ple s h e arts ? I t oo k
the o utside v ie w st a ted the fa cts b o th ways the
right ve r dicts of the j uries a nd th e c o nfiden t pl an s
—
o f th e bo o dlers a nd th e r esul t w as i nde e d a
s h a meless st a t e o f a ffa i r s fo r w hich St L oui s th e
p e ople of S t Lo ui s we r e to bl a me
A n d they s a w i t so both i n th e c i ty an d
i n th e St a te and they ce a s e d t o be s pect a
t ors
Th a t articl e si m ply got d own t o th e sel f
respect of thi s people A nd w h o wa s hurt ? N o t
St Lo uis F ro m th a t m o m e n t the city h a s b een
deter m i ne d an d a cti ve a nd b oo dle see m s t o be
d oo med N o t M r F o lk A f ter th a t his n o m i n a ti o n
fo r G o ve r n o r of the St a te wa s decl ar ed for by th e
p eo ple w h o for m ed F o lk cl ubs a ll o ver the St a te t o
fo rce him up o n his p a rty a nd thei r s a nd th us in
sure the pu rs ui t o f th e b o odlers i n St Lo ui s a nd
i n M iss o u ri t oo N o r wa s the m a g a zi n e h urt or
mys el f Th e nex t ti m e I w ent t o St Lo uis the
v e ry m e n w h o h a d ra ised m oney for the m a ss m eet
in g to d en ou n ce th e ar ticle w en t o ut o f thei r wa y
t o say to m e th a t I h a d bee n r ight th e a rticl e
”
w as t r u e a nd they a s ked me t o d o i t ag a i n
A n d there m ay be a ch an ce t o d o i t a g a i n Mr
Folk li ft e d the li d o ff lVI is s o ur i for a m o m e n t af ter
22
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23
I N TRODUCTI O N
that an d th e Stat e also a ppea red ri pe fo r the
g a th e ri n g M o re over the bo o dlers o f St a te a nd
ci t y hav e j oi n ed to be at t he peo pl e a n d k eep th em
d own Th e d ecisiv e el ect i o n is no t till the fall
of 1 90 4 an d th e boodlers cou n t much o n th e fickle
ness o f publ i c o pi n io n But I be li e v e th a t Mi s
s ouri a n d S t Lo u i s toge ther w ill p rove the n o n ce
for all that th e p eopl e ca n ru le—w h en th ey are
arous ed
T h e P i ttsburg a rt ic le h a d no e ff ec t i n P i tts
burg no r h a d th a t o n Philad e lph i a a n y res ul ts i n
P hi lad e lphia N or w as an y e x p ec ted there Pi tts
burg a s I s a id ia the article k n e w itsel f a n d m ay
pu l l o ut o f its di sgr a ce bu t Phil a delphi a is c o n
t en t ed a n d s ee m s ho pe l e s s Th e ac cou n ts o f th e m
h o we ver a n d i n d eed as I hav e sa i d a ll i n th e
se ri es w e re wr i tte n n ot for th e c iti es d es c r ibed
but for all our citi es ; an d th e mos t i mm edi a t e re
spe nses came n ot from pl aces des c ribed b ut from
o th e rs w here s imi lar ev i ls e xis t ed or sim il ar actio n
was need ed Thus Chica go i n ten t o n i ts troubl es ;
fou n d use l ess to i t the s tudy o f i ts reform whi ch
see ms to ha ve been sugges tiv e e lsew h er e a n d
”
P hi lad elphia
Corrupt an d Co n te n t ed
was
t a ken h o m e i n othe r citi es a n d see ms to ha v e mad e
the mos t las ti n g impressio n ev e ryw h e re
B ut of cou rse the t a ngi ble res ul ts a re fe w Th e
rea l t ri umph of th e y ear s w ork was th e compl e te
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
d em on st ra ti o n i t h a s given i n a th o us a nd li ttl e
wa ys th a t o u r sh a m elessness is supe rfici a l th a t
bene a th i t l ies a p ride w hich b e i ng re a l m a y sav e
us yet A nd i t is re a l The g raf ters wh o s a id
y o u m a y put the bl a m e a ny where b ut on the pe o
ple w he r e i t bel o ngs a nd th a t A m e r ic a ns c a n be
—
they l ied They li e d
m o ved o nly by fl a tte ry
a b o u t themselv e s They t oo a re Americ a n ci ti
z e ns ; they t oo a re o f th e p e ople ; a n d s o m e o f
them al so w e r e rea ched by shame Th e gre a t
t ruth I t r ied to m a k e pl a i n wa s th a t w h ich Mr
F o lk i nsist s s o c on st a n tly up on : th a t b r ibe ry is
n o or din ar y fel o ny bu t tre as o n th a t the c o r
rupti on w hich b r e a ks o u t h e re a nd the r e an d n o w
”
an d then
i s no t an o cc a si on a l o ff ense but a
c o mm o n pr a ctice and th a t the e ffect o f i t is l i t
er a ll
t
o
ch
a
nge
th
e
f
o
rm
o
f
o
ur
g
o
v
e
r
n
m
en
t
y
f ro m on e th a t i s r e p r esent a tive of th e pe o pl e t o
a n o lig ar chy represe n t a tive of speci a l i n terests
Som e p o li tici an s h a ve s een th a t thi s is s o a n d i t
b o thers them I thi n k I p ri z e m ore highly tha n
a ny oth e r of m y expe r ie n ces the h a l f d o zen tim e s
“
”
w he n g ra fti n g p o li ti ci an s I h a d
ro a st ed
as
th e y pu t i t call e d o n m e a fterw a rds to s a y i n
th e w o r ds o f one who s pok e wi th a wo n der f ul
s ol e m n i ty
“
Yo u a re right I ne ver thought o f i t th a t
way but i t s r ight I d o n t k n ow w heth e r y o u
24
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25
I N TROD UCT I O N
c a n d o a n yt hi n g but you re right d ead ri ght
A n d I m a ll wr on g W e re al l a ll w r o ng I
do n t se e how we ca n st o p i t now ; I d on t see h ow
I ca n cha n ge I c a n t I guess N o I ca n t no t
n ow But s ay I m ay b e a ble t o hel p yo u an d
I wi ll i f I c an Yo u c an have an ythi n g I ve g o t
So you s ee th ey are n o t such b a d fellows these
pr a ct ic al p o li ticia n s I wish I cou l d tell mo re
a bou t th e m : h o w th ey hav e he l ped m e ; how ca n
didly a nd u nsel fi sh ly th ey have assist ed m e to fa c t s
a n d a n u n d e rs t an di n g of th e f ac ts wh i ch as I
warn ed th e m as th ey k ne w w ell w e re to be us ed
—
agai n st them I f I could a n d I w i l l s om e day
—I s hou l d sho w that o ne o f th e su res t h0 pes w e
hav e i s th e po lit ic ia n him se l f Ask hi m for g o od
po li ti cs ; pu ni sh h im wh en h e giv es bad an d r ew ard
him wh en he giv e s go o d ; m a k e poli tics pay No w
h e s ay s y o u do n t k n ow a n d you d on t c a re an d
that you mu s t be fl a tt e r ed a n d f o ol ed— an d there
I s ay h e is wro ng I di d n ot fl a tt e r an ybody
I to l d th e truth as ne ar a s I c ould ge t i t
a n d i ns t e ad o f resen tm en t th e re wa s en courag e
”
m en t A ft e r Th e Sham e of Mi nne apoli s a n d
”
Th e Sham el essne s s o f S t L ouis n ot o nl y di d
c i tiz ens of th ese ci t ies approv e bu t c itiz ens o f
oth e r c i ti es in di viduals group s a n d orga ni z a
t io ns sen t i n i n vi t a t i o n s hu n dreds o f th e m
to
”
com e a nd s how u s up ; w e re w orse tha n th ey are
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TH E S HA M E O F TH E CITI ES
Q6
We A merica n s m a y h a v e f ail e d W e m a y b e
m e rc ena ry an d s e lfish Democr a cy w i th us m a y
be i mpossible a n d co rruptio n i ne vi t able but these
a rticles i f they h a v e pr o v e d n othi n g e lse h a v e
dem o nstr a ted bey on d doubt th a t w e c a n st a nd th e
truth ; th a t there i s prid e i n the ch a r a cter o f
A meri c an ci tize ns hip ; an d th a t this prid e m ay b e
a po we r i n the l an d So thi s li ttl e v o lum e a
re c o rd o f sh a m e an d y e t o f se l f resp e ct a di s
gr a ce f ul c on fe ssio n y e t a d ecl a r a ti o n of h o nor
i s dedic a t ed i n a ll good faith to th e ac c u se d
t o a ll th e citiz ens o f al l th e ci t ies i n th e U ni t ed
Stat es
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N awYoax , D ecem b er, 1903
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~
TW EE D D A Y S I N ST LO U I S
.
80
TH E SH AM E OF TH E CITI ES
h i m a n d h e w a s e l ec t ed N ow som e o f these pol i
t ician
s ar e sen te n c ed to th e pe n i te n tiary s o me a r e
i n Mexi c o The Ci rcu it A ttor ney fi nding th a t hi s
duty wa s to c a tch a nd convict cri m i n a ls a n d
th a t th e bigge s t c r imi n a ls w ere s o m e o f thes e
sa me po li ti c i an s an d l e adi n g ci tiz en s we n t a fter
th e m I t i s mag n ifi cen t b ut th e p o l i t i c i a ns d e
cl a re i t isn t poli tic s
Th e corru ptio n o f St L ouis c a m e from th e top
—
Th e b e s t ci tiz ens th e m e rcha n ts a n d big fina n
—
cier s u se d to rul e th e to wn a nd they ruled i t
well
Th ey se t out t o o u t s trip Chicago
Th e
com m e rci a l a n d i n du s t r i al wa r betw e e n th e s e t w o
ci ti e s wa s a t o n e time a pictures que a nd dr a m a tic
s pe ct a cl e such as i s wi t ness e d o n ly i n ou r c o u n try
B usi nes s m e n we r e no t mere mercha n ts a nd th e
poli tici a n s w e re n ot m e r e gra f t er s ; the tw o ki nds
o f ci tize n s got t o ge ther an d w ielded the po we r o f
b an k s railro a ds f a ct o ries the p r estige o f th e
city a n d the spiri t o f i t s ci ti z ens t o g a i n busi n e s s
a nd p o pul a tion A n d i t wa s a cl os e r a c e Chi
c a go h a vi n g th e s t a rt alw ays l e d but St L oui s
h a d pluck i n tel ligence a n d t re m en d o us en e rgy
I t p r es sed Chic a go h a rd I t excelled i n a s e ns e
o f civic be a uty a nd g o od go vern m e n t ; a nd the r e
are th o se w ho thi nk yet i t migh t h a ve w o n Bu t
a ch an ge occu rr ed Publi c spiri t became priv a t e
s pi ri t publi c ent e rprise bec a m e p r iv a te gr ee d
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81
TW E ED DA Y S I N ST LOUI S
Al o n g abou t 1 89 0 public f r an chises a n d p ri vi
l eges w e re s ought no t only fo r l egi tim a t e pr o fi t
a n d c ommo n c on ve ni e nce b ut for l oo t T a ki n g
but sli g ht an d a l w a y s s e lfish i n te re s t i n the publi c
c o u nc i ls th e b i g me n misuse d p ol itic s Th e ri ff
r a fi catchi n g th e s m e l l of co rrupti on ru sh ed i n to
the Mu n icip a l A ssemb ly drov e out th e re m ain i n g
—
re spec table m en an d sold th e c i t y i ts stree ts it s
w harv es its markets a n d all th a t i t had —t o th e
n o w gr eedy b usi ness me n a n d bribers I n o th e r
w o rds whe n th e l e adi n g m en be ga n t o d e vo ur th ei r
ow n ci t y th e h e rd ru s h ed i n to th e t rou gh a nd f ed
also
So gra d ua l l y has th is occu rr ed that th ese s am e
ci tizen s ha rd ly re aliz e i t G o to St Lou is a nd
you w i l l fin d th e habi t o f c i vic p rid e i n th e m ; th e y
st i ll bo ast Th e vi s i tor is told of th e we a l th o f
th e re side n t s o f th e fi n a nci a l s tren gth o f th e
b an ks an d of th e g rowi n g import ance of th e in
dus tr ies ye t h e sees poorly pav ed refus e burd ened
s tree t s a n d dus t y or mud cov e red all eys ; h e p as ses
a ramsha ck le fire tr a p c rowd ed w ith th e s ick a n d
lea rn s that i t is th e C i ty H o s pital ; h e en t e rs th e
”
F ou r Cou rts a n d h is n o s tril s ar e gree t ed by
th e odor o f fo rm a lde hyde u sed as a disi n f ec ta n t
a n d i nsect po w de r s pre ad to d es tro y ve rm i n ; h e
c all s at the ne w Ci ty H all a n d fin ds h al f th e en
tra nce bo arded w i t h pi ne pla nks to co ve r up th e
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI E S
39
.
u nfi nished i nt e ri o r Fi n a lly he tu rn s a t a p i n the
h o tel to s ee liquid mud flo w i n to w a sh b as i n or
bath tub
Th e St L ou i s chart e r v e st s l e gi slativ e po we r o f
great scope i n a Mu nicip a l Assembly w hich is
c o mp o sed o f a c o u n cil a nd a H o use o f Del e g a tes
Here is a desc r iptio n o f the l atter by o n e o f M r
F o lk s gr an d j uri es :
“
We h a v e h a d be for e u s m a n y o f tho se w ho
h av e bee n an d mo s t o f thos e w ho are n ow mem
b e r s o f th e H ouse o f Deleg a tes W e fo und a
n umber of th e se u tt e rly i llite ra t e a nd l a ck i n g i n
o rdi nary i n tell igen c e u na ble t o gi v e a better
r ea so n fo r fa vori n g or o pp o si n g a m eas ure th a n
a d e sir e to a ct wi th the m aj o rity I n some no
tr a c e o f m en tal i ty or mor a l i ty could be f o und ;
i n o the rs a l ow o r d e r of trai ni n g a ppe ared u n i ted
w ith b ase cu n n i ng gr o v el i n g i n stin ct s a nd s or did
desi r es Unqu a lified t o respo n d to the o rdi nary
requ i r eme n t s o f l i f e they are u tterly i nc a p a ble
o f c o m p r ehe n ding the si gn ific a nc e o f a n ordi n an ce
a nd ar e i n c a p a ci t a ted b o th by n a tu r e an d tr a in
i ng to be the m a ke r s of l aws The choosing o f
such m e n t o be legi s l a tors m a kes a tr a ve s ty o f
j ustic e se t s a premium o n i n c o mpet e ncy an d
delibe r ately poi s o ns th e v e ry sourc e o f the
”
l aw
Th ese cr ea tur es w e r e w ell orga n iz ed Th ey had
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TW E ED DA Y S I N ST LO UI S
33
—
a
a
co mb i ne
le g isl at ive i n st i tuti o n —wh ich
th e gra nd j ury desc ribed as foll ow s
O ur in v es tigati o n cov e r in g m o re o r less fu lly
a pe r i od o f te n y e ars s h o ws that w ith few c r ee p
t i o ns n o o rdi n a nce ha s been pas s ed wh e rei n va l
uable pr i vil eges o r fra nc his es a re gra n t ed u n t il
tho se i n t e res t ed hav e p a id the legi sl a t o rs th e
mo ney dem an ded for acti on i n th e pa rtic ul a r ca s e
C o mbi ne s i n bo th bra n ches o f th e Mu nic ipa l A s
se m b ly are form ed by m e mbe rs su ffic i en t i n n umbe r
to c o n tr o l le gisl a tio n
To o ne m e mbe r o f thi s
c ombi ne i s deleg a t e d th e au thor i ty to ac t for th e
comb i n e a n d t o rece ive a n d t o distribut e to e a ch
memb e r th e mo ney a g r ee d u po n as th e pri ce of his
vo t e i n support o f or opposi tio n to a pendin g
m e asu re S o l o ng ha s thi s pra c ti ce e xi s t ed that
s u ch m e mbe r s hav e c om e to re gar d th e r ece ipt of
mo ney for a ctio n o n p en di ng m e as ur es as a legi ti
”
mate p e rqu i s i t e of a le g is l ator
e l e gi sl ator c o ns ul t ed a law ye r wi th th e in
On
te n tio n of sui ng a fi rm to rec o ve r a n u n paid ba l
a nce o n a f ee for th e gra n t of a s witch wa y
Such di fficul t ies rarel y occu rr ed how eve r
In
o rd e r to i n su re a re gu l ar a nd i ndis put able reven u e
th e co m bine o f e a ch hou se dre w up a sch ed ule of
b ribe ry p rices for a ll po s s i b le s ort s o f gra n t s j us t
s u ch a l i st as a c omm e rci al trav ele r tak es ou t o n
the roa d w i th him Th e re wa s a p rice for a gr
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TH E SHA ME OF TH E CITIES
elevat o r a p r ice for a sh or t s w itch ; side tr a ck s
w ere ch a rged fo r by the l i ne a r foo t bu t a t r a te s
w hich v a ried a cc ording t o the n a ture of th e
grou n d t ake n ; a s treet impr o veme n t cost s o much ;
w h a r f sp a c e wa s cl a ssified a nd p recisely r a ted A s
there w a s a sc a le fo r fa vor able legisl a ti on s o
the r e wa s o ne f o r defe a ti n g bills I t m a d e a di f
f erenee i n the p r i c e i f there wa s o pposi tion an d i t
m a de a di ffere n c e wh e th e r the p rivileg e a sk e d wa s
legi tim a te or no t Bu t n othi n g w as pas s ed f re e
of ch a rge M an y o f th e l e gi s lators we re s a l oon
keepers— it wa s i n St L ou i s th a t a p ra ctic a l j o ker
n e ar ly e m ptied the House of D el e gat e s by tippi ng
a b oy t o rush i n t o a s e ssi o n an d c a ll o u t Mist e r
”—
y o u r s a loon is on fi re
but e ve n th e s a l o o n
k e epe r s of a neighborh oo d h a d t o p ay to k ee p i n
their i nconve n i e t loc a li ty a mark e t wh i ch pub li c
i n terest wo uld h a ve m o v e d
Fro m th e As s embly brib e ry s pr ea d i n to oth e r
dep ar tm e nts M e n empo w ere d t o issue peddlers
licenses a nd p er mi ts to ci ti ze n s w h o wished to erect
a w ni n gs or use a p o rtio n o f the side wa lk for st o r
age purpose s ch ar ged a n am o u n t i n excess of th e
p r ic e s stipul a ted by l aw a n d p o cket e d th e di ff er
en ce The city s money wa s l oan ed a t i nterest
a n d th e i n tere s t w as c o n ve r t e d i n t o p ri v a te b an k
accou n ts Ci ty ca r ri ages wer e used by the w iv es
a n d chi ldr en o f ci ty o ffici a ls Suppli es fo r pub l i c
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35
TW E E D DA Y S I N ST LO UI S
i ns titutio n s fo u n d th e i r w ay t o priv a te tables ; o ne
i t e mi zed a ccou n t o f food fu rn ish ed th e poorho use
i ncl ud ed Califo rn i a j e ll ies impo rted ch eeses a n d
F rene h wi nes ! A mem be r o f the A sse mbl y cau sed
the inc orporat i o n of a gro ce ry c omp any w i th hi s
s o ns a n d da u g ht e rs the os tens ibl e s toc kho l d e rs
d s u cceeded i n ha v i n g his b id for c i ty supp lies
an
acce pt ed a l thou g h th e fi gu re s w e re in e x ce s s o f h is
compe ti to rs
I n re tu r n for th e favor thu s sho wn
he i n dor sed a m e a s ure to awa rd th e co n tra ct fo r
ci ty pr i n ti ng to a no ther membe r an d th ese two
v ot ed aye o n a bi ll gra n t in g to a th i rd th e ex
el us i ve
ri gh t to f ur n is h ci ty dis p ens a ries w ith
d rugs
M en ra n i n to deb t to th e ex t en t o f thous a nds of
do ll a rs for th e s ake of el ec ti on to ei th e r b ra nch of
t he Asse m bly One n ight o n a s tree t c a r goi n g to
th e Ci ty H all a ne w m e mbe r re marked th a t th e
ni ck e l h e ha n d ed th e c o n du c tor w a s hi s l as t Th e
n ex t d ay h e de po s i t ed
in a sa vi ngs ba nk
A memb e r o f th e House o f D e l e gat es adm i t ted
to the G ra nd Ju ry that h i s d i vid en ds from th e
combi ne n ett ed
i n o ne y e ar ; a Cou ncil
m a n s tat ed th at he w a s paid
for his v ote
o n a sin g le m e a s ure
B ribe ry wa s a j o ke
A ne w s pape r re po rte r
o ve rh e ard th i s c o n v e rsa t i o n o ne even ing i n th e co r
r idor o f th e C i t y H a ll :
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITI ES
Ah the re my b oo dle r !
s a id M r D e l e
g a te
S t a y the re my g raf ter ! repl ied M r C o un
cilm a n
Ca n you l e nd m e a hundred for a d a y
o r t wo ?
N o t a t prese n t B ut I c a n sp a re i t i f th e
bill g o es thr o ugh to n ight Meet m e a t
”
s l a te r
All right my j ailb i r d ; I ll be ther e
The bl a ck e st ye ar s w ere 1 89 8 1 899 a nd 1 9 00
Fo r eign c o rp o r a ti on s c a m e i nt o the ci ty t o sh ar e
i n i ts despoli a ti o n
a nd h o m e i nd ust r ies w ere
driv e n o u t by bl a ckm a il F ra nch ises w o rth m il
l ions we re g ra n ted w i th o ut o ne ce n t o f c a sh t o th e
c i ty an d w i th p ro visi o n for on ly the s m a llest f u
tur e p a y m e n t ; seve ra l c o m p an ies w h i ch re fused
t o pay bl a ck m a il h a d t o le a ve ; citizens w ere ro bbed
mo re an d m o r e b o ldly ; p a y ro ll s w e re padded w i th
the n am e s of n on existen t pe r s on s ; work o n publ ic
i mp r ovem e nts wa s negl e ct e d whil e mo ney for them
w e n t t o the bo o dle r s
S o me o f the ne w sp a pers prot es t ed di si n t e re st e d
ci tiz e n s wer e al arm e d an d th e sh r e w de r m en g a v e
warnings bu t no ne d a red make a n e ffecti ve st a nd
B eh i n d the c o rrupti o n ists we r e me n o f w eal th
a n d s oci a l st a n di n g w h o bec a us e of speci al priv
ileges g ran ted th e m fe lt bou n d to support a n d
d efe n d th e l o ot e rs
I n depende n t vict im s o f th e
86
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITIE S
88
M a vo r Z i eg en b e i n call e d U ncle H e n ry wa s
”
a g oo d f ell ow
o ne of th e boys an d th o ugh
i t w a s du ri ng his a dmi nistr a ti o n th a t the cit y
grew r ipe a nd wen t to r o t hi s o ppo n e n ts t a lk ed
o nly of i n c o m petence a n d n eglect a nd r e pe a t e d
such st o ries a s th a t of his fa m o us r e ply t o s o me
ci tizens w ho co m pl ained bec a use cert a i n stre e t
l ights w e r e pu t ou t
Y ou h a ve th e moo n yet
a in t i t ?
Wh e n s omebody me n ti o n ed Jo s e ph W F o lk for
Ci rcui t A tto rn ey the l eade r s w e r e r e a dy t o a ccept
h im They didn t k no w much ab o ut him H e w as
a y o u n g m a n fro m Tennes see ; h a d bee n P re sid en t
of the J e ffe r s o n Cl ub a nd arbi tr a ted the ra il roa d
strik e of 1 8 9 8 B ut F o lk did n o t w a n t the pl a ce
He w a s a civi l l aw ye r h a d h a d n o p ra ctice a t th e
c r i m i n a l b ar c ar ed li ttle a bout i t a nd a l uc ra tiv e
business a s c o u ns e l for corpor a ti on s w a s i n te r est
i ng him H e rej ect e d th e invi t a ti on The com
m ittee c a lled a g a i n an d a g a i n urgi n g hi s dut y
t o his p a rty a nd the ci ty etc
”
V ery well h e sa id at l a st
I wi ll a cc e pt th e
no m i n a ti o n bu t i f elect e d I will d o my duty
Ther e m ust b e n o atte m pt to i n fl uenc e my a ctio ns
”
wh en I a m c a ll e d up on to pu n ish l awb r e a k er s
Th e committee m en t oo k s uch st a temen ts as th e
co nven ti on a l pl a titud e s of c a ndid a tes They no m
th e D e mocr a tic tick e t wa s el e cted an d
in
a t ed him
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39
TW E ED DA Y S I N ST LO UI S
F olk bec am e C i rc ui t A t tor ney for th e Ei ghth M is
s our i D i s t ric t
Three w eeks a ft e r t ak in g th e o a th o f o ffice h is
campaig n pled ges w e re pu t t o th e t e st A n u mbe r
o f a rres ts had b een m a d e i n con n ect i o n w i th the
rece n t e lecti on an d ch a rge s o f illeg a l registr a ti o n
w e re pre ferr e d a g a in s t m en o f b o th pa rties Mr
F o l k too k th e m up l ik e r o ut ine cases o f o rdi n ary
cri m e
Pol i t ic a l bo s se s rushed to th e res cu e
Mr Fo lk w as re m i n ded o f his duty t o h i s p a rty
an d told that h e w as ex pe cted to con st ru e th e l aw
i n such a ma n ne r th a t rep e aters an d other el ectio n
c ri m ina l s who had ho i sted Dem o cr a cy s flag an d
helped e l ec t h i m might b e ei ther disch a rged or re
Th e na tu re o f th e
ce ive th e m in i mum pu n i s hm en t
y ou n g l aw ye r s r e ply ca n best be i n ferred f rom th e
w o rds of that v e t e r an p o litic a l l e ader C o lo n el Ed
B utler who a ft e r a visi t to M r Fo lk w r a thfully
—
e xcl a im ed
D
n Jo e ! h e thi n ks h e s th e whol e
”
th i ng a s C ir c u i t A ttor ney
T h e elect i o n c a ses w e r e p as sed t h rough t he
co ur ts w i th a s to ni s h i ng rap i di t y ; n o mor e mercy
w a s sh ow n D e mo c rat s tha n R e publ icans a n d be
fore wi n t e r c am e a n umb e r of ward h ee l e r s a nd old
t im e p art y work e rs we re b e h i n d th e bars i n Je f
H e nex t tur ned his att en tio n to
f ers o n C i t y
g raft e r s a nd s traw b o nds m en w i th whom th e
cou rts w e re in fes t ed a nd se v e ra l of t hese leech es
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI E S
a re i n th e peni te n ti a ry t o d a y Th e b usi ness wa s
br o ken up bec a use of hi s a ctiv i ty But M r F o lk
h a d m a de l ittle m o r e th a n th e begi n ni ng
O n e af te r n o on l a te i n J an u ary 1 9 0 3 a
ne w s p a p e r report e r k n ow n a s
R ed
G a lv i n
c a lle d Mr F o lk s att en tio n to a t en line news
p ap e r i t e m to th e e ffe ct th a t a l ar ge s um of mo ney
had b e e n p l aced i n a b a nk f or th e purpo se of brih
i ng ce rtai n A sse mblym en to se cur e th e pas s a ge of
a s tr ee t railroad ordi n anc e N o n am es we r e m en
G a lvi n su r m i se d that the bill r e
ed but M r
t io n
ferr e d to wa s o n e i n t ro duced on b eh a l f o f th e Sub
u rb an R a il wa y Comp a ny An hour l a te r M r
F olk se nt the n a m e s of n e ar ly o ne hu ndre d pers o ns
t o th e sh e ri ff w i th i ns tructio ns t o subp oen a th e m
be for e th e gr an d j u ry a t o n ce The l ist i ncl ud e d
C o u n cilm en m e mb e rs o f the Hous e o f Del e g a t es
o ffice r s a n d di re cto r s of the Subu rba n R a i l wa y
b an k presid en ts an d c a shiers I n thr ee d a y s th e
i n v e stig a ti on was bei n g pushed wi th vigor b u t
”
S t L ou is w as l a ughi ng a t the huge j ok e
Such
thi n gs had be e n a tt e mpt e d b efo r e Th e m en who
h a d b e e n ord er ed to a pp ea r be fore th e g ran d j u ry
j e st e d a s they ch a tt e d i n th e an t e r oo m s a n d news
p a p e r a ccou n ts o f th e s e prel imi n a ry e xami n atio ns
w e r e w ri tt en i n the spi r it o f bu rlesqu e
I t h as d e vel o ped s ince th a t Circui t A ttor ne y
F olk k ne w n o thi ng a nd was n ot abl e t o lear n
40
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4]
TW E ED DA Y S I N ST LO UI S
mu ch more dur in g th e fi rs t fe w da y s ; but h e says
he s aw her e a nd th e r e pu ff s of s mo ke a n d h e d e
ed to fin d th e fi re
t ermin
I t w as n o t a n e as y j ob
T h e fi rs t bre ak i n to s u ch a system i s a l w ays di f
M r F o lk beg a n w i th n oth in g bu t coura ge
ficul t
a n d a s tro ng pe rs o n a l co n vict i o n He cau se d pe r
e mptory s ummo ns to b e is s u ed for the i mm e d ia t e
att en da nce in th e gra n d j u ry room of Ch a rl es H
Tur ne r pre sid en t o f th e Subu rba n R a ilw ay a nd
P hi l ip Stock a r e presen tativ e o f bre we rs i n ter
es ts who h e had r e aso n to be li e v e wa s th e leg i s
l at iv e a gen t i n this d e al
Gen tl e m en s a i d M r F olk
I hav e secu red
s uffic i en t e vi den c e to warr an t th e re tur n o f i n dict
m en ts aga in s t y ou for bribery a n d I shall pro se
t e y ou to th e full e xt en t of th e law a n d s end you
to th e p eni t en t i a ry u n l e s s y ou tell to this gra n d
j u ry th e c omp le t e history o f th e c orruptio n is t
m e thod s e mploy ed by you to sec ur e th e p ass a ge o f
Or di n a nce No 4 4 I shall gi v e y ou th ree d ays to
c o ns i de r th e matt e r A t the en d o f that tim e i f
you ha ve n ot re tur ne d h e r e a n d giv en us th e inf o r
mat i o n d em a nde d warra n t s wil l b e iss u ed for you r
”
arres t
Th ey look ed at th e au d a ci ou s you n g p ro s s en
t or a n d l e ft th e Fou r Cour ts buildi n g wi thout ut
te r i ng a word H e wa ited T wo day s lat e r ex
Li e ut en a n t Go ve r n or Char les P Joh ns o n th e ve t
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TH E S H A M E OF TH E CITI E S
4S
er an crimi nal l a wye r c a lled a n d s a id th a t h is
cli en t M r Stock w a s i n such po o r he a l th th a t
h e wo uld b e u n abl e to a pp ea r b e for e th e gra n d
j u ry
”
I am t rul y s orry that M r Stoc k is ill
re
pl i ed M r Folk
f or his pr esen c e here is i mp e ra
t iv e a n d i f h e fail s to app e ar h e w ill be arr es t e d
”
bef o r e s undow n
Th a t e v en i n g a co n fe r ence wa s h eld i n Gov e rn or
J oh n so n s o ffice an d th e n ext d a y thi s sto r y w as
t o ld i n th e gr a nd j ury r oo m by Ch ar les H Turne r
mi llio n a ir e pre siden t o f th e Suburba n R ailw ay an d
c o rrobor a t e d by Phili p St o ck m anabou t to wn a n d
a go o d f ellow : Th e Subu rba n a n xiou s to s ell ou t
a t a l a rge profit to i t s only co m p e ti tor th e S t
L oui s T r an s i t C o caus e d to b e d ra ft e d th e m e a s
ur e k n o wn a s Hou se Bill N o 4 4
So s w ee pi n g
w ere i ts gr an t s th a t Mr Tu rne r who pl an ne d a nd
e x e cu ted the docu m e n t t o ld th e directo rs i n hi s
c o nfid en c e th a t i t s en actme n t i nto l a w woul d en
h an ce th e valu e o f th e property from thre e to si x
m i lli on d o ll a rs Th e bill i nt ro duc e d M r Tu rne r
visi t e d Colo n el Bu tler w ho h a d l o ng b een k n ow n as
a legi sl a tive agent a nd asked his price f o r sc ou r
i ng th e p a ss a ge o f th e m e as u re
One hundred a nd
”
—
forty fi ve th o us a nd d o ll ars w ill be my f ee was the
r e ply Th e rail wa y presiden t demurred H e w o uld
thi nk th e m att e r ov e r h e s aid a n d h e hi r e d a
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43
TW E ED DA Y S I N ST LO U I S
chea p e r m an M r St ock Stock c o n fe rred w i th t he
re presen tativ e o f th e co mbi ne i n the H ou se of
D e l e gat es a n d re p o rt ed that
w ou l d be
necess ary i n thi s bra nc h of th e A ss e mbl y M r
Tu rn er p re se n t ed a no te i n d o rsed by tw o o f the
di rec tor s whom h e c ould tru s t a nd secu red a l oa n
fro m th e G e rm a n A mer ican Sav in g s Ba nk
B ribe fu nds i n pock e t th e l egi s lat ive a gen t t el
ed Joh n Mu rre ll
eph o n
a t th at t i m e a re pr esen ta
t i v e o f th e Hou se com b i ne to m ee t him i n th e
o ffice of th e L i nc ol n Trus t Comp any Th e re th e
two ren t e d a s afe de posi t b o x Mr Stock pla ced
a n d each s u b
inth e dra we r th e roll o f
scri bed to a n agree m en t th a t the bo x sho ul d n ot be
opened u n l ess both w e re pres en t O f course th e
c o n di tio ns s pr e ad upo n th e ba n k s daybook mad e
n o re fe rence to th e purpo se for whi c h thi s fu nd
h a d been d e po s i t ed b u t an agr ee m en t en tered i n to
by M es s rs Stock a n d Murre l l wa s to th e e ff ec t
that th e
s hou ld be g i v en M r Murr el l as
s oo n as th e bil l bec am e a n ord i n a nce a n d b y h i m
dis t ri but e d to th e m e m be rs of th e combi ne S to ck
t ur n ed to th e Cou n cil a n d upo n h i s r e po rt a
fu rth e r s um o f
w as sec u red Th ese bi l ls
w e re pl aced i n a sa fe d e po s i t bo x of th e Mi s s i s
sippi Va ll ey Tru s t Co a n d the m an who held th e
key as r e presen tat i v e of the Cou ncil com bine wa s
Char les H Kratz
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TH E SH AM E OF TH E CITI E S
All s e emed well but a few w e eks af ter pl a c ing
th es e fu nds i n escr ow Mr St o ck rep o rt e d t o his
e mpl o yer th a t ther e wa s an u ne x pected hi tch du e
to the a ctio n o f E mil M eys enb ur g wh o as a
m e mb e r o f th e Cou n ci l Commi ttee o n R a ilro ads
was h o l di n g u p th e report o n the bill M r Stock
s aid th a t Mr M eys enb urg h e ld s om e wo rthl e s s
sh a res i n a d e funct co rp o r a tio n an d wan t e d M r
Stock t o purch a s e thi s p a per at i ts p a r v a lue of
M r Tu r ne r gave Mr Stock th e mo ney
w i th w hich to buy th e s h a r es
Thus th e p as sage of H o u se Bill 4 4 prom i s e d to
c o s t th e Suburb an R a i l wa y C o
on ly one
thou s a n d dollar s l ess th an that o ri gi n a lly n a m e d
by th e po li tical b o s s to w h o m M r Tu r ner had fi rs t
a ppli ed The bill how e v e r p asse d b o th h o us e s o f
the Ass e mbly
The s wor n s e rv a n ts o f the ci ty
h a d d o n e thei r wo rk a n d hel d o u t th e i r h a nds fo r
the b r ib e money
The n c a m e a court m an dat e w hich pr e ve n t e d th e
Suburb an R a il w ay Co from re a pi n g the be n efi t o f
the v o te buy i n g an d Charl es H Tur ne r a nge red
a t the ch e ck i ssued o rd e r s th a t the m o ney i n s afe
dep o si t box es sh o uld n o t b e t o uch e d W a r w as
decl a red betwee n b r ibe giv er s an d b rib e t aker s
and the l a tter res o rted t o t a ctics w hich th ey h o ped
w o uld f righten th e Subu rb a n pe o ple i n t o s ub m is
si o n— such as m aki n g enou gh o f th e st or y publi c
44
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46
TH E S HA ME OF TH E CITI ES
o pen ed I f y o u re fuse I sh a ll c a use a warra n t to
”
be issued ch arging y o u a s a n a ccess o ry
F o r a m i nu te no t a wo rd wa s sp o ken by a ny
e i n th e ro om ; the n the b a nk e r s a id i n a lm o st i n
on
a udi ble to ne s
G ive mc a li ttl e t i m e g en tl e m en I must co n
sul t w i th our l e gal a dviser befor e t a ki ng such a
”
s t ep
“
W e w i ll w a i t t en m i n u t es s aid the C i rcu i t
A tt o rney
By th a t ti m e w e must h a ve a ccess to
”
t h e v a ult or a w a rr an t wi ll be a ppli ed f or
A t the expi r a tio n o f th a t ti m e a s o le m n pro
c e s sio n w e n d e d i ts w a y f r o m th e p re sident s offic e
—
to th e v a ults i n the sub cell a r the preside n t the
cas hi e r a nd th e corpor a ti on s l awyer th e gr a nd
j urors a nd the Circui t Att o rn ey
All ben t
ea ge rly for wa rd as the k ey was i n serted i n th e
lock Th e i r on dr a w e r yield e d an d a r o ll o f s o m e
thi n g w r a pp e d in bro wn p a p e r w a s b rought to
ligh t Th e Ci r cui t A tt o rn ey r emoved the rubber
b a nds a nd n a tio na l b an k no t e s o f l a rge deno mi
n a ti o n spre a d o u t fl a t be fo re them The m one y
wa s cou nted a nd th e s um w as
The boodl e f und was retu rne d to i ts re po s itory
o fficers o f the b an k w er e told th ey w o uld b e held r e
s p o nsible fo r i t un ti l the c o u rts c o uld a ct Th e in
ves t iga t o r s visited the other fi n a nci a l i nsti tu tio n
Th ey met w i th mor e r e si s ta nce th e re Th e t h r e a t
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47
TWE E D DAY S I N ST LO U I S
to proc ure a w a rr a n t had n o e ff ect u n ti l Mr Folk
le ft th e bui ldi n g a n d se t o ff i n th e di rectio n o f the
F our Cou rts The n a mess en ge r ca lled him ba ck
a n d th e s ec o n d bo x was opened I n th is was fo u n d
The ch a i n o f e v ide nce was complete
F rom that mom en t events m o ved r a pidly
C h ar les Kratz a n d Jo h n K Mu rre ll al leged re p
ta t ives o f Cou nc i l a n d House comb ines w e re
res en
arr es t ed o n benc h warra n t s a n d p l a ced u n der
h e avy bo n ds K rat z wa s brought i n t o c o u rt from
a m ee ti ng at whi c h pl an s w e re b eing form ed for
hi s elec tio n to th e N a tio n a l Co n gr ess
Mu rr ell
was tak en from hi s u n dertak i ng es ta b lis hme n t
E m il M eys enburg m illi on ai re brok e r wa s se a t e d
i n his o fiice w he n a sheri ff s deputy en tere d an d
re ad a do c um en t tha t ch a rged him w ith b ribe ry
The s ummo n s re ach ed H en ry N i co l a u s whil e h e
w as se at ed at hi s d e sk a n d the w ea lthy brewe r was
comp e lled to sen d for a bo nd sm an to av o id pa s s
i n g a ni gh t i n j a il Th e c a ble fl a sh e d th e ne w s
to Ca i ro E gy pt that E lli s Wai nw r ight ma n y
t im es a millio na i re p ropri e tor o f th e S t L oui s
bre w e ry that b e ars thi s n am e had b een i n di ct ed
J ul i us Le hma nn o ne o f the m e mbe rs o f th e Hou se
o f Del eg at es who h a d j ok ed whil e wai ti n g i n th e
gra n d j u ry s a n t e room had his l a ught e r c u t sho rt
by the ha n d o f a d e puty s heri ff o n his should e r a n d
”
the wo rd s
You a re ch a rged wi th pe rj ury
He
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITIE S
was j o i ned a t th e b ar o f the crimi na l court b y
H ar ry F a ulkner an other j olly g oo d fe ll o w
C on ster n ati o n spr ea d am on g the bo o dle g ang
S o me o f the me n took n ight t r a i n s fo r o th e r
St a tes a n d foreign cou n tries ; the m aj o ri ty r e
m a i ne d an d c o u n seled t o gether W i thi n tw en ty
f our hour s af t e r th e fi rs t i n di ctm en ts w e re r e
tu rned a mee ti ng of brib e giv e r s a n d b rib e t ak e rs
w a s held i n S o uth St L ouis The t o t a l w e a l th o f
thos e i n att en d an c e w a s
an d th e i r
c o mbi ned pol itic a l i n flu en c e su ffi cien t to c a rry a ny
mu n icip a l e l e cti on u n der n o rm al c on di ti o ns
Thi s grea t p owe r w as a li g e d i n O pp o si tio n to
o ne m an w h o s till was a l o ne I t w a s n ot u n ti l
m a ny i n dictme n t s had b een retu rn ed th a t a ci ti
z en s co mm itt ee w as form e d to fur n ish f u n ds and
e ven th en m o st of th e contribut o rs co n ce a led th e i r
ide n tity Di r Ja m e s L Bl a ir , the trea surer t e st i
fied i n c o u r t th a t they w e re af r a id t o be k no w n
”
l e st i t rui n thei r busi n e ss
A t th e m e etin g o f corruptio n ist s thre e cours e s
w er e d e cided u pon Poli tic a l le a ders w e r e t o w o rk
o n th e Circui t A tto rney by promise o f f utur e r e
w a rd o r by thr e ats D e tectiv es w e re to f e rret ou t
of th e you n g l aw y er s p a st a nythi n g that c o uld b e
us e d ag a i n st him Witne s ses wo uld be sen t ou t o f
town a n d pr o vid e d w ith mo ney to r e m a i n awa y
u n til the adj our n m en t of th e gr an d j u ry
48
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TW EED DAY S I N ST LOUI S
49
Mr Fo lk at o nce fe l t th e pressure a n d i t w as
o f a c hara c t e r t o s ta rtl e o ne Stat es m en l aw y ers
m e rc ha n ts cl ubm en c hurchm en—in f ac t m en
p ro mi nen t i n a ll wa lks o f l i fe—v i sit ed hi m at h is
o ffice a n d a t his hom e a n d urg ed that h e ce a se s u c h
a ctiv i t y ag ain s t his fe l low tow n speo p l e Po litic a l
pre ferme n t wa s promi sed i f h e w ould yi eld ; a
po li ti cal grav e i f h e pe rsi st ed Th rea teni n g l e t
t e rs c am e w a rn i n g h i m o f pl o ts to mu rder to d is
fi gu re a n d t o b l a ck guard
Word c am e fr o m Te n
ness ee th a t det ec tiv e s we re i n v es ti g ati n g eve ry ac t
o f his l i fe Mr Fol k t o ld th e po l i ti c ia ns that h e
was n ot seek i n g po l i tical f a vors a n d no t lo ok i ng
forward to a n oth e r o ffice ; th e oth e r s h e defi ed
Me an tim e h e probed th e d ee per i n to th e mu n i ci p a l
s ore Wi th his fi rs t s uc cesses for pres ti ge a n d
ai ded by th e p ani c amo n g the boodl e rs h e s oo n had
th e m s u s picious o f o n e ano th e r ex cha n g ing
”
“
charges o f be tra ya l a n d rea dy t o squ e a l or
One m e mbe r
runat th e s light es t s i g n o f da n ge r
of th e Hou se o f D el egat e s b ec am e s o fri ght ened
w hi le u n der th e i n qu i si tori a l c ross fire th a t h e was
se iz ed wi t h a ne rvo u s chill ; h is fa l s e t ee th fell to
th e fl oor a n d th e rattl e so inc re as ed h is a l arm that
h e rus h ed from th e room withou t stoppi n g to p i ck
up hi s t ee th a n d b oa rd ed th e ne xt t ra i n
I t wa s n o t lo n g b e fore M r F ol k ha d d u g u p
the in t i mat e h i sto ry o f t en ye ar s of c o rrupt i o n ,
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TH E S HAM E O F TH E CITI ES
e sp e ci a lly o f the busi ness of the N or th an d S o u th
an d the C en tr a l Tractio n f r an chise gr a nts th e
l a st n a med b e i n g ev en more i n iqui t o us tha n th e
Suburba n
E arly i n 1 898 a p romot e r re n t e d a b ri d a l
s ui t e at th e Pl a n t e rs Hotel an d h a vi ng st o cked
th e r o oms w ith w i n es liqu o rs an d cig a rs u ntil they
r es e mbl ed a ca n di d a te s headqu a rters d ur i ng a co n
ven
t io n s ought i nt ro ducti on to m e mbers o f the A s
s emb l
a
n
d
to
s
uch
p
o
li
tic
a
l
b
o
ss
es
a
s
h
a
d
i
n
y
ce with th e city fa th e rs
fluen
T w o weeks aft e r
h i s a rrival th e C en tral Tractio n bill w as i n t ro
duced by r equ es t
i n th e C o u n cil Th e m ea sure
w a s a bla n ket f ranchis e gra n ti n g right s of w a y
w hi ch h a d no t b e e n giv e n to old est a bli shed c o m
p ani cs an d p e rmitti n g th e b enefici a ri e s t o p a r
a llel a n y track i n th e ci ty
I t p a ss e d b o th
H o us es despit e th e p r ot e st s o f e ve ry n e w spap e r i n
th e c i ty sa ve o e an d w as v e t oe d by th e m ayor
Th e cost to th e pro m ot e r w a s
P r ep a r a tio n s w ere m a de to p a ss th e bill ov e r th e
executive s v e t o Th e brid a l sui te wa s r es tocked
l ar ger sums o f mo ney w ere pl a ced on dep o si t i n
th e b an ks a nd th e s ervices of three l e gislative
age nt s we r e eng a ged Evid e nc e n o w i n th e pos
s e s s io n o f th e St L oui s courts tells i n det a il th e
dispositi on o f
of b r ib e mo n ey Swo r n
s t a t e m en ts pr o v e th a t
wa s sp e n t i n th e
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TW E E D DA Y S I N ST LO U I S
51
H ou se o f De l e gat es Th e re mai n der of the $ 2 5 0
0 00 w as di s t ri buted i n th e Cou n cil w h o s e memb rs
though few i n n umbe r a ppr ai sed their h on or a t a
hi gh e r figu re o n a cc ou n t o f their higher po s itio ns
i n th e busi ness a n d social w orld Fina ll y b ut o ne
vot e wa s nee d ed to c o mplet e the nec essa ry two
th i rds i n the uppe r Chambe r To s ec ure th i s a
c ou ncil ma n o f re put ed i n t egr i t y wa s paid
i n co nsi d e ratio n that h e vote aye w he n th e o rdi
n a nce s hou l d c om e u p fo r fin a l pass age Bu t th e
pro mot e r did n o t d a re r i sk all u po n th e vot e o f o ne
man a n d h e mad e th is n ov el propo si tio n to a n
o th e r ho n ored m e mbe r who a cce pt ed i t
You wi ll vo t e o n rol l call aft e r Mr
I
wi ll pla ce $ 4 5 0 00 m th e ha n ds of your so n w hich
amou n t w il l bec om e y ou rs i f y ou ha ve to vot e for
s n ot k ee pi n g his
th e m e as ure bec au se o f Mr
promi se B u t i f h e sta n ds out for i t y ou c a n
v ot e a g a i ns t i t a nd th e mo ney s ha ll reve rt to
”
me
On th e even i ng wh en th e b ill w as re ad for fi n a l
pass age th e Ci ty H all wa s c rowd ed with ward
h eel e r s a n d l e s se r po l iti ci a n s Th es e m en had bee n
en gaged by th e promot e r at fi v e a n d t en doll a rs a
h e ad to ch ee r o n th e bo o dli n g A sse mblyme n Th e
b i ll passed th e Hou se w i th a rush a n d all crowd ed
i n to th e Cou nci l Chambe r Wh ile th e roll w as
be i ng c a l l ed th e s ilence was pro fou n d for al l kne w
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI E S
that s o me m en i n the Ch a mber w h o se repu t a ti on s
h a d bee n f ree fro m blemish w e r e u n d e r p ro m ise
an d p a y to p a rt w i th h ono r th a t n igh t Whe n the
cl e rk w as two thi r ds d o wn the list th o se w ho h a d
kep t c o u n t k new th a t bu t one v o t e wa s needed
One m o re n a m e wa s c a lled The m an a ddressed
turned red the n w h i te an d af ter a m o ment s hesi
t a t io n h e w hispered
ay e
The sile n ce was so
de a th li ke th a t his v o t e was he a rd thr o ughout th e
roo m a nd th o s e n ea r e no ugh he ar d a ls o the sigh
o f r e lie f th a t esc a ped fr om th e m e mber w ho c o uld
n ow vot e no a nd s a ve his repu tatio n
The Centr a l Fr a nch ise bill was a l a w p a s se d
ov e r th e m ayor s v e to Th e promoter h a d e x
p e nde d n e arly
i n s ecuri n g th e legi s l a ti on
but w i thi n a w e ek he so ld hi s right s of way to
E a st e r n c a pi t a li st s
fo r
Th e
U n i ted R a il wa ys C o mp a ny w a s fo rm e d an d w i th
o u t o w ning a n i nch o f steel rail o r a pl a nk i n a
c a r w a s a ble t o compel e v e ry s tr eet r a il roa d i n
S t L ouis w i th the e xcep ti on o f th e Subu rba n to
p ar t wi th st o ck an d ri ght of w a y a n d a gr ee to a
m erger
Ou t o f th is gr e w th e St L oui s Tra n si t
Co m pany o f t o d ay
S e v e r a l i ncid e n t s f o ll owe d th is l egisl at iv e ses
si o n A f t e r the A sse mbly h a d adj ou rne d a pro
mot e r e n t e rt a i ned the
c o u ncilm a n a t a
do w n tow n r est a u ra n t D ur i n g th e supper th e ho s t
52
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI ES
54
legisl a ti on a gre e m en t re ferred t o a b o ve the s o n
o f o ne c o u ncilm a n wa s pledged t o r etu rn
i f his fa ther wa s saved the necessi ty of v o ti ng
f o r the bill Th e ne xt d a y the N e w Yo rker s o ught
o u t this y o u ng m an a nd a sked fo r th e m o ney
”
I a m no t g o i ng t o give i t t o y o u wa s the
co o l rej o i n der
M y m a m m a s ays th a t i t is bribe
m on ey a nd th a t i t wo uld be w r o ng t o give it t o
”
ei th e r you or fa the r so I sh a ll keep i t mysel f
A nd he did Whe n s u m m o ned be for e the g ra nd
j ury this you n g m an a sked t o be re lieved fro m
a ns w e r i n g qu e sti on s
I a m af raid I migh t co m
”
mi t perj ury he said H e was a dvised t o Tell
”
the truth an d ther e w ill b e n o risk
”
“
I t wo uld be a ll r ight s a id the s on
i f Mr
F olk w o uld t ell m e wh a t th e o the r fell ow s hav e
”
t e stifi e d to Ple a s e hav e him d o that
T wo i ndict m e n ts w ere fo un d a s the resul t of thi s
Ce n tr a l T ra ctio n bill and be n ch wa rr an ts w ere
served on R o be r t M Snyde r a n d Ge org e J K o
busch Th e St a t e ch a rged the for mer w i th bei n g
on e o f the pro m o ters of the bill the defi ni te a lle
t
i
bei
ng
b
r
ibery
M
r
K
o
bu
s
ch
w
h
o
is
p
re
si
a
o
n
g
dent o f a street c a r m a n uf a cturing compa n y w a s
ch a rged w i th p e rj ury
Th e fi r st c a se t ried wa s th a t of Emil M eys en
burg the mi ll i on a i re wh o c o m pelled th e S uburb a n
pe o ple t o purch a se his w o rthless st o ck H e w as
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55
TW E ED D A Y S I N S T LO UI S
de fe n ded by thr ee a tt o r n ey s o f h i gh re pu te i n
c rimi n al j uri sp rude n ce but th e you n g C i rc u i t At
tor ney p rov ed equa l to th e e merge n cy a n d a co n
vic t io nw as s ec ur ed
Three y e a rs i n the pe ni te n
Char l es Kr a t z th e Co n
t ia ry was th e sen t en c e
forf
ei
t
e
d
by
flight
a l c a n did a t e
es s io n
r
g
a n d J o h n K Mu rre l l a ls o d isa ppea r ed M r Folk
tra ced Mu rrell to Me x ico ca us ed hi s arre st i n
Guad a laj ara negot i at ed wi th th e authori t i es for
his s urren de r a n d w h en th i s f a i led arr an ged fo r
hi s re tur n hom e to c o n fess an d his e vide nce
brought abou t th e i n di c tm en t o n S e pt e mb e r 8 o f
e igh t een m e mbe rs o f th e mu n icipal l e gislatu re
The s e c on d c ase w as that of Julius Le hm ann
Two y e a rs at hard l a bor was the sen t ence a n d th e
ma n who had l ed the j o k e rs i n th e gra n d j ury
a n t e room would hav e fall en w h en h e h e ard i t ha d
n o t a fri en d been st an di ng nea r
Bes i d es th e c o n victio ns o f the se a n d oth e r m en
of g ood s ta n di n g i n th e c omm u n it y a n d th e fligh t
o f m any mor e part ne r s h i p s w e r e di ss olv ed c om
pa nics had to b e r eorga ni zed busi ne s s hou ses we re
cl o sed bec au se th e i r prop ri e tor s w e r e ab sen t bu t
Mr Folk d e te rr ed as li ttl e by s u ccess a s b y fai l ure
mov ed right o n ; h e wa s n ot el at ed ; h e w as n ot sor
ro w
f ul Th e ma n procee d ed wi th hi s work q ui ckl y
s u rel y s mi li ngly wi thou t f e ar or pi ty Th e
t e rro r s p re ad a n d th e rou t wa s c ompl e t e
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI ES
Whe n a no th e r gr an d j u ry w as s w o rn an d pr o
ceeded t o t a ke testim on y there we r e sc or es o f m e n
“
who th rew up thei r h an ds an d c ry i n g
M ea
c ul pa ! be gged to b e per m i tted to tell a ll they
k n e w an d no t b e pro se cu ted Th e i n quiry br o a d
ened The so n of a fo rmer m ayo r was i ndicted fo r
m i s c on duct i n o ffic e whil e servi n g a s his fa ther s
priv a t e s ecretary an d th e g r an d j ury reco m
me n ded th a t th e ex m a y o r be sued i n th e civ il
c o u rt s to re cov e r i n t e r e sts o n publ ic mo ney w hich
he h ad pl a ced i n hi s ow n pock e t A tru e bill fell
o n a form e r City Regist e r a n d mor e As se mbly m en
w e r e arrest e d ch a rge d w i th m ak ing ill egal con
t r a ct s wi th the ci ty A t l a st th e a x struck u p on th e
t r unk o f the greate s t oa k o f the for est C o l on el
B utler the b o ss wh o h a s c o ntr o lled e lectio n s i n St
L oui s fo r m an y y ea rs th e m illio na ire w ho h a d
ris en f r o m bell ows boy i n a bl a ck s mi th s shop t o
b e th e mak e r a nd guid e of th e G o ver n or s o f M i s
s ouri o ne o f th e m en w ho h elp e d n omi n at e an d
e l e ct F olk— h e al so w a s i n dicted o n t w o cou n t s
ch arg in g a tt e mpt e d b rib e ry
Th a t B utl e r h as
co n troll e d l egisl at i o n i n St L ou i s h a d lo n g b een
k n o wn I t w as ge n e rall y u n ders tood th a t h e
o wne d A ss emblyme n b e for e they e v e r t ook th e
o a th of o ffic e an d that he did n ot h a v e t o p a y f o r
v o te s A nd y e t op e n bribery wa s the a lleg a ti on
now
T wo me mbers o f the Board of He a lth
56
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57
TW E E D D A Y S I N ST LO UI S
s tood re ady t o swe ar that he o ff ered t h em
fo r th ei r a ppro v a l of a g a rb a ge co n
t ra ct
Pi t i fu l ? Y es b u t t y pi c a l O th e r ci t ies are to
d a y i n th e sam e c o nd it ion as St Lo uis be fo re Mr
F o lk w as in vi t ed i n to see its r o tt enne ss Chi c ago
is c le a n in g i t se l f u p j ust n o w s o i s Mi nnea pol i s
a nd Pi t ts bu rg recen t l y ha d a b r i bery sc a n da l ;
B osto n is at pe a ce C inci nn a ti a nd St P au l are
sat i sfie d wh ile P hi lade l ph i a i s h a ppy w i th th e
wors t g over n m en t i n th e wo r l d A s fo r th e sma ll
to wns a n d th e v il l a ges ma ny o f th ese are b u sy as
bees at th e l oot
St L oui s in d eed i n i t s d i sgra ce ha s a gre at ad
va n tage I t w a s e x pos ed l a t e ; i t h as n ot b een re
fo rm ed a nd c aught ag a i n a n d aga i n u n t il i ts c i ti
zens are reco n ci led to co rrupt i o n B ut bes t o f al l
t he ma n who h as tu r ned S t L ou i s i nsi d e out
t u r ned i t a s i t w e re up si d e do wn too I n a l l
—
—
ci t ies th e be tter cl asses th e bu siness m en are
the s ou rces of corruptio n ; bu t th ey ar e s o rare l y
purs u ed a nd c aught that we d o n ot f ull y re a lize
wh ence th e t rou ble c om es T h u s mo s t ci t ies b lam e
th e po li t ici a ns a n d t h e i gn ora n t a nd vici ou s
poo r
Mr F o lk h as sh ow n St L oui s th at i ts b a nke rs
b ro ke rs c o rporat i o n o fiicers — i ts bu sines s m en
ar e t he s ources of evil s o t h at fro m th e s ta rt
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58
TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI E S
i t wi ll k now the mu n ici p a l pr o blem i n i ts t r u e l igh t
With a t ra di ti on fo r public spi ri t i t m a y drop
Butler a nd it s runa way b an k e rs bro k ers an d
bre wer an d pushi ng a side the scrupl e s o f the
hu ndreds of mendo w n i n blu e book an d re d bo o k
a nd church re gister w ho are lyi ng h i dde n behi nd
the st a tut e s of limi t a ti on s the ci ty m ay r e st o re
go o d go vern m en t O th e rwi s e the exposures by M r
F o lk w ill re sul t o n ly in th e p e r fecti o n of th e c o r
rupt sy s t em F o r the corrupt c an lear n a l e ss o n
when the g o od ci tize ns c an not
The T w eed
r e im e i n N e w Yo r k t a ugh t T a m m a ny t o or g a n
g
i z e i t s boodl e busi nes s ; th e police exposure t a ugh t
i t to i mprov e i t s meth o d o f collecti ng bl a ckm a il
A n d b o th n o w a r e a lm o st pe rfect a nd s afe Th e
r a sc al s o f S t L oui s w i ll l ea r n i n like m an n er ; th e y
wi ll c o ncen t ra te the c on t ro l of th e i r b ribery system
e xcluding fro m th e pro fit sh a ring the gre a t m a s s
o f w e a k r as c a ls a nd c a rryi n g on the busi nes s
as a busi ness i n th e i nterest of a tru s t wo rthy
few
D ist rict Att o rney J erom e c a n not c a tch
the T a mm an y m en a nd Ci rcui t A tto r ney F o lk
will not b e a bl e a n o ther time t o b r e a k the
St L ou is ri n g Thi s i s St Lo uis o ne gr ea t
ch a nc e
Bu t fo r th e r e st of us i t do es n ot m att e r abou t
St L ou is a n y more th an i t m a tters a bou t Colo n el
B utl e r et al Th e poi n t is that wh a t w en t on i n
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59
TW EE D DA YS I N ST LO U I S
S t Lou is is go in g o n i n mo s t of our ci t ies to wns
a n d vill ages Th e p rob le m of mu n ici pa l go ve rn
m en t i n Am e ric a has n ot bee n so lved The p eo p le
may be ti red o f it , b u t they ca nno t give i t up
n ot yet
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T H E S H AM E OF M I N N EA POL I S
J
u
a
a ry
n
1903 )
(
a t ma v e n a n y th in g e x trao rdi n ary i s d o ne i n
A merica n mu n icip a l p o litics w hether fo r go o d o r
f o r evil you c an trace i t almost i n v a ri a bly t o o n e
m an The pe ople d o n ot do i t N ei ther do the
”
”
ga n gs
combi nes o r po l i tic a l p a rties Th ese
are but i ns tru m en t s by whi c h bos ses ( n ot l e ad e r s ;
w e Am e rica ns are n o t led bu t d ri v e n ) rul e th e peo
pl e a n d c ommo n ly se ll th e m o u t But th e re a re at
l e as t two form s o f th e auto c ra cy w hich ha s s up
pl an t ed th e d e mo c rac y h e re a s it has e v e rywh e r e
d e mocra cy ha s been tri ed One i s that of th e o r
an
z ed maj o ri ty b y wh ic h a s with th e R e pub li c an
i
g
machi ne i n Philad elph i a th e bo ss h as n orm a l co n
t rol c f m o re tha n h a l f th e vot e rs Th e o th e r i s
th a t o f th e a droi tly ma n aged mi n ority
Th e
go od p eopl e are h e rde d i n to pa rti e s a n d s tu pe
fi ed wi th c o n vi c t i o ns a n d a n am e R e publica n or
De moc rat ; whi l e t he b ad p eople are so orga n
iz ed or i n t e res t ed by t he boss that h e c a n wield
their vot es to en for ce t e rm s wi th part y ma n age rs
a nd decide elect i o ns St L ouis i s a co ns pi c uous
ex amp le of this fo rm
Mi nne apo lis is a n oth e r
W
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63
64
TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
Col on el Ed Butle r is the unsc rupul o us O pp o rtu n is t
w h o h a ndled the n o n p ar tis a n mi n o ri ty w hich
”
tu rne d St Lo uis i nto a bo o dle to wn
In Min
n e a p o l is D o c A m e s wa s the m an
M i n ne a p o l is i s a Ne w Engl an d to wn o n the
u pper Mississi ppi Th e m etro pol is o f the N o rth
w e st it is the metr o p o lis a ls o o f N o rwa y an d
S wed en i n A m e rica
I n deed it is the s e c o nd
l a rge s t Scan di n a vi an ci ty i n th e wo rld Bu t Y a n
k ees str a igh t f rom D own E a st set tled the t own
a n d thei r N e w E n gl an d spi r it p red o m in a tes They
h a d B a y ar d T ayl or lecture there i n th e ea rly d ay s
o f the settle m ent ; they m a de i t the sea t o f the
U n iversi ty o f Mi nn es ot a Ye t ev en n o w w h en the
t own h as gro wn to a popul a tion o f m or e th an
you f ee l th a t th ere i s so methi ng Western
ab o u t i t t o o — a Ya nk ee wi th a r o u nd Pu ri t an h ea d
dina
ano pe n pr a i r ie h e art and a g r e a t bi g S ca n
v i a n b o dy The R o undhe a d t akes th e Squ a r e
h e ad o u t i n t o the w o o ds a nd th ey cut lumb e r by
fores t s or they go ou t o n th e pr a i ries an d rais e
wh e at an d mill i t i n to fleet c a rg oe s o f fl o ur Th ey
wo r k h a rd they m a ke m en ey they a r e s o b e r s at
Ther e is n t
i s fied busy w i th their ow n a ffa i r s
much ti m e f or publi c busi ness T a k e n to ge ther
Mi l es H ans a n d Ol e ar e very A m e rica n M il es
i ns i s t s upo n s tri ct l aws O l e an d H an s wa n t o n e or
two Scan di n avi an s on th e ir tick e t Th ese th i ngs
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65
T H E SH A M E OF M I N N EA PO L I S
gra n t ed th ey go o ff o n raft o r re a pe r l e a v i n g
whoso wi l l to e nforce th e laws a nd ru n the ci t y
Th e p eop le who w e re le ft to g ove rn t he ci ty
h at ed abov e all thi n gs s t ri c t la w s Th ey w ere th e
l oafe rs s a l oo n k ee pers gamblers crimi na l s a nd
th e th ri ft less poor o f al l n atio n ali ti es R esen t i n g
t he s o b riet y o f a staid i n du s t rious co mmu ni t y a n d
hav in g n o I rish to bo s s them they delighted to
fo ll ow th e j o vi al p io nee r doc t o r Albe rt A l o nz o
“
A mes
H e wa s th e
good fellow —a gen ia l
gene rous re prob a t e D e v e ry Tw ee d a n d ma ny
more hav e e xpo sed i n v ai n th is ami a ble type
“
Do c
A m es t a ll s traight a n d ch ee rful at
tract ed m en a n d th ey gav e h i m vo tes for his
s m il e s H e stood fo r li cens e There w a s no thi ng of
th e P u r i ta n abou t him
H is fath e r th e stur dy old
pio nee r D r A lfr ed Elisha Ame s h a d a stro n g
s tra i n o f i t i n hi m bu t h e mov ed o n wi th h i s
famil y o f si x s o ns from G arden Prairi e I ll to
F o rt S nel li n g r ese rv atio n i n 1 85 1 b e fore M i nne
apo l is w a s fou n d ed
a n d you n g Albe rt Alo n zo
who th en wa s t en ye ar s ol d gr ew up fr ee e a sy a n d
as sen t to sc hool th en to c oll ege i n
to le ra n t H e w
Ch ic ago a n d h e re tu rned hom e a do c tor o f m e di
c in
e be fore h e w as tw en t y o ne
A s th e tow n wa xed
so be r e r a nd ri ch e r
Do c gre w g a ye r a nd more
a n d more gene rou s
Skillf ul as a s urgeo n d e
v ot ed as a physici a n a n d as a ma n k i n dl y h e ia
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TH E SHAME O F THE CITI ES
c re ased his pr a ctic e till he w as the best lov ed ma n
i n th e comm u n i ty H e w a s esp e ci a lly g o od to th e
”
poor A nybody c ould s umm on Doc Am e s at
an y hour to a n y dist an c e H e we n t an d h e gav e
n ot o n ly his pro fes s i on a l s e rvice bu t sympathy
a n d o f te n ch a ri ty
Richer me n th an you w ill
”
pay your bill b e told the desti tut e S o ther e w as
”
a basis for hi s good fe llowshi p
The r e a l ways
—
i s ; these good fe llow s a re n ot fraud s no t i n th e
be gi nn i n g
Bu t th e r e i s a n oth e r si d e to th e m s ometim es
Am es w as s u n shi ne n ot to th e s ick an d desti tut e
o n ly T o the vici ou s a n d th e dep r aved a lso h e
w a s a co m fort I f a m an was a h a rd d r inker th e
good D o ctor chee re d hi m w i th a n other dr i n k ; i f he
h a d s t o l en somethi n g th e D o ctor hel pe d to ge t h im
H e w as n a tu ra lly v a i n ; popul a rity develop e d
o ff
H i s l o os e li fe brought
h is lov e o f appr o b a tio n
dis a pp r ov a l o nly f r o m th e good p eo ple s o grad
ually the D o ct or ca m e to en j o y best th e so ciety of
th e b a rr o om a n d th e stree t s Thi s soci e ty fiat
t er ed i n tu r n w orshiped the g oo d D o ct or an d
activ e i n poli tic s alway s put i t s phys i ci a n i n to
th e are n a
H a d he b een wise or ev en shr e wd he m i gh t h av e
m ad e himsel f a r e al p owe r But he w a sn t calcu
l ati n g only light and fr ivolous so he did n ot o r
a
n
i
z
e
h
i
s
forc
es
a
n
d
ru
n
m
en
for
o
ce
H
e
f
fi
g
66
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TI IE S H A M E O F M I N N E A PO L I S
67
sought o fiice hims el f from the start a n d h e go t
most o f th e sma ll p l a ces h e w an t ed by c ha n gi n g his
party to s ei ze th e oppo rtu n it y I I is fl o a ti ng
mi n orit y add ed to th e re gular part is a n vo te was
s u ffic ie n t o rdi n a ri ly for hi s u sel es s vi c to ri es As
ti m e wen t o n h e ros e from sma lle r o ffices to be a
R e pub l i ca n m ayor th en tw ice at in t e rv als to be a
D e mo c rat i c ma y or H e was a c a n dida t e o nce for
Co n gr ess ; he s too d for go ve rn or o nce o n a s o rt
o f P o pu l is t D e mo c rat t i c ke t A m es cou ld n ot ge t
a n y thi n g outsi de o f h is o wn town how e v e r a n d
a fter his th i rd t e r m a s ma y or i t was though t h e
w as out o f pol i ti cs a l to ge th e r H e wa s ge tt ing
o l d a nd h e was g etti ng wor se
L ik e ma n y a g ood fe llow wi th ho s t s o f m is
eo us fr iends do w
cella n
n tow n to whom h e wa s d e
v ot ed th e g oo d Do c tor neglect ed h is o wnfam il y
F rom ne g lec t h e w en t o n op enly to se paratio n
from h is w i f e a n d a sec o n d es tab l is hm en t Th e
cl i ma x c am e n ot l o ng b e for e th e elec t i o n o f 1 900
H is wi fe di a l Th e family would n ot hav e th e
—
f a ther at th e fu ne ral bu t h e app e ared n o t at
th e hous e b ut i n a c arri a ge o n th e s tr ee t H e
s at a c ross t h e way w i th hi s feet u p a nd a ci gar
i n hi s mou th till th e fu ne ra l mov ed ; th en h e
c i rcled arou n d c ro ss i n g i t a n d m ee t i ng i t a n d
maki n g a l to ge th e r a scene whi ch mi ght w el l c lo se
a ny ma n s c aree r
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TH E S HAM E O F THE CITI E S
I t didn t e n d his The pe o ple h a d j ust secu red
the p a ss a ge o f a ne w p r i m ary l aw t o est a blish di
rec t p o pul a r g o ve r n m ent There w ere t o be no
mor e n o m in a t i o ns by c on ve n ti o n The v o ters w er e
to b a ll o t fo r thei r p a rty c an did a tes By a sl ip o f
s o me s o rt the l aw s did no t speci fy th a t Rep ubl i
c an s o n ly sh o uld v o te fo r Republic an c a ndid a tes
an d o n ly Dem o cr a ts f or D e m o cr a tic c an did a t es
A ny voter c o uld v o te a t ei ther p r i m ary A m e s i n
dis repute w ith his own p a r ty the De m o cr a tic bad e
his fo llo w ers v o te fo r his n o mi n a ti on fo r m a yor
o n the Rep ublic a n ticket Th ey a ll v o ted ; no t a ll
the Republic a ns did H e w as no m i n a ted N o mi
n a tion is far fro m electi o n a nd y o u wo uld s ay th at
the trick wo uld no t help him But th a t w a s a
Pres identi al y ea r so the people of M i n ne a poli s
h a d t o v o te f or Am es th e Republica n ca n did a t e
fo r m ay o r Besides Am e s said he was g o i ng t o
r efo rm ; th a t h e w a s getti n g old an d w a n t e d to
close hi s c a reer wi th a go od a dmi n istratio n Th e
e ff ect ive a rgument ho w ev e r was th a t s i n c e M c
Ki n l e y h a d t o be e lected to s av e th e c o untry Ame s
must be supported fo r m ay o r of M i n ne a p o lis
Why ? Th e gr e at A m e rica n p e ople ca n n ot b e
t ru st e d to s cr a tch a tick e t
W e ll Mi nne a p o li s got i t s old m a y o r b ack a n d
”
h e w as i n dee d re fo rm e d
U p t o thi s t im e A m es
had n ot be en v e ry v e n a l p e rs o n all y H e w as a
68
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E C I TI ES
70
them Th e h ea d o f th e gambl i ng s y n dic a t e wa s
t o h a v e ch ar ge o f th e g a mbl i ng m a ki n g th e
”
ter ms a nd c o llecti n g th e gr a f t jus t a s Ki n g a n d
a C a pt a i n Hill w e re to co llec t f rom th e thi e v es
Th e collect o r for wom en o f th e to wn w as to b e
I rwi n A G a rd ne r a medic a l s tudent i n the Doc
t o r s o ffi ce wh o wa s m ad e a speci a l pol ice m a n for
the purp o se Th e s e m en looked o ver the fo r ce
s el e cted th o se me n w h o could be t ru sted ch a rg e d
th e m a pric e fo r thei r rete n ti on an d m a rked fo r
dis m iss a l 1 0 7 me n ou t of 2 2 5 the 1 07 bei n g th e
best p o liceme n i n th e departme n t f r o m th e p o i nt o f
vie w of the ci tize n s w h o af terw ar d reorgani zed
the fo rce Jo h n Fitchette better k n own as C o f
f e e Jo h n a V i r gi ni a n ( w h o s e rved on the J e f
f ers o nD a vi s j u ry ) the ke e pe r o f a no t or i o us eo f
f e e house w as t o b e a captai n o f p o l ice w i th n o
duties except to s ell pl a ces on the p o lice for ce
A n d they did th e s e thi ngs th a t th e y pl a n n ed
a ll a nd m ore The a dmi n ist r atio n opened w ith th e
r ev o luti o n o n th e p o lice force Th e th ieves i n th e
l o c a l j a il were l ibe ra ted an d i t w a s m a de k no w n
to th e U n d e r Wo rld gene rally that thi n gs w e re
d o i n g i n M i nnea p o lis Th e i n comi ng s w i n dlers
r e ported to Ki n g or hi s st a ff for i n stru c tion s an d
”
we n t t o work turni n g th e s w ag ov e r to th e
det ectiv es i n charge Gambli n g wen t on open ly
and di s ord e rl y hous es mul tipl i e d u n d e r the fo s t e r
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S I I AM E
TH E
OF M I N N EA PO L I S
71
i ng care o f G ard ne r t he m ed ical studen t B u t
A m es dared to bre a k
a ll th is wa s n ot en ough
open l y i n to the mu nici pa l sy st e m o f vice pro
tec t io n
Th e re w as s u ch a th ing M i n ne apo li s st ric t i n
i ts l aw s fo rb ad e v ices wh ich a re i n ev i t a bl e th en
regular ly pe rm i tt ed th e m u n d e r ce rt a i n c o n dit i o ns
”
Le ga l l imits c a l l ed patro l l ines w e re pr esc ribed
w i th i n wh ic h s a l oo ns m i ght be opened Th ese ra n
alo n g the ri v e r fro n t ou t through part o f th e
b us i ness sec tio n w i th l o n g arms rea ch i ng i n to th e
Sc a ndi n av i a n qua rt e rs n o rth a n d s outh G am
b l i ng al so was c o n fi ned bu t more n arro w l y An d
the re w e re l i m i ts also arb i trary bu t n ot a lw a ys
iden t ic a l wi th those for gambl i n g w i th i n w h ich th e
s oci al e v il w a s al l ow ed B u t th e n ov e l fe ature o f
th i s sche m e w as that di sorderly hous es w e re prac
t ic a lly licensed by th e c i ty th e w om en appe ar ing
be for e th e c le rk of th e Mu n icipal Court e a c h
mo n th to pay a fi ne o f $ 100 U n abl e at firs t
“
”
to ge t t his graft Am es s ma n G ar dne r pe r
s uaded wom en to s tart hou ses apartm en ts a n d of
all t hi ngs c a n dy s tores whi c h so l d swee t s to c hi l
d ren a nd to b acco to th e l umbe r Jack s in fro n t
wh ile a ne fari ou s tra ffic w as carr ied o n i n the
re ar B ut th ey pa id A m es n o t th e ci t y a n d tha t
w as a ll thi s re fo rm admi ni strat i o n c ared a bou t
The r even u e from a ll th ese s our ces mu s t h a ve
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
372
been l a rge
I t o n ly wh e tted the a v a rice o f the
m ayo r a nd his C a binet Th ey let g a mbl i ng privi
lege s w i th o u t restri cti o n a s to l o c a tio n or squ a re
ne ss
th e sy ndic a te c o uld che a t a n d r o b as i t
would
Peddle r s an d p awn b ro k er s f o rmerly l i
cense d by the ci ty b o ught p e rmits now i nste a d
f r o m the m ay or s agen t i n this field S o m e t wo
hundre d sl o t m a chi ne s were i n st a ll e d i n v a ri o us
p ar ts o f th e t o wn wi th o wne r s a gent an d m a y or s
a g e n t w atchi n g a n d c o ll ec ti n g from th e m en ough
to pay th e mayor
a y ea r a s hi s sh a r e
A uction fr a uds we r e i n sti tut ed Opiu m j oi n t s an d
”
u n lice n s e d s a l o o n s called bl i nd pigs we re pr o
G ardne r ev en h a d a police b a seb a ll team
t ect ed
fo r w ho s e g a m es ticket s wer e sold to pe o pl e w h o
had t o buy th e m B ut the wo m en we re the eas iest
”
gra f t
They w e re compelled to buy illustr a ted
biographi es of th e ci ty o ffici a ls ; th ey had to gi v e
pr esen ts of m o ney j ew elry a nd g o ld s t a r s to
poli ce o ffi ce rs B u t the m o ney they s till p a id di
r ec t to th e ci ty in fi nes som e
a year
fr e tt e d th e mayor an d a t l as t he r ea ch e d for it
H e c am e ou t w i th a d e cl ar a tio n i n his old char
acter a s f rie n d o f th e oppre s s e d th a t $ 1 00 a
mo n th wa s to o much f or th ese wome n to p a y
Th e y s houl d b e r equir e d t o pay the ci ty fi ne o n ly
o n ce i n t w o m on ths T h i s puzzled the to wn till
i t b ec ame gene rall y k no w n that G a rd n e r c o ll ec t e d
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TH E SHA M E
74
O
F
TH E CITI E S
th e oth e r mo n th fo r the m ayor The fi na l outr a g e
i n th i s departm e nt h o w ever w as an order o f th e
mayor fo r th e p er iodic visi t s to di so rd e rly h o us e s
b y th e ci ty s ph y sici an s a t from $ 5 to $ 2 0 p e r
v isi t
Th e two physicia n s h e a ppo in ted call e d
wh en th e y wi lled an d mor e an d more fr equ en tly
till toward th e e n d th e c a lls b e c a m e a pur e f o r
m ali ty w i th th e coll e ct i o ns a s th e o ne and o n ly
obj ec t
I n a gene ral w a y all th is b u si ness w a s k n ow n
I t did n ot arou se th e ci tiz ens bu t i t did attract
c ri m i n al s an d m o r e a n d more thi e v es a n d sw i n dl ers
c am e hurry i n g to M in n e a p o li s
Som e of th e m
s aw th e p o li ce an d m a de term s Som e w e r e seen
by the po li c e a n d i n vi ted t o g o to w ork Th ere
w as r o om for a ll Thi s ast on ishi n g f a ct th a t th e
go v e r n m en t of a c i ty a sk e d c r imi n a l s to rob th e
p eo pl e i s f u
lly es t a bli s hed
The pol ice a n d th e
c ri mi n a ls c onfesse d i t s ep a r a t e ly
The ir s t a te
me n t s a gr ee i n d e t a il D e t e ct i ve N o rbeck m a d e
th e arra n ge men ts a nd i n t ro duc e d th e sw i n dle rs
to G a rdn e r w ho ov e r Ki ng s h ea d t oo k th e mo ne y
from th e m Here i s the s t o ry Billy Edw a rd s
a big mitt m a n told u n d e r o a th of hi s re c e p
t io n i n Mi n n e a p o l i s
I h ad b e en o u t to th e Coast an d h a d n t s e e n
N orb e ck for so m e ti me
A f t e r I r e tu rn ed I
b oard e d a M i nne apoli s c a r o ne e v en ing to g o
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n no) : m e mo u m m oon
shows an ite m co nce rni ng the c heck f o r 8775 w hi ch
”
“
the
sucker M elx ( here s pelled Mi x) wished not to have
hono red
P a s:
“
”
,
.
TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
d ow n t o S o u th M i n ne a p o l is t o visi t a fr iend N o r
beck a nd Detective D eL a itt re w e re o n the c a r
When No rbeck s aw m e he c a m e up an d sh oo k
h a nds an d s a id H ull o Bi lly h ow g oes i t ?
I
s a id
N ot very wel l
The n h e s a ys Thi n g s
have ch an ge d si n c e y o u w e n t a way
Me a nd
G ar d n er a r e the w h o l e thi n g n o w B efo re you le f t
th e y th o ught I didn t know a nyth ing b ut I tu r n ed
a few tricks an d n o w I m I t
I m gl a d of th a t
Chr i s I s aid H e says I ve got gr e a t thi n gs f or
you
I m g o i n g to fi x u p a j o i n t fo r you
That s good I s aid but I d on t b e liev e y o u ca n
do i t
O h y e s I ca n h e replied
I m I t n ow
— G a rd ne r a nd m e
W e ll i f y ou c an d o i t s ay s
I th e re s mo ney i n i t
H o w much ca n you
pa y ? h e a s k e d
Oh $ 1 5 0 or $ 20 0 a w e ek say s
I
T hat se tt les i t h e s aid ; I ll t a k e y o u dow n
to see Gard ne r a n d w e ll fi x i t up
Th e n h e mad e
a n appoi n tm en t to m ee t m e th e ne xt n igh t a nd
we w en t dow n to Gard ne r s hou se togeth e r
Th e r e G a rd ne r t a lk e d busi n ess i n g ene ral
show e d hi s d r aw e r full o f bill s a n d j ok i n gly a sk e d
h o w E dwards wo uld li k e to hav e th e m Edwards
s ays
I sa i d That look s pr e tty g ood to m e a n d
Gard n er told u s that h e h ad c oll ec t e d th e mo ne y
from th e w o me n h e h a d o n hi s s ta ff an d th at h e
w a s g oi n g to p ay i t o ve r to th e o l d ma n w hen
76
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78
TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITIES
he go t ba ck fro m his hu nting t r ip next m or ning
A f te rwa rd he t o ld me th a t the m ay o r h a d been
m uch ple a sed w ith o ur $ 5 0 0 a nd th a t he s a id
everyth i ng wa s all r ight a nd fo r us t o g o a he ad
L i nk Cro ss m a n a n o the r c o n fidence m a n w h o
wa s w ith Ed war ds s a id th a t G ar dner dem a nded
a t fi rst but c o mpr o mised o n $ 50 0 for the
m a yo r $ 5 0 for G a rd n er an d $ 5 0 for N orb e ck
To th e c h i e f F r e d A m e s th ey g a ve tip s n o w an d
th en of $ 2 5 or $ 5 0
The fi r st we ek we ra n
“
s aid Cro ss m an
I g av e Fr e d $ 1 5
N orb e ck
took m e do w n th e r e W e sh oo k h an ds a nd I
h an ded hi m an en v e l o p e w i th $ 1 5 H e pulled ou t
a li s t of s te e r e rs we h a d se n t him and s aid h e
w an ted to go over them w i th m e H e ask e d w h e r e
th e j o i n t w a s l o c a ted A t a n o th e r tim e I sl ipped
$ 2 5 i nto h i s h an d as h e wa s st a ndi ng i n th e ha ll
”
w a y o f Ci ty H a ll
B u t the s e s m a ll e r p ay m en ts
a ft e r th e fi r st o pe n ing
ar e a ll do wn o n
the p a g es o f th e bi g mi tt ledge r ph o t o gr a ph s
o f whi ch illumi na te this a rticle This n ot o ri o us
bo o k w hich w a s kept by Cha r lie H owar d o n e of
the big m i tt m en w a s much t a lked of at th e
s ubs equen t t r i a ls bu t was kept hidd en to awai t
the t ri a l of the m ayor him sel f
The big mi tt g a me w as s w i ndli n g by m e a ns
”
of a s t a cked h and a t stud p o ke r
St ee r e r s
a n d b o osters met s u ck e r s o n the s tr ee t a t
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TH E S HA M E O F M I N N E A PO L I S
79
h ot el s an d r a il w a y statio n s w on thei r co n fide nc e
”
“
a n d l ed them to t he
joint
Usua l l y the
sucker w a s c a l led by the amou n t o f hi s l o ss
”
“
th e $ 10 2 ma n
or
th e $ 3 5 m an
Rom an
Mei x al on e h a d th e di s t i n cti on a mo n g a ll th e
M i n ne apoli s vi c t i m s o f g oi n g b y hi s ow n n am e
H av i n g l os t $ 775 h e b ec am e k n o wn fo r h is pe r
si st en t c ompl a i n i n g s B u t th ey a ll
ki ck e d
s ome To D e t ec tiv e N orb eck at th e s tree t doo
w as ass ig ned th e dut y of h e ari n g th ei r comp l a i n t s
“
”
“
and
throwi n g a sc are i n to th e m
Oh so
”
“
y ou v e been gamb l i n g h e wo ul d s ay
Hav
y ou g o t a li cen s e ? W e ll th en you b e tt e r ge t
”
ri ght ou t of thi s tow n
Som e ti m es h e a ecom
an
i
ed th e m to th e s tatio n a n d s aw th e m o ff
I
f
p
th ey w e re n o t to be pu t o ff thu s he di rec t ed th em
to th e c hi e f of poli ce F r ed A m es tri e d to w e ar
th e m out by k ee pi ng th e m w ai ti ng i n th e a n t e
room I f they outlast ed hi m h e s aw th e m a nd
fright ene d th e m wi th th re ats of all s o rt s o f troubl e
for g am b li n g wi thout a li cense M e i x w a n t ed to
hav e paym en t o n hi s cheek s topp ed Am es who
h a d b een a b an k clerk told hi m o f his ba n ki n g ex
e r ien
ce an d th en h a d th e e ff ro n tery to s a y that
p
p a y m en t o n s uch a ch eck co uld n o t b e s topp e d
B urglari es w e r e commo n How ma n y t he po lice
p l a nned ma y nev e r b e k n ow n
Char les F
B ra c k e t t a nd F red Ma l o ne poli ce c apta in s a n d de
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TH E S H AME O F TH E CITI ES
t ect ives wer e a ctiv e a n d on e we ll es t a blish e d c r i me
of th e irs is the robb e ry o f the P a bst B re wi n g C o m
pa n y o ffic e Th ey p e r s u a ded two m en o ne an
empl o y e e to l e a rn th e combi nati on o f the s a fe
o pe n a n d cl e a n i t ou t o n e n ight whil e th e two
o fficers st o od gu ard out s id e
Th e e xces s e s o f th e mu n ic i p al a dm ini strat i o n
be c a m e s o n otori ou s th at som e o f th e m e mb e r s o f
i t r e mo ns tr a ted w i th th e o thers an d cert a i n cou n ty
o ffi cer s w er e gen ui n ely a l a rm e d N o r e str a i n t f ol
low e d thei r war n i n gs Sh e ri ff M ega a r den n o
Puri t an hi mself f el t co ns trai ne d to i n terfe r e a n d
h e m ade s o m e a rr es ts o f g a m bl e rs Th e Am e s
e
o
ple
tur
ne
d
up
o
n
hi
m
i
n
a
fu
r
y
th
e
y
a
cc
us
e
d
;
p
hi m o f m a ki n g ov e rcharges i n hi s a c cou n t s wi th
th e c o u n ty for fees a nd layi n g th e e vid en c e b e
f o r e G o ver no r Van S a n t they had M ega arden
re m o ved f r o m o ffic e A me s o ffered brib e s to t wo
c o u n ty com m issi one r s to a ppoi n t G a rdner sh e ri ff
s o as to b e su r e o f no mor e tr o ubl e i n th a t qu a rter
Thi s mov e fa iled but the lesso n t a ught M ega a r den
serv e d t o cle ar th e atmosph e r e a nd the sp o li a ti o n
w e n t o n a s r e ckl ess ly a s e v er I t b ec am e impos
sibl e
E ven l a wle s sness mu s t be regul at e d D r A m es
ne v e r an org an iz e r att e mpted no co n trol a n d his
follow er s b e g an to qu arr e l am on g th e m sel v es
Th ey d ece iv e d o ne an oth e r ; th ey r o bbe d th e
80
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F
HI
TH E SHA M E O M I N N EA PO LI S
t hi eves ; they robbed Am es hi m se l f H is broth e r
bec am e diss at is fied w i th h is s hare o f th e s po i ls a nd
form ed ca b a ls w i t h c apta ins who plott ed agai ns t
th e admi n istrat io n a n d s e t up di so rd e rly hou ses
”
pa nel gam es a nd all s o rt s o f grafts o f the i r
ow n
The o n e m an l oya l t o th e may o r was Gard
n er ; a n d Fred A mes C a pt ai n K i n g a n d their p als
p l ott ed th e fall o f the favori t e N o w a ny bod y
could ge t a ny t hi n g from th e D oc tor i f h e cou l d
h a ve him alo ne Th e Fr e d A m es cliqu e cho se a
tim e wh en th e mayor w as at W e s t Bade n ; th e y
fi lled him w ith s uspicio n o f G ar dne r an d th e fe a r
o f ex po s u re a n d i n du ce d him to let a cr e atu re
n am ed R ed dy Cohe n i n st e ad o f G ard ne r do
th e c o llecti ng a nd pa y ov e r al l th e mo ne y s n o t
d i rec tl y bu t through F red
G ard ne r m a d e a
touchi ng app e al
I hav e been ho nes t I hav e
”
p a i d y ou a l l h e s aid to th e m a y or
F red a nd
th e r es t wi ll ro b y ou
T h is was tru e b u t i t w a s
o f n o av a i l
F red A m es wa s i n ch ar ge at l as t a nd be hi m
sel f w en t a b ou t g i v in g n oti ce o f the ch ange
Th r ee d e t ec tiv es w e re wi th him wh en h e v is it ed th e
wom en a nd h e re i s th e wom en s s tory i n th e wor ds
o f o n e a s i t was to l d agai n a n d a g ai n i n c ou rt :
Co l o nel A m es c am e i n w i th th e de t ec t i v es H e
s te pp ed in to a side room a nd asked m e i f I ha d been
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
pay i n g G a rd ne r I t o ld hi m I h a d a nd he t o l d
m e n ot to p ay n o more but to co me to his o ffi ce
l at e r a n d h e would let m e k n o w wh a t to d o I
w en t to th e Ci ty H all i n a bou t thr ee w eek s a f te r
Coh en had c a ll e d an d s a id he was the p a rty
I
as k e d th e chi e f i f i t w as all right to p ay Coh en ,
”
a n d h e s aid i t w a s
Th e new a rra n g e m en t di d n ot work so s moothl y
a s th e o ld Cohe n w as a n o ppre ssiv e c o llector
a n d Fred Am es appe a led t o w a s weak an d l e nien t
H e h a d n o s ur e hold o n th e force H is c a pt a i ns
free o f G a rd n er we re u n d e rm i n i ng th e chie f They
i n cre as ed th e ir p ri v a t e o p e r a ti o n
s Som e of th e
de t e ct i v es b e g an to dri n k h a rd a nd n egl ect th ei r
work N orb e ck so worri ed th e big mi t t m en
b y s t a y i ng a way f rom th e j o i n t that they c o m
plai ne d to Fre d a b ou t him Th e chi ef r ebuked
”
N orb eck a n d h e prom ise d to do b e tt e r bu t
th e r e aft e r h e w a s p aid n ot by th e we ek but by
—
pi ece work s o much for each trimm e d s uck e r
that h e ra n out of to wn Prot e cted s w i ndl e r s w ere
arr ested fo r op e r a ti ng i n th e str e et by Co ffee
Jo h n s n ew p o lic e m e n who t oo k the pl a ces o f
th e ne gli ge n t det e ctiv e s Fr ed let th e i n dign a n t
p ri s o ne r s go w h en th ey w e r e br o ught be fo re him
b u t th e ar res ts w e r e an n oying i n co n ve n ie n t a nd
disturb e d busi n ess The wh o le system bec a m e s o
d em oraliz e d th a t e v e ry m an wa s for hi m sel f Th e r e
82
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88
T H E SHA M E OF M I N N EA POL I S
w as n ot le ft even the tra di tio nal h on or a mo n g
t h ie v es
I t was at t his j u nct ur e i n A pri l 1 902 that
th e gra n d j ury for th e s umm e r t e rm was dra wn
A n ordi n a ry bo dy o f u n selec t ed c i t i zen s i t re
ce ived n o s peci a l i ns t ru c tio ns from th e bench ; the
co u n ty pro sec utor o ffered i t o n l y rout ine work
to do B ut th e re w as a ma n a mo n g th e m who
—
w as a fighter th e fore ma n Ho v ey C C l arke
H e was o f a n old N e w E n gla n d famil y Comi ng
to M i nne apo li s wh en a yo un g ma n se v enteen
ye ars be fo re h e had fought for e mploy m en t
fought w i th his e mploye rs for positio n fou ght
wi th his e mployees th e lumb e r Jack s for c om
m a nd fought f o r hi s compa ny a g a ins t c ompe t i
tors ; a n d h e h a d wo n always till n ow h e had th e
h abi t o f c o mma n d th e i mpat ien t i mpe ri ous ma n
ne r of th e m as t e r a n d th e as sura n ce o f s u ccess
w hi ch bege ts i t H e did n ot wa n t to b e a gra nd
j urym a n h e d id n o t wa n t to be a fo re ma n ; but
si n c e h e w as bo t h h e wa n t ed to a cc omp l i s h s om e
thi n g
Why n ot ri p u p th e A m es g a n g ? H e ads
s hook ha n ds w en t u p ; i t wa s use l ess to t ry Th e
di sco ura ge m en t fi red C l ark e
That w a s j us t
what he wo ul d d o h e s aid a n d h e took s to ck of
his j ury
Two or three w e r e m en w i th b a ck
bo ne ; t h a t he kne w a n d h e qui ck l y had th e m w i th
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI E S
84
The res t w ere a ll s o rts o f m en
him
Mr
Cl a rk e wo n o ver e a ch m a n t o hi msel f an d i n t e r
Th en h e c a lled fo r the cou n ty
es t ed them a ll
pros ecut o r The pr o secut o r w a s a p o li tici a n ; he
k n e w th e A m e s crowd ; they w e re t oo pow e r f ul to
att a ck
”
Yo u ar e e xcu se d sai d the for e ma n
Th e re w a s a sce ne ; th e p r o se cut o r k ne w h is
right s
”
Do y ou thi n k M r Cl arke he c r ie d
th at
”
you ca n ru n th e g ra nd j u ry an d my o ffice to o ?
”
Yes s a id Cl ar ke
I w ill ru n y o ur o ffic e i f
”
I w an t to ; an d I wa n t to Y ou r e e xcu se d
Mr Cl a rk e d oe s n ot talk much a b o u t his
doi n gs th a t su mm e r ; he i sn t the t a lk i n g so r t
Bu t he doe s say that all h e did was to a pply
s impl e busi ness m e th o ds to his p roblem
In
acti on h ow ever thes e tu rn ed o ut t o be the mos t
a pprov e d p o lice m eth o ds
H e hir ed a lot o f
l o c a l det e ctives wh o he kne w wo uld t a lk a bout
what th ey were d o i n g a n d thus w o uld b e w a tched
b y th e p o lic e
H a vi n g thus th rown a fa lse
sc en t he hi r ed s om e o ther det e ctiv es wh o m n o
body k ne w a bout Thi s w a s e xpe n siv e ; so were
m a n y o f the other thi n gs h e did ; but he wa s
b ou n d to w i n s o he p a id th e price d ra wi ng freely
o n hi s o w n an d his c o lle a gues p o ckets ( The
tot a l co s t to th e c o u n ty fo r a l on g summ e r s
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86
TH E SHAM E OF THE CITI ES
them s elves these me n w ere of n o g r e a t i m p o r
t an ce ; bu t th ey we re the key t o the si tu a ti on a nd
a wa y up to the may o r I t wa s wor th tryi n g
M r Cl a rk e we n t i n t o the j a il w i th Mess rs Lest e r
El w ood and \V i ll ar d J H ield gr an d j urors o n
wh o m h e relied m ost fo r delic a t e w o rk
Th ey
st oo d by w hil e th e fo rema n t a lked
A n d the
for eman s wa y of talk ing w as to smile s wea r
thr ea te n an d c aj o l e
Billy Ed wa rds t o ld me
a f t e rw a rd s th a t h e and Ho wa rd w e r e fi na lly per
s ua ded t o tu rn St a t e s e vi denc e
be ca use they b e
lieved th at Mr Cl a rke wa s the k i n d o f a ma n to
”
keep his pr o mises an d fulfill h i s thre a ts
We
h e said m e a n i n g crimi na ls gene r a lly
a r e al
w ays stack i n g up ag a i n st j u ri es an d l awye rs w ho
wan t u s to ho ll e r W e do n t b e c a us e w e see they
ai n t w is e a n d w o n t g e t th er e They r e qui t
ters ; they c an be pull e d o ff
Cl a rke h as a h a rd
e y e I k n o w m e n I t s m y b usi ness to size e m
up an d I t ook hi m for a w i n ne r an d I pl ayed
i n w i th hi m ag a i n st that w h o le big bu n ch o f e a sy
thi n gs th a t w as ru nn i n g thi ngs o n the bum
Th e grand j u r y w a s r e ady a t th e en d o f thr e e
w eeks o f h a rd wor k t o find bill s A p ro secutor
was n e eded
The publi c p ro s e cutor wa s bei n g
i gnored bu t his first as sist a n t a nd f r iend Al J
Smith w as tak en i n h an d by M r Cl a rk e Smi th
h es i t a t e d ; he k ne w be tter eve n th an the f o rema n
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87
TH E S HA M E O F M I N N E A PO L I S
th e pow e r a n d re sources o f the A m es ga n g Bu t
h e c am e to belie v e in M r C l ark e j u s t as E d
wards h ad ; h e was s ure the fore ma n w ould wi n;
s o h e w en t ov e r to his si d e a n d ha v i n g o nce de
cided h e led th e o pen fi ght in g a n d a l o ne i n
cou rt wo n c ases a ga i ns t me n w h o had th e bes t
l awye rs i n the St a te to d e fe n d th e m H i s c ou rt
reco rd is ex tr a o rd i n ary M o re ov e r h e took ov e r
th e negot i at i o ns w i th cr i m in als f o r ev i d ence
M ess rs C l ark e H iel d El woo d a n d th e oth e r
j u ro rs pro vid i ng m ea ns a nd mora l s u ppo rt
Th e s e w er e need e d
B r i bes w e re o ff e red to
Smi th ; h e w as thre at ened ; h e w as c a lled a foo l
B u t s o w as Clarke to whom
was o ff e red
to qui t a n d for who se sl a ught e r a sl ugge r
hi red to com e from Chi c ago Wh at startl ed th e
j u ry mo s t how e v e r wa s th e chara c t e r o f th e ci t i
zens who w e r e sen t to th e m to di ss uad e th e m from
thei r c ourse N o re form I e v e r s tudi ed h as fa iled
to b ri ng ou t thi s ph en om en o n o f vi rtuou s co w
a rdi ce the b a se ness o f th e d ecen t ci t izen
N othi n g s topp ed th i s j u ry how e ve r Th ey
h a d c oura ge T h e y i n di ct ed G ard ne r Norbec k
F red Am es a n d m any l e s se r pe rs o ns B ut th e
g a ng h a d c oura ge too a n d ra ise d a d e fense fu n d
to fight Clark e M a y or Am es w as d efi a n t Once
w hen M r C l ar ke called a t th e C i ty H a ll th e
may or m e t and ch allenged him
T h e ma y or s
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI E S
h eel e rs w e re all ab o u t hi m bu t Cl a rk e fac ed
88
,
h im
“
.
”
Doc Ames I m af t e r y o u
h e sa i d
I ve b een i n thi s to wn f o r s e v en t een ye a rs a nd
all th a t t i m e you v e b een a mor a l l e p e r I he a
r
y o u wer e rotte n duri ng th e te n ye a rs befor e th a t
N o w I m goi n g t o put y o u wher e a l l co n t a gi o u s
thi ngs a re put— wh e r e y ou can n ot c o n tami n at e
”
a n ybo dy else
Th e t ri a l of Gardne r cam e o n
E ffo rt s h a d
been m a d e to pers uad e hi m to s urr en der th e
m ayor bu t th e you n g m a n wa s paid
to
s tand p at a n d h e w en t to tri al an d co n victi on
s il en t
Other tri a ls f ollow e d fast— N o rb eck s
Fred A me s s Chi ef o f Detectiv e s Ki ng s Wi t
n ess es who we r e ou t o f th e St a t e wer e ne eded an d
t ru e t estimo n y f rom wom en Th e r e was n o
c ou n t y mo n ey fo r e xtradi tion s o th e gra n d
j urors paid th ese co s t s al s o Th ey h a d M ei x f 0 1
lo we d from M ichiga n do wn to Mexico an d back to
I d aho wh e r e th ey got hi m a n d he was pr esen t e d
i n cou rt o ne day a t th e t ri al of N orbeck w ho had
”
“
s t ee r e d hi m ou t o f tow n
N o rbeck though t
M e i x w a s a thou san d m il es a w ay an d had be en
bold b ef or e A t th e s ight o f him i n cou rt h e
st a rt e d to h is feet a n d that n ight ra n awa y Th e
j ury sp en t mor e mo ney i n his pu rsui t an d th e y
cau g ht h i m H e co n f ess e d b ut h is e vid en c e was
’
Yes ,
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89
T H E S H A M E O F M I N N EA PO L I S
n ot a cce pt ed H e was sen te nced t o th ree y ea rs i n
S tat e s p ris o n
Me n caved a l l a r o u n d but th e
wom en w e re fi rm a n d th e fi rs t tri a l o f F red Am es
failed To brea k th e w om en s f a i th i n th e ri n g
M ay or A m es was i n d ic t e d for o ffe r in g the bribe
—
to h a ve G ardne r mad e sheri ff a ge n u i n e bu t
n o t t he bes t c a se ag a i n st h i m I t brought the
wome n d ow n to th e t ruth a n d F r ed A m es re t ried
was c o n v ic t ed a n d sen te nced to s i x a n d a hal f
ye ars i n Stat e s pr is o n K in g w as t ried for a cces
s o ry to fe lo ny ( h el p ing i n th e th e ft of a di amo nd
w hich h e aft e rward s to le fro m th e th ie v es ) a n d
sen t ence d to thr ee a n d a ha l f ye ar s i n p ri so n
A nd s t ill t he i n dictm en t s c am e wi th t rials follow
in g fas t
A l Smith r e s i gned w i th the c o nsen t
a n d tha nks of th e gra nd j u ry ; hi s ch ie f who w as
to runfor th e sam e o ffice a g a in w a n t ed to try th e
r es t of th e c a ses a nd h e di d v e ry w ell
All m en w e re n ow o n th e s id e o f l aw a n d o rd e r
Th e pa nic amo ng th e graft e rs was l aughabl e
Two h e a ds o f
ins pi t e o f i ts hi d eo us s i g n ific a nce
de partm en ts a g ai ns t whom n o th i ng had been
s hown s udd enly ra n awa y a n d thu s s ugges ted to
th e gra nd j ury a n i n qu i ry wh ich re v e a led an
”
oth e r s ou rce o f g raft i n th e s a le o f s upp li es
to pu b li c ins ti tutio ns a n d th e d i ve rsi o n of gre at
qua n ti t ies o f prov isions to th e pri vat e resi d ences
o f t he ma y or a n d o th e r o ffi ci a ls M a y or A m es
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90
TH E S HAM E O F THE C ITI E S
u n der i ndict m e n t a n d h ea vy bo n ds for e xt o rt ion
c o n spi ra cy a nd b ribe o ff eri ng le f t th e Stat e on
a n igh t t r a in ; a gentlema n w ho kn e w him by
sigh t s aw hi m si tti n g u p a t e leve n o cl o ck i n the
s m o king roo m o f th e sleepi n g c ar an u n l ight e d
cig a r i n his mouth his f ace ash en a nd dra wn an d
a t si x o cl o ck th e ne xt morni n g he stil l was s i tti ng
there hi s cig ar still u n l ighted H e w en t to West
Bad en a heal th r e s o rt i n I ndi an a a s ick a n d
broke n ma n agi n g y e ar s i n a mo n th Th e c i t y
w a s w i thout a m ayor th e ri n g was wi th o u t a
le a d e r ; cliqu e s rul ed an d th e y picture d o ne a n
o ther h a ngi ng a b o u t th e gr an d j ury room be g
gi n g l eav e t o tur n St a t e s e vid en c e To m Br own
th e m ayor s se cretary w a s i n th e mayor s ch a i r ;
a cro ss th e h a ll sa t Fre d A m es th e chi ef of pol ic e
b a l a nci n g B ro w n s l ight we ight Both w e r e bu s y
f o r mi ng cliqu es w i thi n th e ri ng Br own had o n
his s id e Co ffe e Jo h n a n d Poli c e C a pta in H i ll
“
”
Ames h a d Captai n
N orm
Ki n g ( though h e
h a d b een co n vict e d an d h a d r e sig ne d ) C a pt ai n
K rum weide a n d E r nes t Wh ee lock th e ch i ef s sec
Ald e rm a n D Percy Jo nes th e pre s id en t
r et ar y
o f th e cou n cil a n ho n or a ble m an s h o uld h a v e
t ak en the ch a i r but h e wa s i n th e E a st ; so thi s
u nstabl e equi l i b ri um wa s all th e ci ty had by w a y
of a gov e r n m en t
Th en Fr e d A m es d is app e ared Th e Tom
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T H E S HA M E OF M I N N EA PO L I S 9 1
B row n cl iqu e had f ull s w ay a n d too k ov e r th e
p o li ce d e partm en t T h i s was a sh oc k to e very
bod y to n o ne more tha n to th e K in g c liqu e
wh i ch j oi ned i n the se arch for A m es A n a lder
ma n F red M P ow e rs who was to ru n for ma y or
o n th e R epub l i c a n t ick e t took ch a rge o f th e
may o r s o ffi ce bu t h e was n ot su re of h is nu
Th e gra n d j ury
th o ri ty or cl e ar as to h i s po l i cy
w as th e re a l pow e r be hi n d hi m a nd th e fore ma n
was t eleg raphi ng for A l d e rma n Jo nes M e a n
wh i le th e cliqu es w e re m a ki n g app e als to M ay or
Am es i n W e st Bad en a nd ea ch si d e th a t s aw hi m
recei v ed auth o ri ty to d o i ts wi ll Th e Co ff ee Joh n
c liqu e d en i ed adm iss io n to th e gra n d j ury room
t urned to Ald e rm a n Po we rs a n d w e re be gi nn ing
to f eel sec ure wh en th ey h e ard that F red Am es
was c omi n g back Th ey rush ed arou n d a nd oh
t a in
ed a n ass ura nce fr o m th e e xil e d ma y or that
—
F red wa s re tur n i n g o n ly to r es i gn Fr ed n ow
—
unde r c o n vi c tio n re tu rned bu t h e did n o t t e
sign ; s uppo rt ed by hi s fri en ds h e took charg e
a g a i n o f th e po lice fo rce Co ff ee Joh n bes ou ght
A l derma n Pow e rs to r e mov e th e ch ie f a n d wh en
th e a c t in g mayor prov ed hi m sel f too timid Co ff ee
Joh n Tom B row n a n d C a ptai n H i ll laid a d ee p
p l ot T h ey woul d a s k M ay o r Am es to re mov e his
bro th e r Thi s th ey fel t s ur e th ey coul d pe rs uad e
“
th e o ld ma n
to d o
T h e diffic ul t y w as to
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TH E S H A M E OF TH E C ITI E S
92
k ee p h im from ch an gi n g h i s mi n d whe n t he o th e r
side sh o uld re a ch his ea r Th ey hi t up on a bold
expedient They wo ul d urg e th e old m a n t o
rem o v e Fred a nd the n resig n hims e l f s o th a t h e
c o uld no t u n d o the deed th a t they wan ted d on e
C o ffe e J oh n an d Capt a i n H ill slipped o u t of
t o w n o n e nigh t ; th ey re a ch e d W es t B a de n o n o n e
t r a i n an d they le f t fo r hom e o n the n ext w i th a
dem an d fo r Fred s resigna tio n i n o ne h an d a nd
the m a y or s ow n i n th e o ther Fred Am e s di d
r e sign an d though the m ayor s resi gn ati o n was
l a id a side fo r a whil e to a v o i d th e e xpe ns e of a
speci a l electio n a ll l o ok e d we ll f or Co ffee Jo h n
a nd hi s cli que They h a d F re d o u t and Ald e rm an
P o wers wa s to m a ke th e m gr ea t But M r Po w
ers w a bbl e d N o doubt the gra n d j ury s poke t o
A t an y r a t e he tu r ned most unexp ec tedly
h im
on both cli qu e s togeth e r H e tur n ed o ut T o m
B rown bu t he tu rn ed o ut a lso C o ff ee Jo h n a n d
he did n ot m a ke their m a n chie f o f p o li c e but a n
o th e r o f s o meo n e els e s selecti on A n umber o f
res i gn a ti o ns w as the res ul t a n d th ese the acti n g
m a yor ac cept e d m a ki n g a cl e ari ng of asto n i s hed
ra sc als w h ich w a s v e ry gr a ti fyi n g to th e gra n d
j u ry a n d to th e ne rv o u s cit ize n s of lVI inne
.
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’
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a
olis
p
.
B ut the to wn wa s no t yet e asy Th e gra n d j ury
whi ch w a s the a ctu a l he a d o f the g o ver n m ent wa s
,
.
,
TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
o n the fo rce pu tting i n thei r places me n w h o h a d
b e e n re mov e d by M ay or A m e s A n oth e r i m p o r
t ant s tep was the a pp o i n tment o f a church de a c o n
a n d p e rs ona l frie n d t o b e chi ef of pol ice th i s o n
the th eo ry th a t h e wan ted a t th e h ea d of his
p o li c e a m an w h o could h a v e n o sy m p a thy w i th
cri m e a m an w h o m he c o uld i mpl ici tly t rust D is
orderly hous e s fo rbidden by la w w ere p e rm itted
but o n ly w i thi n ce r tai n p a tr o l l i ne s an d they
w e re to p ay n othi n g i n e i th e r bl a ckmail o r
fi nes
Th e n u mb e r a n d th e st an di n g an d the
poi n t o f vi e w o f th e go o d p eo pl e who o pp o sed
th i s ord e r w a s a less o n to M r J o nes i n pr a ctic a l
g o v e r n m en t
On e v e ry promi ne n t ci tize n a nd
church m e mb e r thr e ate ne d h im fo r drivi n g wo m e n
ou t of t w o flats ow n ed by him ; th e re nt wa s the
sur e st me an s o f su pp o rt fo r hi s w i fe an d chil
dr e n
M r Jo ne s en fo rced his order
—
O ther i n terests s a l oo n keepers bre wers e tc
g a ve him t r ouble e no ugh but a ll th ese w ere t ri fles
i n c o mp a ri son w i th hi s exp e rien ce w i th the gam
Th ey re pres e nt e d o rg a niz e d crime an d they
blers
ask e d for a he a ri n g Mr Jone s g a ve them s o me
si x we eks f o r neg o ti a ti on s Th e y pr o pos e d a so l u
ti o n Th e y s aid th a t i f h e w ould let them ( a sy n
dica te ) op en fo ur gambli ng pl a c e s d own t ow n
they w o uld s e e th a t no others r a n i n a n y p a rt o f
th e ci t y Mr J o nes po n d ered a n d shook h is h e ad
94
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TH E SHAM E OF M I N N E A PO L I S
95
drawi n g th e m o n T hey w en t a w ay an d cam e
b a ck wi th a b tter pro mis e Th o ugh they w ere n o t
the ass o ci a tes o f crimi n als they k n e w th a t c l ass
a n d thei r pl an s N o ho n es t po li ce fo rce u n aide d
c o uld d ea l w ith crim e Th i eves would soo n be at
w o rk ag a i n an d w hat cou ld M r Jon es do a gai n s t
th e m wi th a police fo rce he a d ed b y a churc h
de a co n ? The gambl e rs o ffered to c o n tro l th e crim
a ls fo r th e c i ty
in
Mr J o nes d ee pl y i n t e re st ed d ec l a red h e d i d
no t be lieve th e re wa s a n y da n ger o f fres h cri m es
The gamblers smil ed a n d w en t away By a n o dd
c oi n cide nce th e re happened j u s t a f t e r that what
”
the papers c a ll ed a n e pid e mi c o f crim e
Th e y
were pe tty the f ts bu t th ey occupi ed th e m i nd of
th e acti n g mayor H e wo n dered at th e i r o ppo r
H e wo nde r ed how th e new s of th e m go t
en
tun
es s
out
Th e gam ble rs s oo n re appe ared H a dn t th ey
t o ld Mr J o nes c rim e would s oo n be pre val en t i n
t o w n agai n ? Th ey had i n d eed bu t the mayor
”
“
wa s u n m o v ed ; porch c li mbe rs c ou l d n ot fri ght en
him Bu t this w as o n ly th e begi n n i n g th e g am
b lers s aid : th e large r cri m es would com e nex t A n d
they w en t a w a y a ga in Su re en ough th e l arge
c rim es c am e One two three b urgl ar ies of j ew el ry
i n th e hou ses o f w ell k n ow n p eopl e occ urred ; th en
the re w as a fou rth , a n d the fo ur th w as i n th e
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e
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-
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TH E S HA M E O F TH E C ITI ES
house of a re l a t i v e o f th e a cti n g mayo r H e wa s
seriously a mused The p a p e rs h a d th e news
pr o m ptly a nd n o t f rom the poli ce
The g a m ble r s c a lled a g a i n I f they could h a v e
th e exclusive co n tr o l of g a mbl i ng i n M inne a p o l is
th ey w ould d o a ll that they h a d p ro mised b efo re
an d i f any l a rge burgl a ries o ccur re d th e y wo uld
”
u n dert a ke t o recover the sw a g an d s om etimes
c a tch th e th ie f M r Jon es w as skeptic a l of their
a b ili ty to d o all t hi s The g a mbler s o ffe re d t o
p ro ve i t H o w ? They would ge t back for M r
J on e s th e j e w el ry r e cently re p o rt e d s t o le n fr o m
fo u r hous e s i n town M r J o ne s e xpr e ss e d a c uri
o s it
to
s
ee
thi
s
d
o
n
e
an
d
th
e
g
a
mbl
ers
we
n
t
awa
y
y
A f te r a f e w d ays th e st o l en j ewe l r y p a rcel by
p ar cel bega n to r e tu r n ; w ith all du e poli c e cr i m
i n a l myst e ry i t wa s d el i ve r e d to th e chi e f of
police
Whe n th e g a mbl e rs c a lled aga i n th ey fou n d
the a cti ng m ayor ready t o giv e hi s d e cision o n
their pr o p o si ti o ns I t was this : Ther e sh o uld b e
no g a m bl i n g w ith p o l ic e co n ni va nc e i n th e c i ty of
M i n n e a p o l is du r i ng hi s t e rm o f offi ce
M r Jo nes t o ld m e that i f he h ad b e fore h i m a
l o n g term he ce r tai nly w o u l d reco n si der thi s
a nsw er H e bel i e v e d h e woul d decide ag a i n as h e
h a d a lr e ady bu t h e woul d a t l e a s t giv e s tudi ou s r e
—
t
to
th
e
qu
es
tio
n
Ca n a c i ty b e go ve r ne d
ec
i
o
n
fi
96
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T H E S H A M E L E SS N E SS OF ST LO UI S
.
TH E S HA M E OF TH E C ITI E S
N o c i ty e v e r profit e d s o promptly by the l ess o n
o f i ts sh a m e Th e p e ople h a d n o thi n g to do w i th
—
—
th e e xposur e that was a n a ccident n or w i th th e
r e c on st r uctio n H o vey C Cl a rk e wh o a tt a ck e d
th e Am e s ring tore i t all to piec es ; a n d D P e rc y
J o nes wh o r e establish e d th e ci ty g o vern m en t
b ui lt a w e ll n igh perfe ct thi n g Th e re w a s l i ttl e
l e ft fo r th e pe o ple to do but cho o s e a t th e n ex t
re gul a r e lecti o n b e t we e n two ca n di dat e s for m ayor
o ne obvi ously b e tte r th a n the oth e r but th a t th e y
did d o
Th ey \s cr a t ch ed so m e t e n th o usa n d b a llot s
to d o th e ir s m a ll p a rt decisively an d w e ll So much
w
a
y
o
f
r
ev
o
lt
The
f
u
tur
e
w
il
l b rin g M i nne
“
by
a o lis u p t o the r e a l test
Th
e
men
w
h
o
s
a
v
e
d
th
e
p
ci ty this tim e h a ve or g an ized t o keep i t safe a n d
m a ke the m e m ory o f Doc A m es a civic t re a s
ur e an d Mi nne apoli s a ci ty w i th o u t rep ro ach
M in n e a p o l is m a y fa il as N ew Yo rk h a s fa i l e d
but a t least th e s e t w o ci tie s c oul d b e mov e d by
shame Not s o St L oui s J ose ph W Folk th e
Circui t A tto r n ey who bega n al o ne i s go in g righ t
o n alo ne i n di cti n g t ryi n g con v i c ti n g boodl e r s
high an d l o w foll o wi n g th e w o rk ing s o f th e com
bi ne through a l l of i ts startli n g r a mificat io n s an d
s pre a di n g b e for e th e p e opl e i n th e form o f t e sti
mo n y giv en u n d e r o ath th e c o n fess io ns b y th e
boodl e r s th e m s elves of th e whol e wr e tch e d story
St L o uis is u n mo ve d a n d u n a s ham e d St L ou is
1 02
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S I I AM E LE S S N E S S
O F ST LO U I S
10 3
.
see ms t o m e to be s o m e t hi n g n e w i n th e h ist o ry o f
th e gov e rn me n t o f th e p eo p le b y th e r asc a ls fo r
t he ri ch
T weed Da y s i n St Lo u i s di d n o t t e l l ha l f
that th e St L o uis a ns k now o f th e co n di tio n o f
th e c it y
Th a t a rt icle d esc rib ed ho w i n 189 8
a n d 1 90 0 u n de r th e admi n istrat i o n o f
1 899
M ay or Z ie ge n b ei n boo dl in g d e v e l o ped i n to the
o n ly re a l bus i ness of th e c i ty g ov e rn m en t S ince
th a t articl e was wr i tt en fou rt een m en h av e b een
t ri ed a n d h al f a sc or e hav e c o n fe s sed s o that
som e m e a s u re o f th e mag ni tude o f th e b us ine ss
a nd o f th e i mpo rta nce o f th e i n t e res ts c o nc erned
h as been gi v en Th en i t was re l a t ed that c om
bines o f mu n ic i pa l l e gis la tor s s old ri ghts priv
lleges a n d pub li c fr an ch i s es for th ei r o wn i n d i
v idua l profit a n d at regul ar s ch edu le rat es N ow
th e fr ee n a rrativ es of co n vict ed boodl e rs hav e d e
veIO ed th e i n sid e history o f th e combi nes
w
it
h
p
‘
th e i r u n fulfi ll ed pla n s Th en w e u nde rs too d tha t
th ese c om bi nes di d th e b oodli n g N ow w e k n ow
that th ey had a l e ad e r a bos s who a rich ma n
h i m se lf re p resen t e d th e fi n a nci al d i strict a nd
p rompt ed th e b oodli n g ti ll th e s ystem bu rs t W e
kne w th en h ow Mr F o l k a ma n li ttl e k n own w as
n omi n at ed aga ins t h is w i l l for C i rcuit A ttor ney ;
h ow h e war ned th e po l it i c i a ns who na m ed him ; how
he p rocee d ed a gains t th ese s am e m en a s aga i ns t o r
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TH E SH A M E O F TH E C ITI ES
N o w we h a ve thes e m en c on
di na ry cr i m i na ls
1 0 45
.
vi c t ed
.
We s aw Ch a rles H Turn e r the presid en t
o f th e Subu rb an R a il wa y C o a nd Philip H
S t o ck t h e secret a ry o f th e St Lo uis B r e w i ng C o
”
“
th e fi rs t to
p ea ch telli n g to th e g ra nd j ury
th e st o ry o f thei r bri be f und o f
put i n t o
s afe d e posi t v a ul ts to b e p a id t o t he legisl a tors
w h en th e Subu rb an f r an chis e wa s gr a n ted St
“
L ouis h as s ee n th e s e t w o me n dashi n g f or th lik e
”
fire h o rses the one ( M r Tu rne r ) f r o m the pr e si
de ney of th e Co mm o nwe al th Trust C o m p an y the
o ther f r o m his bre wi n g c o m p a ny sec r et a rysh ip to
r e ci te a gai n an d a g a i n i n the crimi na l c o urts th e i r
mis e r a bl e s t or y a nd co un t over an d o ver for th e
j ury the di rty bill s o f th at b rib e f u n d A nd wh en
th e y had giv en th e i r t es t i mo n y an d the boo dl e rs
o ne a f t e r an oth e r w e r e co n v icted th es e w i t ne s se s
hav e hurried back to the i r pl a c e s of bu s i nes s an d
th e c on vi cts t o thei r se a ts i n th e mun icip a l a s
s embl
i
Thi
s
i
s
l
t
e
r
a
lly
t
ru
e
I
n
th
e
H
o
use
o
f
y
Del e g a t es si t u n d e r sen te n c e a s fo ll ow s : Ch ar l es
F Kelly two ye a rs ; Ch a rl e s J D e n ny th r ee ye a rs
a n d fiv e y e ar s ; H en ry A F a ulk n er t wo y ea rs ; E
“
N ay
E Mu rrell St a t e s w i t ness bu t no t tr i ed
thi s H o u se w i th s uch a m e mb er shi p had the a u
dacity l as t f al l to r e fuse to pa ss an a ppropri at io n
d o f ch apter
See P os t S cri ptum en
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
ce rt ai n p a t en t horse sho e whi ch th e ci ty rail w ay s
li ked a nd bought Us eful a lso a s a p o l i ticia n they
g a ve him a bl an k e t c on tr a ct to ke e p all th ei r mules
a nd h o rs es sh o d Butler s f arrierie s glo w ed a ll
ab o u t the t ow n a nd his p ol itic a l i n fl u e nce spr ea d
wi th hi s busi ness ; f o r every w h e r e big Ed Butler
we n t th e re we n t a smil e a lso an d encou r a g e me n t
for y o ur we a k n ess n o m a tt e r wh a t i t w a s L ik e
”
“
—
D oc A m es o f Mi n ne apoli s like th e go o d
—
e
fell ow e v e ry w her
Butl e r wo n m en by hel pi n g
th e m to w reck them se lv e s
A p ri e st th e Rev
Ja mes C o ffey o n c e den o un ce d Butler from th e
pulpi t as a c orr upter of y o uth ; at an oth e r tim e a
mother kn e l t i n the a isle o f a ch urch an d duri n g
se r vi ce a udibly called u p on H e a v en f or a v i sitati o n
of a ffli ctio n upo n B utler f o r h a v i n g ru i ne d her
so n
The se a nd s im il a r i ncide n t s i n cre ase d hi s
p ow er by a dv erti si ng i t He gre w b o ld e r H e h a s
be e n kn ow n to w a lk o u t of a v o ti n g p l a c e an d c a ll
a cros s a c or do n o f p o l ice t o a group of m en a t the
“
cu rb
Are the r e any mo r e re p ea t e r s ou t h e re
that w a n t to vote a g a i n ?
Th e y w il l tel l you i n St Lo uis th a t Butl e r n ev e r
did hav e much re a l po we r that hi s boldne ss a n d th e
cl a mor a g a i ns t hi m m a d e him se em gr ea t Public
prot es t i s part o f th e power of e v e ry boss So
f a r ho we ver as I can gather Butler w a s th e
le ad e r of hi s or g a n iz a tio n bu t o nl y s o lo ng as h e
106
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OF ST LOUI S 107
w as a p a rti sa n po litici an ; as h e bec am e a
bo o dler pu re an d simpl e he gre w ca re l es s abo u t
h is ma c hi ne a n d did hi s b oo dl e bus i ness wi th t he
a id o f th e w o rs t el e me n t o f b o th parti es A t any
r a t e th e bo o dlers a nd o thers a s w ell s ay th a t i n
l at e r ye a rs h e had a b o ut equ al p ow er w ith both
part i es a n d he ce rtai nly was the ruler of S t
Lou i s duri n g th e R e publi can admi n i s tratio n o f
Z i e genb ei n which w as th e wo rs t i n th e h is tory o f
H i s m e th od w as to di c tat e en ough o f th e
t he c i t y
ca ndi d at es o n both t ick e t s to en abl e hi m b y se
lee ti ng th e wo rs t fro m e ach to e l ec t th e s o rt o f
m en be r equ i red i n his b u s i ness I n oth e r wo rds
whil e ho nes t D e mo c ra ts a n d R e pu b l ica ns w e re
loy a l to party ( a poi n t o f gre a t prid e wi th th e
”
idiots ) a n d vot ed s traight the Demo c r a tic b o s s
a n d his R e pu b li c a n l ie ut en a n t s d e cid e d w h a t part
of e ach ti ck e t should be e l ec t ed ; th en th ey sen t
”
“
a rou n d B u tl e r s
I ndi a ns
r
e
p
e
at
e
r
s
b
y
th
e
(
)
”
“
va n load to sc ratch ba l lot s a n d
re pea t
th e i r
v ot es t il l th e wors t ha d mad e su re o f th e gov e rn
m en t by th e wors t a nd B ut le r wa s i n a po si t i o n to
d o b us i ness
H is b u sin ess w as b oo dling wh ich is a more refi ned
a n d a more da nge rous fo rm o f c orrupt i o n th an
th e po l ice bl a ck ma i l of Mi nne apo l is I t i n vo l v es
n ot th ieves g am ble r s a n d c ommo n wom en b ut in
tial ci t izens c ap i ta lis ts a nd g re at c orpora
fl uen
S II A M EL E S S N E S S
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TH E SH A M E O F TH E C ITI ES
ti on s Fo r the stock intr a de of th e b oo dl er is the
r ights
privi leges f ra nchis e s an d r e a l p ro p e rty
of the ci ty an d his s o urc e o f c or r upti on is th e t o p
no t th e b o tt o m of s o ciety Bu tle r th ro w n e a rly
i n his c a ree r i n to c on t a ct wi th c o rp o r a ti o n m a n
age r s p ro ved so use ful t o them th a t they i nt ro
duced hi m to o th e r fi n an ciers a nd th e sc an d a l of
hi s s ervic es a ttr a ct e d t o h im i n du e c o urse a ll men
wh o wa n t e d th i ngs th e ci ty h a d to giv e The
boo dl er s t o ld m e th a t a cc or di ng to th e t r a di tio n
of thei r c o mbi ne th e r e a lw ays wa s b o odli n g i n
”
St Lo ui s
B utl e r o rg a niz e d and system a tized a nd de
vel O ped i t i n t o
a r e gul a r fi n a nci a l i nstituti o n
a nd m a de i t an i nt e g ra l p a rt of the busi n e ss
c o mm u n i ty H e h a d f o r cl i en t s r e gul ar o r o cc a
s io ua l b a nk e rs an d pr o m o t e rs ; a nd th e st a t e
me n t s of b oo dle rs n ot y e t o n re cord a ll e ge th a t
e v e ry t ra n s p or t a tio n and publi c co n ven ie n c e com
p an y th a t t o uch es St L oui s h a d de a li ng s w i th
B utle r s c o mbi n e A nd my b e st i nfo rm a ti on is
that th ese i n teres t s we r e no t v i ct i ms Bl a ckm a il
c a m e i n ti m e but i n the begi n ni n g they o r i gi n a ted
th e sch e m e s of l oo t a nd st arted B utl e r o n his
c ar eer S o m e i n t e r es ts paid h im a re g ul ar sa l a ry
oth e rs a fe e a n d a g a i n he wa s a p a rtn e r i n th e en
“
t erpri s e wi th a sp e ci a l
r ak e o ff
for hi s in
“
”
”
“
fl u ence
Fee a n d presen t ar e hi s t e rm s
108
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI E S
1 10
wh e r e he a pp o i n t e d th e commi tt e es n a m i n g to ea ch
a m aj o ri ty of co m bi ne m e mbers
I n the e arly h istory o f th e comb i n e s Butler s
c on trol wa s c o mplet e b eca us e i t w as pol i tic a l He
picked th e m en w ho w e r e to b e l e gisl a t o rs ; they
did as h e bade th e m do a n d th e b oo dli n g w a s
n ois e l ess s a fe a n d m o d e r a t e i n p ri c e O n ly
w r on g f ul acts w e r e ch a rge d fo r a n d a right o nc e
s o ld w a s good ; f or B utl e r k e pt his w ord Th e
defi n i ti on o f a n h ones t m a n as o ne w ho will s t a y
b o ught fi tted him B ut i t t a k es a v e ry s trong
m an to c o ntr o l hi m se l f a nd oth e rs wh en th e mo n ey
lust gro w s big and i t c e rt a i n ly g re w big i n S t
L oui s Butl e r u se d t o w a tch th e d own tow n di s
H e k n ew e v e ryb o dy a nd w h en a railro a d
t r i ct s
w a n t e d a switch o r a fi n an ci a l hou se a fra n ch i s e
B utl e r l ea r ne d of i t e a rly
Sometim es h e di s
cov e re d th e nee d a nd sugge s t e d i t N a m in g th e
r egular price say
h e would t ell th e
boy s w hat wa s comi n g a nd th a t th e re w o uld
be
to di vid e H e kept th e re s t a n d the
ci ty g o t n o thi n g Th e bill wa s i n tr o duced a nd
h e ld u p till Butl e r g a v e th e word th a t the mo n ey
w a s i n h an d ; th en i t p as s e d As th e busi n ess
grew ho we ver n ot on ly i llegi t im a te bu t l egi tim a te
p ermi ss ion s w e r e charg e d fo r an d at gradu a lly i n
cr e a s i n g r a t es Ci t iz ens w ho a sk e d l ea v e to m a ke
e x ca vatio ns ins tree t s for a n y purpo se ne ighbor
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SHA M E L ESS N ESS OF ST L OU I S 1 1 1
—
h ood s that had to hav e str ee t l a mps al l had to
.
p ay a n d th ey d id pay I n l ater y ear s th e re wa s
n o oth e r w a y Busi ness m en w ho comp la i ne d fel t
a certai n pr ess ure brought to b e a r o n them from
most u ne x pe cted quarters do wn tow n
A b usi ne s s ma n t o ld m e that a railroa d wh i ch
had a bra nc h n ear h i s f ac to ry s u gg es t ed that h e
go to th e M u n ici p a l Le gisl a ture an d get permi s
s i o n to hav e a s wit ch ru n i n to hi s ya rd H e lik ed
the ide a bu t wh en h e fo u n d i t w ould c o s t him eight
or t en th o usa n d doll a r s he gav e i t up Th en th e
rai lroad bec am e s low a bou t h an dl i n g hi s fre igh t
H e u n d e rs tood a n d b e i n g a fight e r h e fe rri e d th e
g oods a c ros s th e r i v e r to a n oth e r road That
b rought him th e s wit ch ; a n d wh en h e asked abou t
i t th e r a il road ma n s aid
O h w e got i t do ne You see w e pay a r eg
ul a r s a lary to s om e of thos e fell ow s a n d th ey did
i t fo r us for n oth i n g
Th en w hy i n th e de u ce did y ou send m e to
”
them ? ask ed th e ma n u f a ctu re r
”
W ell you s ee was th e a ns w e r
w e l i ke to
k ee p i n with th e m a n d wh en w e c a n t h row th e m a
”
li ttl e outsid e bu s i ness w e do
In oth e r word s a gr e at ra il wa y corporat i o n n ot
c o n t en t with p ay in g b rib e s al ari es to th ese b oo dl e
a l d e rm en wa s re ady furth e r to o bli g e th e m to
hel p c o e r ce a ma n ufa c tu re r a n d a c u s tom e r t e
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1 12
TH E SHA ME OF TH E C ITI ES
g o also a n d b e bl a ckm a iled by the b oo dlers
H ow
”
c an you buck a g a m e l ik e th a t ? thi s m an a sked
me
V ery fe w tr ie d to Bl ackm ail was a ll i n the o r
dina ry course of bu s i ne s s a nd the h a bi t o f s ub
m i ssi on bec a m e fixed— a h a bi t of mi n d
The
ci ty i ts el f was k e pt i n d a rk ne ss fo r w e eks p en di n g
th e paym en t o f
i n bribes o n th e l ighti n g
co n tract and compl a ini n g ci tizens w en t fo r ligh t
—
wher e M a y or Z i e g en b e i n told them to go to th e
moo n
Boodl i n g w a s s af e a n d b oodl i ng wa s fat Bu t
le r b eca m e ri ch an d greedy a nd negl e ct ful of p o li
t i cs Outside c a pi t a l c a m e i n an d fi ndi n g B utl e r
b o ught w e n t o ve r his h e ad t o the b o odle combi n es
Th ese cre a tures l ea rned thus th e v a lu e of fra n
chi s es
a n d that Butler h a d been giv i n g th e m a n
u n duly small sha re of th e b oo dle
The n bega n a st ruggle e no rmous in i ts vil e m el
—
fo r con t r ol o f c o r rupti on Butler to
o dr a m a
squ e ez e th e m unicip a l legisl a t or s a nd s a ve hi s
”
pr o fits th ey to w ri n g f r o m hi m thei r fa ir sh a re
Combi n es w e re fo rmed w i thi n the o ld c o mbin e s t o
m a k e h im p a y more ; an d al th o ugh he still wa s
th e legisl a ti ve a gent of the i n ne r ri n g he h a d to
k ee p i n hi s se cre t p a y m en wh o w ould a rgue for
l o w rat e s whil e th e c o mbi ne m em b e rs suspic i ou s
o f o ne an oth e r appoi n t ed th ei r ow n l egisl at i v e
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITIES
a tr a iler t o w a tch the a ge n t an d s ometim es a
s e c o nd t ra iler to w a tch the first
They beg an to w ork up busi ne ss o n th e i r ow n a c
c o u n t an d a ll d e ce n cy go ne th ey s o ld ou t s o m e
times to b o th sid es o f a fight The Ce n tr a l T ra c
ti on d ea l i n 1 89 8 was an i n sta n c e of this R o bert
M Snyder a c a pi t a list a n d pr o m o te r o f N ew
Yo rk an d K an s a s Ci ty c a me i nt o St Lo ui s wi th a
tr a cti on pr o p o si tio n i ni m ical to th e ci ty r a il way i n
t eres t s
These f elt sec ur e Through B utle r they
w e re p a yi n g se ve n m e mbers o f th e Cou ncil
a ye a r ea ch but a s a pr e c a utio n J oh n Sculli n But
l er s as s oci ate an d on e o f th e able s t capit a list s o f
St L ouis p a id Cou nc ilm an U th o ff a s p e ci a l r e
t a in
er o f
to w a tch th e sal a r i e d boodl e r s
Wh en S n yde r fou n d B utl e r and th e combi ne s
a g ai ns t hi m h e se t about buyi n g th e m e mb er s i n di
v idually an d o p en i n g wi ne at hi s h e adqu a rt e rs b e
g an bid di ng fo r v o te s Thi s was the fi rst brea k
from B utle r i n a big d e al an d c a us e d gre at agi
t a t io na mo n g th e boodl e r s
They did no t g o righ t
ov er t o S n yder ; they saw Butl e r a n d w i th S n yd e r s
valuatio n o f th e f r a n chi se b ef or e th e m m ade th e
bo ss go up to
Th e n th e Cou nc il c om
bi ne call ed a m ee ti n g i n G ast s Ga r d en to see i f
they could n ot agree o n a pri c e Butler sen t U t
hoff th e r e w ith i n structio n s to c a us e a dis a gr ee
m en t or fi x a pric e s o high th a t S n yd e r would r e
11 4
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S HA M E L E SS N E SS O F ST LO U I S 1 15
fu se to pa y it U tho ff obe yed an d s ugges ti n g
pe rs uad ed som e membe rs t o h o ld o ut f o r
it t ill th e m ee ti ng brok e up i n a r o w The n i t was
e ach ma n for h i m s el f a nd a l l hurried to s ee But l er
a nd to see S ny d e r too I n t he s cramb le v ar i ou s
pri ces w e re pai d
Four c ou nc ilme n g o t from
S nyd e r
e ach o ne go t
a no ther
a n d o ne
twe n ty five m e mbe rs of
th e Hou se o f D el egat es got
ea ch fr o m him
I n all Smyder paid
for th e fra n chise an d
s ince Butl e r a n d h is ba cke rs pa i d o n ly
to be at i t th e fra n chi se w as pass ed S ny d e r
tu rned arou n d a n d sold i t to hi s o l d oppo nen t s for
I t was w o rth t wice as much
T h e ma n who r ecei v ed
from S ny d e r w as
th e s am e U tho ff who ha d tak en
from J oh n
Sc ulli n a nd his s tory as h e ha s to l d i t since o n th e
s ta nd is th e mo s t c o mic a l in c iden t o f th e e xpo s u re
H e s ays S nyde r wi th h is
ov e rc oat fu ll o f
mo ney c am e ou t to hi s hou se to see h i m Th ey
s at toge ther o n a s o fa a n d wh en S ny d e r wa s go ne
U tho ff fou n d besi d e hi m a par ce l co n ta ini n g $ 5 0
Th is he re tur ned to th e promo t e r w i th th e
000
s ta te m en t that h e c ould n o t a cce pt i t si nce h e had
a l re a dy ta ken
from th e oth e r si d e ; b u t h e
in t i mat ed t h at h e cou ld ta ke
Th is
S nyde r promi sed s o U thoff v ot ed for t he fra n
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1 16
TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI ES
The nex t d a y Butler c a lled a t U tho ff s h ou se
U th o ff sp o ke fi rst
”
I w a n t t o ret urn this h e said h a n di n g Bu t
le r the p a ck a ge of
Th a t s w h a t I c a m e a f ter s a id Butler
Whe n U th o ff t o ld this i n the tri a l o f S n yder
Snyder s c o u n sel ask e d why h e r e turn e d th is
’
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Bec a use i t was n t mi ne e xcl a imed U tho ff
”
flushi n g w ith an ger
I h a dn t earn ed i t
Bu t he bel iev e d h e h a d e a rn ed the
and
he bes o ugh t Snyder fo r th a t s um o r a n y w ay th e
S n yder made hi m dri n k a nd gav e him
j us t
t ak i n g by wa y o f receipt a sig n ed
statemen t th a t the re p or ts of b r ibery i n con ne c
t i on w ith th e Cen tr a l Tr a cti on de a l w ere u tt e rly
fa ls e ; th at I [ U th o ff ] k now y o u [ Snyder ] t o be
as fa r ab o v e o ff e r i n g a b r ibe as I am o f t ak i ng
one ?
I rregul a r a s all thi s w a s howev e r th e legi sl a
t or s kep t up a pret e nse of p artis a n s hip a nd de
I n th e deb a t es a rra nged fo r i n th e c o mbi ne
cen
cy
ca uc us a m emb e r or t w o we r e t o ld o ff t o m ake
p a rtis a n spe e ch es Sometimes they w e r e i nstructed
to att a ck the combi ne a n d o ne o r t wo of th e r a s ca ls
use d to t ak e delight i n arrai gn i ng their frien ds o n
th e fl oor of th e H o u se ch a rgi n g th e m w i th th e e x
a c t fac t s
’
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI ES
dow n his f ace a s he barg a i ned w i th them Wi th
th e w h o l e cro w d lo o king on an d r epo r ter s s o ne a r
that a d e leg a te t o ld m e he expect e d t o s ee th e co n
vers atio n i n th e p a pers th e ne x t m o r n i n g Butle r
thre a te n ed an d pleaded but fi na lly promis e d t o di
vide
That w a s an o ccasio n fo r a burst o f
eloqu e nce Th e or a t o rs i ndi c a ti ng the ci tiz e ns
w i th r o pes decl a red that s i n ce i t w a s pl a i n th e
p eo pl e wa n ted l ight they w o uld v o t e them l ight
A n d no d o ubt th e pe o ple though t th ey h a d wo n
fo r i t w a s no t k n ow n till much l a t e r that th e v o t e s
were bought by B utler an d that th e citiz e ns o n l y
hastened a c o rru p t ba r g a i n
Th e n ex t big bo o dle m e a s ur e that B utl e r mi s s e d
was the Suburb an T ra cti on th e same th a t led l o ng
af ter to dis a ster Th is is th e st o ry Tu r ner and
St o ck h a ve be e n telli ng ov e r a n d o ver i n th e b o odl e
t r i a ls Turner a n d h is f r ie n ds i n th e St L ouis
Subu rb a n R a ilw a y C o mp a ny s ought a fra nchi se
fo r w hich they were willi n g to p ay l a rge b r ibes
Tu r ner spoke a b o u t i t to B utl er w ho said i t w o ul d
cost
This s ee m e d too much a n d Tur n e r
a s ked St o ck t o lobby th e m e asur e through Stock
m a n a g e d i t but i t co st him
for th e c o m bi ne
e xtr a fo r M eys enbur g
a n d th e n be for e th e mo n ey w a s pa i d ov e r and the
co m pa n y i n p o s sess io n o f i ts privilege a n i n j u ne
tio n pu t a st o p to all pr o ce e di n gs Th e m o n ey
1 18
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SHA M E L E SS N ESS O F S T LO UI S 1 19
for the H o u se
was i n saf e de pos i t v aults
c ombi ne in one
for t he Cou n c i l comb ine i n
t he oth e r a nd wh en th e l egi sla tur e adj ou rned a
l o ng fi ght fo r th e mo n ey ens u ed B ut l er chu ckl ed
ov e r the bu n gl i n g He is s a i d t o have dra wn from
i t t he less o n that wh en you w a n t a fr anch i se
do n t go to a n ovi ce for i t ; pa y a n ex pe rt a nd h e ll
”
de liv e r th e go o d s
B ut th e co m b i ne dre w th ei r ow n c o n clus i o ns from
i t a n d th ei r m o ral w as that though bood li n g w as
a busi ne ss b y i t se l f i t w as a good bus iness a n d s o
e as y that a ny body c ould l e a rn i t by study A nd
s tudy i t they did T wo o f th em told me re pea t
n try l ook i n g
edly th a t th ey tra ve l ed abo ut th e c o u
u p th e busi ne ss an d that a fel l o wshi p had gro wn
u p amo ng bood l i n g al de rma n of th e l e adi n g ci ti es
i n th e U ni t ed Stat es Com mi tt ees from Chi c ago
wou l d com e to St Lou is to fin d ou t what ne w
g am es th e St Lou is boo dl e rs had a n d th ey gav e
“
the St L ouis ans h in t s a s to how th ey did th e b u si
ne ss i n Chi c a go So th e Ch i cag o a nd S t L ou i s
b oo dl e rs u sed to vi si t C le v el an d a n d Pi tt sb urg
a n d a ll th e o t he r ci t ies or i f th e di st ance wa s t o o
gre at th ey go t th ei r ide as by tho se my s t e r i ous
cha nnels w h ich ru n al l through th e World of
”
G raft Th e m ee t i ng p l a ce i n St L ou i s was D eck
’
e r s s table a n d ide a s u n fo lde d th e re w e r e d e v el ope d
in to p l a ns w h i ch th e b oo dle rs s ay to da y are o n l y
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
I n D ecker s st a ble the ide a wa s b o rn
ina bey an ce
t o sell the U ni on M a rket ; a nd th o ugh the de a l did
no t g o t h ro ugh the b oo dlers w hen they s aw i t fa il
i n g m a de the market m e n p a y
fo r killing
i t This schem e i s l a id a sid e fo r th e f ut ure An
o ther th a t fa iled wa s to sell the court h o use an d
thi s was wel l u n d e r wa y w h en it wa s disc o vered th a t
th e grou n d on wh ich this publ ic buildi n g st a nds
was given to the city o n co n ditio n th a t i t wa s to
b e used fo r a c ou rt h o u se a n d nothing els e
Bu t the gr a nd es t i de a o f a ll c a m e f r o m Phil a
delphi a I n th a t ci ty th e gas w orks wer e s o ld o u t
t o a priv a t e co n cer n and th e w a t e r works wer e t o
be s old ne x t The St Lo uis fello w s h a ve been try
i n g e v e r si n ce to fi n d a purch a ser fo r thei r wa ter
w o rks T he pl a n t is w orth at l ea st
Bu t th e boodl e rs th o ugh t they c o uld let i t g o a t
an d et
or s o thems e lves
g
fo r the b a rg a i n
Th e s ch e m e w a s t o d o i t an d
sk i p s a id one of the boo dle r s who t o ld m e abou t
i t an d i f you could m i x i t a ll up wi th s o m e filter
i n g sch e m e it c ould be do ne ; on ly s o m e o f us
thought w e could make more tha n
ou t
—
i
of t a fortu ne a pi e c e
I t w ill be d one some
d ay
Su ch the n i s th e b o odl in g sy s tem a s we see i t
i n St Lo u is Ev e ry thi ng the c i ty ow ned w a s fo r
s ale b y th e o fficers elect e d by th e p eopl e Th e pur
12 0
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TH E S HAM E OF TH E CITI ES
a n org a n iz a ti o n m a nfi rst a s sist an t ; When F o lk
re f us e d Butler c o uld no t u nderst an d i t G o ing
awa y a ngry he w a s b a ck i n thr e e d ays t o h a ve
hi s m a n app o i nted sec o nd a ssi st a n t
The r e fus a l
o f thi s a ls o h a d some e ffect The b oo dlers s ay Bu t
le r c a m e o u t a nd b a de the m l oo k o u t ; I c an t d o
a ny thi ng w i th F o lk a nd I wo uldn t w o nde r i f he
”
g o t af ter yo u Th ey t o ok th e w a r n i n g ; Butle r did
n ot I t se e ms n ever to h a v e o ccurr e d to h i m that
M r Folk would g e t af ter h im
Wh a t Bu tler f el t the publ i c f el t Wh en M r
F olk took up a s h e did imm e di a tely electi o n f r a ud
ca ses B utl e r c a lled o n hi m a g a i n a nd t o ld hi m
wh i ch m en he m ight n ot prosecute i n e arn est Th e
tow n l a ughed Wh en Butl e r wa s se n t ab o u t hi s
bu s i n ess a n d F o lk proc eeded i n e arn est a g a i n st
the repe a t er s of b o th p a rti es e ve n th o se w ho h a d
”
help e d e l e ct him th e re was a s e n s a ti o n B ut th e
s tir w a s due to th e n ov el ty an d th e inco mpr eh ens i
b ility o f such n o n partisan co n duct i n public o ffic e
I n credulous o f ho n e s ty St Lo ui s m a ni fest e d th e
fir s t signs of th a t fa i th i n evi l w h i ch i s s o ch a r
Why di d n t Mr F o lk t ak e up
a c t er i s t ic of i t
boo dli ng ? wa s th e cy n ic a l ch a lle n ge
What do
a fe w m is e rabl e r e p ea t e r s am o u n t to ?
Mr F o l k is a m a n o f r e mark a b le equ a ni m i ty
Wh en h e ha s l a i d a cour se h e s t ee rs by it t ruly
a nd n oth i ng c a n e x ci t e or di v e rt h i m H e ha d s ai d
12 2
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S H A M E L E SS N E SS O F ST LO U I S 123
”
he wou l d d o hi s d ut y n ot that h e w o ul d ex pose
co rruptio n or re form St Lou i s ; a n d bey o n d watch
i n g deve lo pm en t s h e did n othi n g for a ye ar t o a n
s w e r th e pu bl i c chall en ge Bu t h e wa s m a k i ng
p re paratio n s
A ci v il l awye r he was study i n g
c ri mi n a l l aw ; a n d w hen o n J a n uary 2 3 1 90 2 h e
s aw i n th e St Lou i s S ta r a para g r a ph abou t th e
Subu rb a n b ri be fu nd i n b a nk h e wa s r e ady H e
sen t out s ummo nses by th e wh o l es a le for ba nke rs
Su b u rba n Rai l w ay o ffici al s a n d di r ectors l e gisl a
tors a n d pol i t ici a n s a nd be fore th e gra n d j u ry
h e ex am ined them by th e hour for d ays a n d da ys
N obod y k ne w a ny th i n g ; a nd though M r Folk was
”
k n ow n to be aft e r th e bood le rs thos e fell ow s
a n d th ei r frien ds w e re n ot a l arm ed a nd th e public
was n ot s at i s fied
G e t i n d i ctm en t s w a s th e cha llenge n ow I t
w as a b lu ff
bu t M r Folk took i t up a n d by a
”
blu ff h e got a n i n di ctm en t
A n d thi s is t he
way o f i t : th e o l d ro w be tw een th e Su b urb a n p eop le
a nd the b oo dle c ombi ne wa s goi ng o n i n sec re t bu t
in a ve ry bi tt e r s p i rit
Th e mo ney l yin g i n the
s a fe de po s i t vaul t s i n c a s h was cl a im e d by b oth
parti es Th e bo o dle rs s a id i t was th ei r s b ec au se
th ey h a d d o ne th e i r part by vot in g th e fra n chi se ;
th e Su b urb a n p eop le s aid i t was theirs b ec aus e th ey
Th e boo dle rs an
h ad n o t o bt ai ned th e fra nch i s e
sw
er ed th a t the i n j u nc t i o n aga i ns t the fra nchis e
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TH E SH AM E O F TH E CITI ES
wa s n ot th e i rs and th e y th re atened t o t a k e the dis
pute be fore th e gr an d j ury I t w a s they w ho g a ve
t o a re porter a p a r a gr a ph a b o ut th e b oo dle
”
f und an d they me an t t o h a ve i t s ca r e Tu r ne r a nd
“
”
Stock St o ck re a lly wa s sc a red
Whe n M r
F o lk s summ on s wa s served o n h im h e bel ieved the
”
boodl er s h ad squ ea l ed
an d h e fa i n ted The
deputy w ho s aw th e e ffe c t o f th e summo n s t o ld Mr
F o lk w ho s ee i n g i n i t o n ly evide n c e o f wea kness
an d gu il t sen t fo r the l a w yer w ho r e pr e sen ted
St o ck a nd Tur n er a nd boldl y gav e him the ch o ice
fo r his cli en ts o f bei n g w i tne s s es or de fe n d a n t s
The l a w yer was fi rm bu t Folk a dvis e d him t o co m
s ul t his clie n t s an d thei r ch o ice was t o be w i tn e sse s
Thei r c o n fessi o n a n d th e s e iz ur e of th e b r ibe f un d
i n es cr ow gav e Folk the w hole i n side st o ry o f th e
Subu rb an deal a nd evi dence i n plen ty f o r i ndict
me n ts He took s eve n a nd the reput a ti on an d
st a n di n g of th e first culpri ts sh ow ed right awa y not
on ly the fea rl e s sn ess of the p rosecuti o n but the
v a riety an d p ow e r a nd w eal th o f the St Lo uis spe
cies of b oo dl e r The r e was Ch ar les K ra tz a ge n t
o f the Council combin e ; J oh n K Murrell a ge n t o f
the H o use combi n e ; E mi l A M eys enb ur g c o u n cil
m a n an d g oo d citiz e n — a ll fo r t a ki ng br i bes ;
Ellis Wa inwr igh t an d Henry N ic o l a us m i llion a ir e
b r e w e r s a n d di rectors of the Subu rban R a i l wa y
C o m pa n y for br i b e ry ; an d J uli us L ehm an n a nd
1 24
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TH E SH A M E O F TH E C ITI ES
m a y be in ferred from the fa ct th a t i n all hi s d e al
i n gs w ith w i t nes s es w h o tur n ed S t a te s e v i de n ce he
h a s no t m a de o n e misstep ; th e re h a ve b een n o mis
u n de rst a ndi n gs an d n o ch a rges a g a i n st him o f
f o ul pl ay Whi le the pre ssure f r o m behi n d ne v e r
c ea s e d and the defi an ce be fo re him wa s bold
Go
”
higher u p
w a s th e ch a ll e nge H e wa s go i ng
high e r up Wi th co n fessio n s o f Tu rn er a nd St o ck
and the i n dictments for pe rj u ry fo r e x a m ples he
t e e x a m i n e d w i tnesses ; a nd th o ugh the big m en
w ere f u rn ishi n g the l ittle b oo dlers w ith leg a l a d
v ice an d d r illi n g them i n thei r st ori es ther e were
breaks here an d th e re The st o ry o f the Cent ra l
Tr a cti o n deal b e g a n t o develop a n d th a t wen t
h i gher u p straight i n to th e group o f m illi o n a ires
l e d by Butler
Bu t ther e w as a n imp a ss able b a rrier i n the l aw
o n brib er y A m eric an legisl a t o rs d o n o t legisl a t e
h a r shly a g a i n st their chie f vic e The St a te o f
M i s sou ri l i m i ts th e li abi li ty o f a b ribe r t o three
y ea rs a nd the Tr a ction de a l wa s o utl aw ed for
m o st o f th e p r i nci p a ls i n i t B ut the l aw excepted
n o n re sid e nts an d M r F o lk f o u n d th a t i n m o me n t s
of v a n i ty Robert M S n yd e r h a d described hims e lf
”
a s o f N ew Yo rk so h e h a d S n yder i ndict ed fo r
bribe ry and George J K o busch p r esid en t o f th e
S t L ouis C a r Comp a ny fo r perj ury Kobusch
h a v i n g s w or n th at h e k ne w of n o bri b e ry for th e
12 6
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SHA M E L ESSN E SS OF ST LOU I S 12 7
Ce n tra l Tra c tio n fra nch i se w hen he hi m sel f had
pai d ou t mo ney Kobu sch tu rned Sta te s w it n es s
agai ns t S ny der
H igh as th ese i n di c tm en ts w e re t he cry fo r B ut
le r pe rs i st ed a n d th e ske pt i cal to n e o f i t made i t
p la in tha t to brea k u p th e ri ng M r F ol k had to
c a tch th e boss A n d he di d c atch him S a v ed by
mis s i n g th e Suburba n bus i ne ss sav ed by the l aw i n
the C en tra l Tractio n a ff ai r Butler l o st b y his t e
meri ty he w en t o n boodli n g a f t e r M r F o lk w as i n
o ffice H e o ff e red pres en ts o f
e a ch to
th e two m ed ica l m e mbe rs o f th e H e alth Bo ard for
thei r approva l o f a g arba ge co n tra c t wh ich w as to
”
ne t h i m
So th e O ld Ma n th e h e ad
o f th e bood le rs a n d th e l egisl at i v e agen t of th e fi
nancinl distri c t w as i ndi ct ed
B ut th e ri ng di d n ot part a n d th e pu blic fa i th
i n e vil re mai ned s t e adfas t N o o ne ha d bee n tri ed
Th e t ri al s w e re approa ch i n g a nd th e u n d e rs ta n d
i n g was that th e fi rs t of th e m was to be mad e a
t e st A d e fe at mi ght s top M r F olk a n d h e re al
iz ed th e moral e ff ec t s u c h a res ul t would h a v e Bu t
h e w as s ur e o f hi s c ases a ga ins t Mu rre ll a n d Kratz
a nd i f h e c o n vi ct ed th e m th e wa y w as open to b oth
co mbi nes a n d to th e b ig m en b eh in d th em To all
appe ara nces th ese m en a lso w e re co nfident a nd w ith
th e lawye rs en ga ged for th e m th ey mi ght well h av e
been Su ddenly i t w as decided th at Mu rrell wa s
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TH E SHA M E O F THE CITI ES
”
“
we ak an d m ight c a ve
He r an awa y Th e
shock o f this t o the c o m m u n i ty is h a rd t o re a lize
n o w I t wa s the first publ ic pro of of guilt a nd th e
fi rs t brea k i n the r i n g o f li ttl e b oo dle rs T o M r
Fo lk i t wa s th e firs t s e rious check fo r h e c o uld n ot
n ow i n di ct th e Hous e c o mbi n e The n t o o Kratz
w a s i n Flo rid a an d the Circu i t A tt o r n ey s a w him
s el f g o i n g i n t o court w i th th e w e a k es t o f his e arly
c a se s th a t o f M eys enb urg I n ge n u i ne al a rm h e
m o ved h ea vy i n c rea s es i n the b a il b on ds All th e
l awyers i n all th e c ases combi n e d t o defea t thi s
mov e a nd th e fight l a sted for d a y s ; but M r F o lk
wo n Kratz r e tu r ne d i n a r a g e t o fi nd b a il Wi th
h i s co nne ctio ns an d hi s p ro perty h e co ul d gi v e a ny
a m o u n t h e bo as t e d an d h e o ffe r ed
In
s pi t e o f th e prot es t o f th e cou n sel engage d for him
h e i n si s t e d upo n fur n ish i n g
a nd he de
nounced th e e ffort to di s credit him w i th the ins inu
ati o n that such a s he would avoid t ri a l He e ven
a s k e d to be tri e d fi rst bu t wis e r h e ads o n h is s ide
cho s e th e M eys enb ur g ca se
The w ea k ne ss o f this c ase l ay i n th e i n di r e cti on
o f the b r ibe M ey s enb urg a busi n e s s m an o f r e
pute took f o r hi s vot e on th e Suburba n f r an chise
n ot mo n ey ; he sold fo r
s o me t w o hu ndred
s hare s of worthl e ss s t o ck Th is might b e m a d e to
l ook lik e a r egul ar bu s in e s s tr a ns a ctio n an d hal f a
do zen of th e b est l awy e r s i n th e Stat e app e ar ed to
128
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TH E SH A ME OF TH E CITI ES
cri m i n a l th e ri ghts o f th e St a t e a lso should b e
guar d ed
M eys enb ur g w a s fou n d guilty an d se n te n c e d to
thre e ye a rs The m a n wa s sh o cked limp a nd th e
ri ng br o ke K r a tz ran a w a y H e wa s a dvised to
go an d l ike Murr ell h e h a d pro m ise s of pl en ty of
mo n ey ; u n like Mu r rell how e v e r Kratz s t oo d o n
the o rder of hi s g oi n g H e m a d e th e big f ellow s
giv e hi m a l a rg e sum of ca sh a n d for th e f ulfill
me n t o f th e i r pr o mise o f mor e h e w a i t e d me n a c
in
l
i
n
N
ew
O
r
l
e
a
ns
Suppli
e
d
ther
e
wi
th
a
ll
h
e
gy
dem an ded thi s C o uncil l ea der s tepp e d a cros s i n to
Mexi co an d h a s g on e i n t o bu s i ness th e r e o n a l a rg e
s c a l e W ith Kr a tz safely aw a y th e ri ng wa s
n e r ved up a g a i n an d M eys enb urg appeare d i n
cou r t w ith fiv e w ell kn ow n millio n a i r es to giv e a n
a pp e al bo n d of
I could hav e got
”
more h e told th e rep o rt e rs
but I gu ess th a t s
”
en ough
Wi th the w ay t o both b o odl e c o mbi n es clo se d
thus by the flight o f th e ir go bet w ee n s M r F o lk
He
m ight w e ll h a v e b een st a y e d ; but h e w asn t
p r oc ee ded w i th his e xami na tion of w it n e sse s and to
lo o s en thei r tongues h e brought o n th e tri a ls o f
L ehm a n n a nd Faulk n er f o r p erj ury Th ey w e r e
w e ll de fen d e d bu t a g a i n st th e m a pp ea red as
a g a i n st M eys enb ur g Pr e sident Tu rn er o f th e
Suburba n R ail w a y a n d Ph i li p S tock th e b re w e ry
1 30
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S H A ME L E SS N E S S OF S T LO UI S 1 8 1
sec r etary
T he perjurenl were fou n d gu il t y
M ea n w hile M r F o lk w as t ry i n g th rough both
Was hi n gto n a n d J e ff ers o n Ci ty to h ave M urrell
a n d Kratz brought ba ck Th ese re gul ar cha nnels
f a i l i n g h e applied to h i s sou rces o f i n fo rmat i o n i n
Mu rrel l s ( the Hou se ) co mb ine a n d he s oo n
le a rn ed that t he fu git ive was i ll w i thou t mo ney
a nd u n a ble to co mm u nic at e w i th his w i fe o r frien ds
Mo ney that ha d been ra ised for hi m to fl ee w i t h
h a d been ta ken by oth e rs a nd a n othe r fu nd sen t to
Th e
him b y a fel l ow boodl e r did n ot re ach h im
fell ow b oodle r di d b u t he fa iled to deli ver th e
mo ney M urrel l wa n t ed to co me h om e a nd M r
F o lk g l ad to w elc om e him le t hi m co me as far a s a
sm a ll tow n j u s t outsi de of S t Lo uis Th e re he
w as h el d t il l Mr Fo l k c o uld a rra nge a c oup a nd
m ak e s ure o f a w i t ness to co rro borat e w h at M ur
rell shou ld s a y ; for sec ur e i n th e a bsence o f Mur
rel l th e w h o le Ho u se c ombi ne was den y in g eve ry
thi n g
One d a y ( i n Se p t e m be r 1 9 02 ) Mr F olk
c all ed o ne o f th e m G e or ge F R obe rts o n i n to his
o ffice
They h a d a l o ng t alk to ge t he r a nd Mr F o lk
ask ed h i m as h e h ad t i m e a nd a g a in to t ell w h at
he kne w a bou t th e Su b u rba n de a l
I ha ve told y ou m a ny t i m es M r F olk
s a id R o be r tso n
that I k n ow n o thi ng a bout
”
th at
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TH E SH AM E O F THE CITI ES
I V h a t wo uld y o u s ay i f y o u sh o uld se e Mu r
?
rell he r e
M r F o lk a sked
M u rr ell
excl a i m ed R o be r ts o n
Th a t s
”
go o d th a t is Why yes I d like t o see Mu rr ell
H e wa s l a ughing a s M r F o lk w e n t t o the d oo r
”
a nd c a lled M ur rell
M ur r ell wa lked i n R o b
er ts o ns s m ile p a ssed
He gripped his se a t a nd
a r o se l ike a m a nli f t ed by an elect r ic sh o ck Once
o n his feet he st oo d there st a ring a s a t a gh o st
”
Mu rr ell s a id Mr F o lk quietly
th e j i g i s
up is n t i t ?
”
“
Y es s a id Murrell
i t s a ll up
Yo u v e told eve rythi ng ?
”
Everyth ing
R o b e rt s on sank i n t o his chair W he n h e h ad
t i m e to r e c o ver his sel f c on t ro l M r F o lk ask e d
hi m i f h e wa s r e ady to ta lk ab o ut th e Su b urba n
dea l
W el l I do n t see wh at else I c a n do M r Folk
”
y ou v e got m e
R o be rt s o n t o ld all a n d w i th Mu rr ell a n d
Tu r ne r a n d Stock an d th e roll s o f mo ney to s up
port him M r Folk i n di ct e d fo r bribery or p e r
j ury o r both th e re mai n i n g m e mb e r s o f th e Hous e
c ombi ne s i xtee n m en a t on e swoop S o m e es
c ape d One Charle s K elly a l e adi ng wi t ness i n
ano th e r case fled to Europ e w i th more mo ney th a n
a n yo ne bel ieved h e ow ne d and h e r e tu r ne d aft e r
182
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TH E SH A M E OF TH E CITI ES
134
agai ns t h i m Th e mo s t e mi nen t m e mbe r s of th e
N ew Yo rk b a r pr o se cu t ed hi m
The most e mi
n e n t m embers o f the St Lo uis B a r w e r e en g a g ed
t o d efe n d B utler H e w a s still the bos s h e had
m illio n s o f his o w n a n d ba c k o f hi m w e r e th e re
sourc es fi n a n ci a l an d po li tical o f th e l e adi n g m en
of S t L o ui s Th a t th e p e opl e w e re ag a i n st h im
a ppe a r e d i n o n ly o ne sign that o f th e sp e ci al
j uries c a refu lly ch o s en to k ee p ou t m en pr i vat e l y
k no wn t o b e implic a t e d Th e s e j uri es h a d in
v ar i a bly co n vict ed th e boodler s Butler a sk e d to
be t r ied i n s o me o ther tow n Mr Folk s ugges t e d
C o lumbi a th e u n iversi ty tow n of th e Stat e of
M is s ouri
Columbi a wa s chos en an d Butl e r s so ns w en t
“
”
up th e r e w ith th e i r h e ele r s t o fi x the tow n
Th ey s p en t m oney f r e ely and b eca us e the l oafers
drank w i th th e m pl e n ti fully th e B utler ites thought
“
th ey h a d th e tow n right
But th ey di d n ot
k no w Col umb i a ; ne ith e r did Butl e r W h en h e
st e pped o ff th e trai n h e a sk e d geni a ll y what th e
busi ness of th e tow n wa s
E ducati on w a s th e a ns w e r
”
“
—
Educatio n ! h e blurt ed
That s a h l
”
o f a bu s i ness !
A n d h e c o n du ct e d him sel f a s i f
h e did n ot u n de rs ta n d what i t m e a n t H i s fri en ds
”
havi n g pr e par e d th e w ay for a g ood f ellow
B utl e r se t ab out pro ving h i m self s u ch a n d h is
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SHAM E L E SS N E SS OF S T LO U I S 135
rece pt ion i n th e b a r rooms a n d stree t s was so fla t
teri n g that i t was predict ed i n h i s c r o wd th a t Fo l k
would n e ve r l ea ve C ol umbi a al i ve Bu t M r F o l k
u n d e rs to o d t he peo p le be tter St an ch as th e lead
i n g i n t e res ts o f St Lou is were ag ai ns t h i m h e
al ways h el d t h at his u n fl inch i n g j u ries mea n t that
th e si l en t peo pl e o f St Lo u is w er a g a i n st boo
dlers a n d ou t i n th e Stat e h e fe l t st ill s u re r o f
thi s
H e w as r i ght
Th e re w as n o de m on stra
t i o n for h i m H e was w elco m ed but i n d ec orous
fas h i o n ; a n d a ll h e s aw by way o f prej ud ic e was
th e frien dly l oo k ou t o f k in d ey es tha t w en t wi th
Wh en th e
the warm pres s ure o f s tra n ge h an ds
j u ry wa s draw n eve ry ma n o n i t prov ed to be a
D e moc rat a nd th ree wer e m e mbe rs o f the D e mo
crat ic Cou n t y Commi t tee M r F o l k w as u rged
to ch a llen ge th ese f o r aft e r a ll Co lonel But le r
w as at th e h e ad o f th e i r mach ine H e acce pt ed
th e m H e mi gh t a s wel l ha ve obj ec t ed to th e
j ud ge Joh n A H oc k a day wh o al s o was a De mo
e rat
No si r s aid M r F olk ; I am a De mo
e rat a nd I w i ll t ry Butl e r be for e a D e moc ratic
”
j u d ge a nd a D e mocr ati c j ury
Th e tri a l wa s a s cene to s av e ou t o f a ll th e
hideou snes s be fore a nd aft e r i t
T he li tt le old
cou rt h ou se h e a ded o ne en d o f a sho rt ma in s t ree t
th e u n ive rsi t y t he oth e r ; farm e rs m u le t e am s we re
hi tched all a l o ng be tw een F rom far a nd ne ar
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI ES
pe o ple c a m e to see this t ri a l a nd w i th the sig
nific a nce o f i t i n m i n d m en h a l ted t o re a d o ve r
the e n tr an ce to th e c o urt th e se wo rds chiseled
l o ng a g o
Oh J ustice w he n d ri ven f r o m o ther
”
h a bi t a ti o ns m a k e this thy d w el li n g pl ace
Yo u
coul d see the a pp ro p r i a t en ess o f th a t lege nd t ake
h o ld of me n an d i n the spi r i t o f i t they p as sed
i n t o th e di n gy cou rtr o om Th e re the row s of
i n t en t f a ces see m ed to express th a t sa m e s en tim en t
Th e j ury l o ok e d the j udge pers on ified i t H e
alo ne wa s cold but he wa s a ttentiv e delib e r a t e
an d rea so n abl e ; you we r e sure of h is c o mmo n
se n se ; y o u understo o d his rulings ; a nd of his up
rightness you w e r e c on vi n ced by the wa y h e s ee med
t o le a n j ust a l i ttle t ow ard the prisone r I d on t
beli e v e they will fi n d an y e r rors h ow ev er t r ivi a l
“
o n w hich to r everse J ohn A H o ck a day
Eve n
the pros e cut o r wa s fa ir I t wa s no t Ed wa rd Bu t
ler w h o w as o n tri al i t wa s the St a t e ; a nd n ev e r
be fo r e did M r F o lk plead so e arn estly fo r this
conc e pti o n o f his w ork O utside i n the church es
pr a yer meeti n gs we r e h eld Th es e w er e p r iv a t e
a nd u n d e m on strativ e ; th e prayi n g citi zens did n ot
tell e ven Mr Folk th a t they w e r e a sk ing thei r
G o d to giv e hi m stre n gth I n di rectly i t c a me to
h im a n d fi rs t fi n e sign a s i t wa s o f a pp rov a l f ro m
h i s cli en t th e p e opl e i t mov e d hi m d e eply A n d
“
d o f ch apter
See P os t S cr iptum en
13 6
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI E S
to come fort h an d put th rough th e H o use of
D e leg a t e s a bill for th e i mprove m e n t o f a s tree t
i n thei r ne ighborhood ; a n d Butl e r h a d thi s d o ne !
On e o f th e first gr eeti n g s to M r Folk was a
w a rn i ng from a high source th a t now a t l en gth
h e h a d go ne f a r e no ugh a nd o n the h ee ls o f this
cam e a n o rd e r fr o m the Poli ce D e p a rtme n t th a t
here af t e r a ll c o mmu nic a ti o n s from him to the
p o l ic e should b e m a de i n w r i ti n g
Thi s m e a n t
sl ow arrests ; i t m ean t th a t th e fight wa s t o g o
o n W e ll M r F o lk h a d m e a n t to go o n a n y
w ay
”
O ffi c e r he said to th e ma n who brought the
m essa ge
g o b a ck t o the m an w ho sen t you an d
s a y to hi m th a t I u nd ers t an d him and th a t here
af t e r all my commu n ic a tio n s w ith his departm en t
w ill be i n the for m o f indic tments
Th a t dep a rtment r e treated i n h as t e e xpl a i n i ng
a n d a p o l o gizi ng an d o ff ering a ll po s sible fa cili
tie s M r F o lk w en t on w i th hi s busi n ess H e
put o n tri a l He n ry N i c o l a us th e bre w er a ccu s ed
of b r ibery M r N i c o l a us ple a d e d that he di d
n ot k n o w wh a t wa s to be the use of a n ot e f o r
which h e h a d endor se d A n d o n this
th e j udg e t o ok the ca se a w ay f rom th e j ury a nd
d i r e ct ed a v e r dict o f n o t gu il ty I t was the fi r s t
ca se Mr F olk had lo s t H e wo n th e n ex t e ight
all boodle l eg i s l a tor s maki n g h i s r ec or d fourt een
138
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S H A M ELE SS N ESS OF ST LO U I S 13 9
a g a i ns t one B ut the Supre m e Cou rt t ec h nica l
an d sl ow is th e l as t st an d fo r such crimi nals a n d
'
th ey wo n thei r fi rst fight there
The M eysen
burg cas e was se n t back fo r ret ria l
M r F o lk h a s wo rk ahead o f hi m for th e t wo
ye ars rem a i n i n g o f h i s t e rm an d h e is the m an
to c arry i t a l l through B u t wh e re i s i t al l to
en d ? T h e re a re m o re m en to be i n dict ed ma ny
more to be t ried and th e re is much m o re c o rru p
t i o n to be di sc l o sed Bu t th e p eo p le of St Lo uis
k n ow en ou gh
Wh at are th ey go ing to d o
a bout i t ?
T h ey hav e h ad o ne oppo rtu n ity a lre ady to s et
I n N ov e mbe r
j ust be fore th e Butl e r v e r
dic t b u t afte r the t ri al w as be gu n there w as an
elec tio n Som e o f th e o ffices to be fi l led m i gh t
hav e to d o wi th b oodl ing c ases Mr Fo l k a n d
boodl i n g we re th e n atu ral iss u e bu t th e pol it ici a ns
av o id ed i t N ei th e r part y cl aim ed M r Fo l k
B oth part ies too k cou nsel o f But le r i n m ak in g up
Th e D e mo
t h ei r ti ck e ts a n d th ey s at i sfied h im
cr a ts d i d n ot m en t i o n F o l k s n am e i n th e plat
form a nd th ey n o m i n a ted B u t le r s s o n for th e
sea t i n Co ng ress from wh ic h h e ha d re pe at edly
been ous t ed for fraud at th e po lls
W hy ? I ask ed a D emoc ra t ic le a de r who s a id
he co n tro lled all bu t four dis tric t s in h is org a niz a
ti o n
d o f chap ter
Scc P os t S cri ptum en
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TH E S HAM E OF THE CITI ES
”
Bec a us e I ne eded thos e B utler districts h e
an s w e red
“
B ut i s n t th e r e e no ugh an ti b oo dl ing sen ti
”
m en t i n this t own t o o ff set th o se districts ?
”
I d on t thi n k so
Pe rh a ps he wa s right A nd yet th os e j u ri e s
a nd th o se pr a yers must me an s o m ethi n g
“
M r F o lk s a ys
N i nety n i n e per cen t o f th e
pe o pl e ar e h o nest ; o nly on e pe r cent is dishonest
”
Bu t the on e per cen t i s pern ici o usly a ctive
In
o the r words the pe o ple ar e s o und bu t w i tho ut
le a ders A n o the r o ffi ci a l o f i rr ep roa ch able ch a r
a cter hi m sel f s a id th a t the tr o uble wa s there w as
”
n o o ne fi t to th r o w the first stone
H ow ev er thi s m ay be h e re a re th e fa ct s
I n th e m idst of a ll these sens a ti o ns a nd this
o bvi ous obsti na t e p o li tic a l ro ttenness th e i nno
c en t citiz e n s who must b e a t le a st a decisiv e
mi n ori ty di d not re gist e r l a st f a ll Butle r the
p ap e rs said had gre a t f u rn itu re v a ns g o i n g a bout
w ith men w h o we r e said t o be r epe a t e rs a nd y e t
the registr a ti o n wa s the l ow est i n m a n y ye a r s
Wh en the B utler iz ed tick e ts we re an n ounced ther e
w as no au dibl e pr o t es t I t w a s the t i me fo r a n
i nd e p e nd en t mov e m en t A thi r d t i cket might n ot
h a v e w o n bu t i t w ould h a v e s hown th e pol i tici ans
w
h
e
th
e
r
they
c
o
u
n
ted
th
e
m
i
n
or
out
ho
w
ma
n
y
)
(
h o nes t v ot es th e re w e re inth e ci ty and what th ey
14 0
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TH E SHA M E OF THE C ITI ES
he a d an d go bet ween o f the Cou n cil c o mbi ne th e
f ugitiv e f rom j us tic e w ho by his flight bl o ck s
the w a y to the exp o sure an d co n victio n o f the
ri ch an d influ e nti a l m en w ho a re h o lding th e
pe o ple o f Miss o uri i n ch e ck an d keeping b oo dli ng
f r o m g o i n g be fore th e p e ople a s a p o li t i c a l issue
this c ri m i na l ex i le thus b a ck ed w a s a sked this
qu e stio n i n M e xic o an d here is th e an s w er he
re tur ne d
I a m w a i ti n g fo r Jo e Folk s t e rm to e xpire
Th e n I a m go i ng h o m e to ru n f or Gov e rn or of
M isso ur i an d v i n di c a ti o n
14 2
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m,
P o s t S cr iptw
—
1 90 4
Dec e mber
Th e tick e t s
”
w ere no t re m ark ably g o od
B oo dl e wa s n o t
”
i n th e platf o rm no r r efo rm
Th e b i partis an
b o odler s w i th re fo rme r s a nd respect a bl e busi
n ess m enf or b a ck e rs fa c e d i t o u t an d B o ss Butler
reorg an iz e d th e ne w H ou se o f D e l e g a t e s w i th his
m an for Spe a k e r a nd th e superi n tende n t o f his
g a rb a ge pl a n t ( i n th e i n t e res t of w h ich he o ff ered
th e bribe s fo r which h e w as co n v i cted ) f or chai r
m an o f th e S an itary Comm i tt ee
A n d the Supre m e Court o f M is s our i r e v e rs ed
h is ca s e a n d all th e oth e r boodl e ca ses one by o n e
the n b y whol es al e
Th e whole m achi ne ry o f
j usti ce b ro ke dow n unde r th e s tra in o f b oodle
p ul l
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S H A M E L E SS N E SS OF S T LO U I S 14 8
Me an wh ile h ow e v e r Mr Fol k uncovered c or
ru pt io n in th e State a n d a nn ou n c i n g hi m sel f a
c a n d id at e for G overn o r has appea led fro m th e
Cou rt to th e Peop le from the C i ty o f St Lo u i s
to the S tat e of M iss o uri
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P I TT S B U R G
:
A C IT Y A S H A M E D
a
9
1
0
M
3
(
)
y
.
M i nnxs r o us
wa s a n e x amp le o f po l i ce co rru p
tio n ; St Lo u i s o f fin a n cial c orr upti o n Pi tts
burg i s nu e xample o f bo th poli ce a n d fin a nc ia l
co rrupt io n Th e two o ther c i ti es h a ve fou nd each
a n o fiicial w h o has e xpos ed th em P i ttsburg h as
had n o su c h ma n an d n o ex posure Th e ci t y h as
“
been d esc ri bed ph ys i c a lly a s H ell wi th th e l id
o ff
po l iti c al ly i t i s h el l w i th th e l i d o n
I am n o t go i n g to l i ft th e l id Th e ex posi tio n
o f what th e p e o pl e k n ow a n d s ta n d is th e pu rpo se
o f th ese arti cl es n ot th e expos ur e o f c orrupt i o n
a nd th e ex pos u re o f Pi ttsburg i s n o t nec es sary
The re ar e e arnes t m en i n th e to wn who d e cl a re i t
mus t bl ow up of i tsel f soo n I doubt th a t ; bu t
even i f i t does bu rs t th e peo pl e o f Pittsbu rg w i l l
le arn l i ttl e more tha n they k n ow n ow I t i s n ot
i gn or ance th at k ee ps Am e ri c a n c itiz en s s ub s ervi
en t ; ne i th e r i s i t i n d i ff e renc e Th e P itts b urgers
k n ow a n d a stro ng mi n ori ty of th e m care ; th ey
hav e ri sen a g a in st th ei r ri ng a nd be ate n i t o nly
t o l oo k abou t a n d fin d a n oth e r ri ng arou n d th e m
A n gry a n d as h am ed P itt s burg is a t y p e o f the
city th at has t ried to be free a nd fai led
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14 7
TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI ES
A sturdy ci ty i t is to o the s ec on d i n Penns yl
v an i a T wo riv e rs fl ow past i t t o m ak e a third
the Ohio i n fr on t an d a ll aro und a nd b e n ea th i t
a re n a tur a l g a s an d c oa l w hich feed a thous a nd
f u rn a ces th a t sm o k e a ll d a y a nd fl a me a l l n igh t
t o m a ke Pi ttsburg th e Bi rmi ngh a m o f A m eric a
R ich i n n atu r a l re sourc e s i t is richest i n the qu a l
i ty o f i t s p o pul a tio n Si x d ays an d si x n ight s
th e se people l a b or moldi n g ir o n a nd fo r gi ng
s t ee l an d th e y ar e n o t ti re d ; o n the s eve n th d ay
Th ey a re
th ey rest b e cause th a t is th e S abb a th
Sc o tch Pre sbyte r i ans an d P ro t e stan t I r ish Thi s
stock h a d an a ctu a l m aj ori ty n ot m an y ye a rs a go
a nd n ow th o ugh the p o pul a tio n h a s gr o w n to
i n Pi ttsbu rg p ro per ( c o u n ti ng Allegheny
a c ro ss the r ive r
and other c o m m u niti e s
p o li tically sep ara te b ut es se nti a lly i nteg ra l p ar ts
o f th e pro p o sed G r e a ter Pi ttsbu r g the tot a l is
th e Sc o tch a n d Scotch I r ish still pre
d o m i n a t e a nd th e i r cle a n str on g fa c e s ch a r a c
t er iz e the c r o w ds i n th e st r eets
C ann y busy and
brave th e y bu il t up th e i r city a lm o st i n sec re t
maki n g m illions an d ha r dly m entio n i ng i t N o t
till ou tsid ers cam e i n to buy s o m e of th e m o u t
di d the w or ld ( a nd Pi tt sburg a nd so me o f th e
mill i on air es i n i t ) di s c o v e r th at the Iro n Ci ty had
b een m ak i ng no t only st e el an d gl a ss bu t mul ti
mi llio n a ir e s A ba n k e r told a busi n ess m a n as a
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
m a de i t busi ne ss l ike an d resp e ct a ble
The mu
nic ipa lity issu ed b o nds t o help the i n fan t r a ilr oa ds
to devel o p the ci ty an d as i n s o m an y A meric a n
ci ties the r o ads repu di a t e d the debt an d i n terest
an d w e n t i nt o p o litics Th e Pe nn sylv a n i a R a il
r oa d was in the system f r o m th e st a rt an d a s
the o th e r r oa ds c a me i n and found the ci ty g o v
er n
m en
t b ough t up by th o s e b efor e th e m they
pu r ch a s e d thei r rights o f w ay by outb r ibi ng the
o lder ro a ds then j o i ne d th e ri n g to a cqu ire m o r e
rights fo r them s elves a n d t o ke e p bel ated riv a l s
o ut
A s co r poratio ns multipli ed an d c a pit al
br a nched ou t corruptio n i ncreased n a turally but
t
th e n ot a bl e ch a racte r i s ti c of th e Pi ttsburg pl an
of misg o v e rn m e n t w a s that i t was n o t a h a ph a zard
gr o wth but a delib e r a t e i n telli ge n t org a niz a ti o n
I t wa s conceived i n o ne m i n d buil t up by one
w il l a nd this m aste r s pi ri t ruled no t lik e Crok er
i n N ew Yo rk a s oli d maj o ri ty ; n or lik e Butler
i n S t Lo u is a b i p a rtis an mi n ori ty ; bu t the w hol e
t own— fina nc ia l comm e rci a l a nd p o l itical The
b o ss o f Pi ttsburg wa s Christopher L M a ge e a
gre a t m a n a n d whe n he died h e w as reg ar ded by
m a ny o f th e strong es t m en i n Pi t ts bu rg a s th e i r
leadi ng ci tiz en
”
Chr is as h e w a s c all e d wa s a charm ing char
a ct e r
I h av e s een P i tt sb ur gers gro w bl a ck i n
the fa ce d en ou n ci ng h is ri n g bu t wh en I ask ed
1 50
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PI T
TS BU B G :
A C ITY A S H A M E D 1 5 1
What k i n d o f a ma n was Magee ? the y w o u l d
co o l a n d s a y
Chris ? Chri s was o ne o f the best
me n God e v e r mad e
I f I s m i l ed they w o u l d
That is al l right You s mil e a n d yo u can
sa y
go ah e ad a n d s h o w u p th e r in g Y o u m ay d e
s c ri be this t own a s th e wors t i n the cou n try But
y ou ge t M a gee w ro n g an d y ou l l h a ve a ll Pi t ts
”
burg up i n a rm s
Th en the y would te ll m e tha t
”
Magee robbed t he tow n
or perh a ps th e y
wo uld spe ak o f t he fu n d ra i s in g to e rec t a mo n u
m en t to th e de ad bo ss
So I mu s t be c are fu l A n d to be g i n w i th
Ma gee d i d no t t ec h n ic a ll y s pea k i n g rob th e to wn
Th a t was no t his way a n d i t w ou l d be a c a re lessly
u nnec es sary way i n P en n sy l va ni a B u t s u rely
h e does n o t d ese rve a mo n um en t
Magee w as an Am e rica n H i s pat e rn al grea t
gr an dfather se rved i n th e R e vol ut ion an d se ttl ed
i n Pi ttsburg at th e c l o se o f th e wa r Chr i s toph e r
was bo rn o n Good F rida y A pr il 1 4 18 4 8 H e
w as sen t to schoo l t i ll h e was fi ft een ye ars o l d
Th en hi s fath e r di ed a n d Squ i re or Tomm y
St ee l e his u n cl e a b o ss o f that day gav e hi m
his s tart i n l i fe w i th a pla ce i n the Ci t y Tr e a s ury
Wh en j u s t t wen t y o ne h e mad e h i m c as hi e r a n d
two y e ars l at e r Chr is had h i m sel f elect ed Ci ty
Tre as u re r by a maj or i t y o f 1 1 00 o n a t ick e t th e
he a d of w hi ch w as be at en b y 1 5 00 v ot es
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TH E SHA ME OF TH E CITI E S
Such wa s hi s p o pul a ri ty ; a n d th o ugh h e sy s
te m a t iz ed a nd c a pit a lized i t i t l a sted t o th e end
fo r the fo u n d a tio n there of wa s go o dness o f he ar t
a nd pe r s ona l ch a rm M a gee wa s t a ll st ro ng an d
gr a ce fully buil t H is h a ir wa s d a rk till i t tu rn ed
g ra y then his sh or t must a che an d his eyebr ow s
held bl a ck a nd hi s fa ce expressed easily sure p ow er
a nd geni a l he a rty kindnes s But he wa s a mbi tious
fo r p ow er an d a ll his g o od n ess of h e art w a s di
r ec ted by a sh rew d m i n d
Whe n Chri s s aw the n atur a l fo ll o wi n g g a the r
i ng ab o u t hi m h e re a lized you n g a s he w a s th e
us e o f i t an d he r e ti re d f r o m o ffic e ( h o ldi n g o nly
a fi re c o m missi o nership ) w i th the a v ow ed pu r
pos e o f b e comi n g a bo ss D e t e rmi n e d to m ake
hi s ri ng p e r fect he we n t to P h il a delphi a t o study
th e pl an i n op e r a tio n there La t er w h e n the
T w e e d ri n g wa s b r oke n he sp en t m on ths i n Ne w
Yo rk look i ng i nt o T a mm an y s m a chi ne m e thod s
a nd th e mist a k e s w hich h a d l e d t o i ts exposure
an d di s r upti on Wi th th a t che e r f ul c an d o r w h ich
so f t en s i ndi gn ati on h e t o ld a fe ll ow to wns m an
w
ho
told
m
e
wh
at
h
e
wa
s
d
o
i
ng
i
n
N
ew
Y
ork
;
(
)
a nd w h en M a ge e retur ne d h e rep o rted th a t a r i n g
could be m ade as safe as a b ank
H e h ad t o
s t a rt w i th a gro w i ng to wn too busy fo r s e l f
gover nm en t ; t w o n ot v e ry u n equ a l p a rties ne ith e r
of th e m w ell orga ni z e d ; a cl e ar field i n h i s ow n
1 52
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TH E S HAM E OF TH E C ITI E S
M a gee w a s the s ow e r Fli nn the re a per I n de a l
i n g w i th me n they c a m e to b e necess ary t o e a ch
oth e r these two
M a gee a ttr ac t e d f ollowers
Fli n n empl o yed th e m
The me n M a ge e w on
Fli n n c o m pelled t o o bey a nd th os e he l o st M a gee
wo n b a ck When the c o uncils w e re fi rst u nde r his
c on t ro l M a gee st oo d i n the l o bby t o di r ect them
a l way s by suggesti o ns an d r equ e s ts w hich s o m e
t imes a me a n a nd u ng ra te ful fell o w wo uld say h e
c o uld no t heed M a gee told h im i t was a ll ri gh t
w hi ch s a v ed the m a n bu t lo s t th e v o t e So Fli n n
t oo k the l o bby p o st an d he s a id : Her e you go
”
a nd v o te a y e
I f th ey dis o beyed the pl a i n or der
Fli n n pu nished them a nd s o h ar shly th a t they
would ru n to M a gee t o c o mpl a i n H e c o m for t ed
”
them
N ever m i nd Fl i n n h e wo uld s a y sym
p a thetic a lly ; he gi v es m e n o en d o f tr o ubl e t oo
Bu t I d like t o h a v e you do w hat h e a sk e d Go
a nd do i t fo r m e an d l e t m e at tend to F li n n I ll
”
fi x him
M a gee c o uld c o m m a nd t oo a nd fi gh t a nd
pu n ish
I f h e h a d been a lon e he pr o b a bly
wo uld h a v e h a rden e d w i th ye a rs A nd s o Fli nn
af ter M a ge e d i ed so f t en ed wi th t i m e but too
l a t e He was u s e f ul t o M a ge e M a ge e w as in
di sp ensa bl e t o him Molas se s an d vi ne gar di plo
macy a n d fo rc e m in d a nd w ill they w e r e we ll
m at e d
Bu t M ag e e wa s the ge n iu s
I t wa s
15 1
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PI I
'
‘
TSBUR G : A C ITY A S H A M E D
15 5
M a gee that l a id th e p l a n
s t h ey wor ked out
to ge th e r
B o s s Ma gee s i de a was n o t to co rru pt th e ci t y
g o ve r n m en t bu t to be i t ; no t to h i re vot es i n
cou nc i l s but to ow n cou ncil m en ; a n d s o h a vi n g
se i zed con trol of h is org a n iz a ti on he n omi n ated
ch ea p o r d e pen d en t m en for th e se lect a n d c om
mo n c ou nc ils R el at ives a n d fri en ds w e re hi s
fi rs t rec ou rse th en c am e ba rt en ders s a l oo n
kee pe rs liquor d e a le rs a n d o th e rs a l li ed to th e
v ices who w e r e s ubj e ct to po li ce r e gul a t i o n a n d
de pen d en t i n a b usi ness way upo n th e ma ladmin
F or th e res t h e p re fe rr ed m en
is tr a tion o f law
who had n o vis i ble m e a ns o f s uppo rt a n d to mai n
t ai n th e m h e u sed th e usua l m e a ns—patro n age
And to ma ke h i s d e p enden t s secu r e h e took ov e r
th e cou n ty gov e rn m en t Pittsburg is i n All e
en
Cou
n
t
y
wh
ic
h
h
a
s
a
l
w
a
y
s
b
een
mor
e
h
g
y
s tro n gl y R e publi c a n tha n the c i ty N o matt e r
what happe ned i n the ci t y the co un t y pay ro ll
w as al w ays M agee s a n d h e ma de th e c ou n ty part
of th e c ity g ov e rn m en t
W i th all th i s ci t y a n d c ou n t y patro n a ge at h is
co mma n d M agee w en t d eli be rat e l y abou t u n d e r
mi n i n g th e D e mocr a ti c p arty Th e mi n ori ty
o rga ni z at i o n is u se ful to a m aj ori ty l e ader ; i t
s av es him trou b l e a n d worry i n ordi n ary t i m es ;
inparty c r ises h e c a n u se i t to whi p his ow n fo l
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TH E SHA M E OF THE CITI ES
l owe rs i n to li n e ; a nd w he n the pe o ple o f a city
rise i n r evol t i t is essenti a l fo r a bs o lute rul e th a t
yo u h a v e the p ow er n ot on ly t o preve n t the
mi no rity le a ders fr om c o mbi n i n g w i th the go o d
citize n s bu t t o u ni te the t w o o rg a niz a ti on s t o
w hip th e co m mu ni ty i n t o sh a pe Mo re o ve r the
exi stenc e o f a supposed o pp o sition p arty spl i ts
the i ndepe n dent v o te a nd h elps t o k ee p a live th a t
”
“
s en ti m e nt
l o y a l ty t o party w h i ch is o ne o f
th e bes t holds the bo ss h a s o n hi s u n ruly sub
ect s
All
bo
s
ses
a
s
w
e
h
a
v
e
see
n
i
n
Mi
nne
a
p
o
lis
j
a n d St L ou i s r is e a bov e p a rtis an bi as M a g ee
the w i s est o f the m wa s a ls o the m o st gene r ous
an d h e l ik e d t o w i n ov e r o pp onen ts w h o w er e use
f ul to him
h e n e ve r h e he ard of an able D e m o
cratic wo rker i n a ward h e s e n t fo r hi s own R e
“
—
publ ica n le a d e r
So a nd s o is a g oo d m a n
”
is n t he ? he w oul d ask
G o i n g to give you
a ru n i s n t h e ? Fi n d o ut w h a t he wan ts a nd
we ll s ee w h a t we c a n d o We mus t h a ve him
Thus th e a ble D e m o cr a t a chieved o ffice fo r h im
sel f o r hi s f riend a nd the ci ty o r the c o un ty p a id
A t on e tim e I w a s t o ld n ear ly o n e qu a rter o f
th e pl a c e s on th e p ay roll we re held by D em o cr a ts
wh o w e r e of course g r ate ful t o Ch r is M a ge e
a nd e n abled h im i n e m ergencies t o w ield thei r i n
M a ny a
ce a g a i nst r ev o lti ng Republ ic a ns
fluen
tim e a sub s e r vi en t De m ocra t g o t Republic a n v o t es
15 6
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W
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI ES
b urg he w en t to M a gee an d I hav e he ard such
“
a m a n pr a is e Chris
bec a use w h e n I c a lled o n
h im his o ute r o ffice wa s filled w i th w a iti n g p o l i
s
t ici a n
but he k new I w as a busi n ess m an an d i n
a hurry ; h e c a lled m e i n fi r st a nd he gav e me th e
street w i th o u t a ny f uss I tell y o u i t wa s a s a d
”
d a y for Pi ttsburg when Chris M a gee died
This
busi nes s m an th e typic a l Ame r ican m erch an t
every w h e re c a res no more f or hi s city s i ntere st
th an the pol i tici a n does a nd the re is m or e l igh t
o n A m e ric a n p o li tic a l c o rrupti on i n such a sp e ech
th an i n the m o s t sens a ti ona l exp o sur e of d e t a ils
Th e bu s i n ess m en of Pi ttsburg p a id for th ei r l i ttl e
”
fa vors i n c o n tributi o ns t o the c a m p a ign f und
plu s the los s o f th e i r s el f respe c t the liberty o f
th e ci t izens gene r a lly a n d ( thi s m ay appe a l to
th e ir m ean sou ls ) i n high e r t a xes
A s for th e r ai lr oa ds they did n o t h a v e to b e
bought or d r ive n i n ; they c a me a nd pr o m ptly
t o o Th e Pe nn sylv an i a a pp ea re d e a rly j ust be
h i nd M agee w ho h an dl e d the ir p a sses a nd l oo ked
o ut for thei r in t e r e st i n counci ls a nd af te rwar ds
a t th e Stat e Le gisl a t ure
The Pen nsylv an i a
p asse s es p e ci a lly th ose to A tl a n ti c Ci ty a nd H a r
”
h a v e a l w ays b een a g rea t gr a ft
in
r i s b ur g
Pi ttsburg For th e so r t of men M a gee h a d to
c o nt ro l a pa ss h a d a v a lu e ab o ve the pr i c e o f a
ticket ; t o flash o ne i s t o sh ow a b a dge o f pow e r
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PITT S B U R G : A C IT Y AS HAM E I) 15 9
a n d r el atio ns hip to the ri n g Th e big r i n gs te rs
o f co urs e go t from th e rai l r o ads fi nan c ial h el p
wh en co r n
ered i n busi n ess de als —s to ck ti ps s ha res
i n spec u la ti ve an d o th e r fi n a nci a l tu r ns an d po li t i
c a l s uppo rt The P e nnsyl va n i a R ai l ro ad is a
pow e r i n Pe nn s y lva n ia po l iti es i t is p a rt of th e
Stat e r in g an d p a rt also o f th e Pi ttsburg rin g
The c i ty p a id i n a l l so rts o f rights a nd p r i vi le ge s
st ree ts bridge s e t c a n d i n ce rt a i n pe ri ods th e
bus i ness i n terest s o f the ci ty w e re sacrificed t o
le ave th e Penn sy lva ni a R oad i n exc lu s iv e co n tro l
o f a fre igh t tr a ffic i t c o ul d n o t ha n dl e alo ne
Wi th th e ci ty th e cou n ty th e Repub li ca n a n d
De mo cratic o rg a n izatio ns th e rai l road s a n d oth e r
co rporatio n s th e fin a n ci e rs a nd th e bus i ness m en
a l l w ell u n d e r co n tro l M a gee needed o nl y th e
S ta te to m ak e his ru le a b sol u te A nd h e w as
e n titl ed to i t I n a S ta te lik e N e w York wh e re
o n e part y co n tro ls th e L egis l ature and a n o th e r
th e cit y th e p eopl e i n th e ci ti es ma y e xp ec t som e
prot ec t i o n from p art y op pos it i o n I n Pen
ns yl
v a n i a wh e re th e R e pub li ca ns hav e a n o ve rw hel m
in
maj
orit
y
t
h
e
L
egisl
atur
e
a
t
H
arr
i
sb
u
r
g
is
g
nsyl
an e s sen ti a l part o f the go ve r n m en t o f P en
v a n ia ci ti es a n d that is rul ed by a Stat e r ing
Magee s ri ng was a li nk i n th e Stat e ri ng
a n d i t was n o more th a n ri ght th a t th e S tate
ri ng shoul d becom e a li nk inhis ring The ar
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI ES
r a ngem e n t wa s e a sily m a de O n e m an M a tthe w
S Qu a y h a d r eceived fro m the pe o ple a ll the
po w er i n the St a te an d M a gee s aw Qu ay They
c a me to an u n derst a nding w i th o ut the le a st
t ro uble Fli n n wa s t o be i n the Se na te M a gee
i n the lobby a nd they were t o giv e u nt o Qu a y
po l i tic a l supp or t fo r his busi ness i n the State i n
r eturn fo r his su rrende r t o them of the S t a te s
fu n cti on s of legisl a ti on fo r the ci ty of Pittsbu r g
N ow such u nde rst an di ngs a re c o m m on i n our
p o l itics but they ar e ve rb a l usu a lly a nd p r etty
w ell kep t a n d t hi s of M a gee an d Qu ay w a s a ls o
fo un ded i n secret go o d fa i th B ut Qu ay i n
crises h a s a wa y of st ra i n i ng poin ts t o w in an d
the r e were n o li m i t s t o M agee s a mbi ti on fo r
p ow er Qu a y a nd M a gee qu a rr eled c o nst a n tly
ov er the divisi on of po w er s a nd sp o ils so a ft er
a f ew y ea rs of squ a bbli ng they reduc ed their
agre e m en t t o wr i ti ng Thi s pr e c i ou s i n strum en t
h a s n eve r been publi shed But th e a g r ee m e n t
w a s b ro ke n i n a gr e a t row o nce an d w he n Wi lli a m
Fli n n a n d J 0 B row n u nde r t oo k t o settl e th e
diffe r e n ces a nd renew th e b on d Fli n n w rote o u t i n
pe n ci l i n hi s own ha n d an a m ended dupl ic a te
whi ch he sub m i tted t o Quay w h o s e so n s ub s e
qu en tly g a ve i t ou t fo r publ ic a ti o n A fa csi m il e
of o ne p a g e i s r e pr o duced i n this a rticl e H e re
is th e whol e c o n tr a ct wi th a ll th e u n co n s c iou s
160
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TH E SH AM E OF TH E CITI ES
hu m or o f the p ar ty o f the firs t p a rt an d said
”
p a rty o f the se c on d p a rt a p o l itic a l leg a l c o m
m er c ia l i n sul t to a peopl e bo as tfu l o f s e l f
g ov e rn me n t
16 2
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-
,
W
F
nd agreement betwee nM S Q uay o f th e
fi rs t p a rt and J 0 B rown and
illi am li nn o f the
second p ar t the co ns id erati o n o f t hi s ag reem ent bei ng th e
d b us i n
tage w hi ch m ay resul t
es s adv an
m ut ual p o liti cal an
d um
M em o ran
a
.
.
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,
F
th ere from
i rst—Th e said M S Q uay i s to h ave th e benefit o f the
ce i nall m atters i ns tate and nat i onal politi cs o f th e
fluen
in
sa id p ar t i es o f the second p art th e said p art i es ag reei ng
th at th ey w ill secure the el ecti o n o f d el egat es t o th e s tat e
vent i o n who w ill be guid ed i n all m at ter s
an
d n
ati o n
a l co n
by the w i s hes o f t he said p ar ty o f th e fi rs t par t and who
w ill also sec ure the el ec ti o no f m embers o f the s tate senate
f rom th e o rty thi r d o rty fo ur th and o rty fi f th sena
d al s o s ec ure th e el ec ti o n o f m em be rs o f
t o r i al di s t r i ct s an
th e h ouse o f rep rese ntat ives south o f the M o no ngah el a a nd
ty o f A ll egh eny who w ill b e guid ed
O hi o r ivers i n th e co un
by the w i s h es and r e ues t o f th e s aid p arty o f th e fi rs t p ar t
d ur i ng th e co nti nua nce o f thi s ag reem ent up o n all p o liti cal
Th e di ff er ent candid at es f o r the v ar i o us p osi t i ons
m att ers
t i oned s hall be sel ected by th e p arti es o f the sec o nd
m en
p a r t a nd all th e p ositi o ns o f st ate a nd nati o nal app oi nt
m en
ts m ad e i n t hi s ter r it ory m ent i o ned sh al l be s atis f ac
t o ry to and sec ur e the i nd o r sem ent o f t h e p a r ty o f th e
seco nd p art wh en the app o i ntm ent is m ad e ei th er by o r
t h ro ugh th e p arty o f t he fi rs t p art o r hi s f r i end s o r p oli ti cal
a s s oc i at es
A l l l e gi sl a t i o na ffec ti n
g th e p a r t i es o f th e second
p a r t a fi ect i ng c iti es o f the seco nd cl as s sh all receive the
o p era ti o n an
d ass i s ta n
h eart y co—
ce o f the p a r ty o f th e fi rs t
p art and l egi s lat i o n whi ch m ay a ffec t th ei r b usi nes s sh all
l ikewi se receive th e h eart y co o p erati on an
d h elp o f the
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P I I TS B UR G :
A C I T Y A S H A M E D 1 68
c tl y un
party o f the fi rs t part I t bei ng d is t i n
derstood that
g nati onal co nve n
ti n to b hel d a t S t
a t the app ro ach in
' ‘
.
o
e
wenty second co ngra sional
d elegates f rom the T
o r vo te do other than w
dis t rict sha ll n
hat
ei ther by voi ce n
The party o f
is sa tis fact o ry to the p a rty o f the fi rs t pa rt
fluen
ce and secure the s up
the fi rs t pa rt agrees to us e h is i n
po rt o f his f ri ends and pol it ical ass ociates to s uppo rt the
ty and city tic ket whenn
ated both in
omi n
Re publicanco un
d Alleghen
y and the co unty o f Alle
the ci ty o f P ittsb urg an
a
c
a
n
d
th
a
t
w
ill
d
i
a
co
u
ii
n
h
e
n
a
c
t
i
o
n
a
l
h
h
e
n
t
e
n
n
e
t
h
e
f
t
i
g
g
y
g
d associates f o r coun
by his fri en
ds an
ty ofi ces d uring the
o t to he
ti n
uationo f this agreemen
his agrcemen
con
t T
t is n
bin
di n
g upo nthe parti es o f the seco nd pa rt whena cand i
da te f o r an
y
y oiiice who [ sic ] shall res i de i n Alleghen
co un
ty and shall o nly be bi ndi ng i f the party o f the first
par t is a candi date f o r U n
i ted States sen
ato r to s ucceed
i
the
Lo u s ,
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o
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F
.
F
o rty
n n
I n th e
thi rd senato rial d is t ri ct a new senator shall be elect ed to
succeed Senator U pperman I n the o rty fif th senato rial
himsei f
so
f ar
this ofi ce is
as
co ce r ed
.
-
.
wi th
rti es o f the second
part shall wi thd raw as a cand i da te Senato r Steel and the
parti es o f the second p art shall secure the el ecti ono f some
pa rty sa tis fac tory to themsel ves I n the N ea ty sccond
co n res si on
al d i s tr i ct the can
d i da tes f or congress shall be
g
sel ectcd by the
o f th e sccon
d
a
r
t
be tc rm o f this
y
p
part T
a greemen
t to be f o r
years f rom the si gning thereo f
an
d shali be b in
dl n
u
a
ll
o
n
hensi gn
ed by C L
g p
parties w
”
M agee
dist rict the pa rty o f the firs t pa rt sh ail
d raw
al o f D r A J B arch fel d, an
d the pa
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sccure
th e
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Th us w as the ci t y of Pi t tsb ur g tu rned o ve r by
th e Stat e to a n in d i vi dua l to do w ith as h e p le a sed
Magee s ri ng wa s c omp le t e H e was th e ci t y
Fli n n was th e cou nc ils th e co u n t y w as th ei rs a n d
n ow th ey ha d th e Sta te Legisl ature s o far a s
.
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1 64
TH E SHA ME O F TH E CITI E S
Pi ttsburg w as c o nce r ne d Magee a nd Fli nn w er e
t he g o ve r nme n t a nd the l aw
H ow c o uld they
c o m m i t a crime ? I f they wa n ted s o m ethi n g fro m
the ci ty they p a ssed an or di n a n ce gr an ting i t a nd
i f s o m e o ther ordi n a nce wa s i n con flict i t wa s re
pe a led or a me n ded I f the l aws i n the St a te st oo d
i n th e wa y s o much the w o r s e fo r the la w s of
the St a te ; th ey w ere a m en de d I f th e co ns t it u
t i o n o f the St a te p ro v e d a b arr ie r a s i t did t o
a ll speci a l legisl a ti on the L egisl a tu r e en a cted a
l aw fo r cities o f the sec on d cl a ss ( w hich w a s
P i ttsburg a l o n e ) a nd the c o u r ts upheld the L egis
I f there w e r e opp o si ti o n o n the side of
l a t ure
public opi ni o n the r e wa s a use for th a t a ls o
The n e w ch ar te r w hi ch D a vid D Bruce fo u ght
thr o ugh c o u n cils i n 1 886 87 w a s an ex a mple of
the w ay M a gee an d af ter h im Qu ay a nd oth e r
P en n sylv a ni a b o sses e m pl o y e d p o pul a r move m e n ts
A s his m a chi ne grew M a gee fo und council com
m it t ees un w ieldy i n s o m e r e sp e cts an d he w an ted
a change H e to o k u p B ruce s ch ar ter which
cen te re d a ll e xecutive an d a dmi n istrativ e p ow e r
a n d res po n sibili ty i n th e m ay o r a nd he a ds o f d e
pas
s
ed
it
th
ro
ugh
the
Le
isl
a
tur
e
s
a r t m en
t
g
p
bu t s o amended that th e h e ads o f dep a rtme n t s
w e r e n ot to b e a pp oi nt e d by th e m ayor bu t
e l e cted by cou n cil s Thes e electio n s w er e by ex
p i ri ng cou n cils s o that th e d ep a rt m en t chi e f s
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITI ES
bu t i n an orderly f a shi o n by sy n dic a tes a nd the
chair ma n o f o ne of the p a rties at the l as t elec
t i o n s a id i t wa s wo rth
a yea r I s aw
a m a n wh o was l a ughed a t fo r o ffer i ng
f o r the sl o t m achi ne concession ; he wa s told that
i t wa s let for m u ch m ore
S p ea k e asies ( un
licensed dri nking pl a c es ) p ay so w ell that when
they e a rn $ 5 0 0 o r mo re i n t w en ty f o ur hours their
pr op rietors often m a ke a b a re l iv ing D isorderly
h o uses a re m a n a ged by wa rd synd i cates Per
m issi o n i s h a d f r o m the syndic a te re a l est a te
a gent w ho al o ne c a n ren t the m The syndi cate
hi r es a h o use fr om the o w ners a t s a y
$ 35 a
mo nth a nd he lets i t t o a wo m a n a t f ro m $ 85 to
5
0
a
w
eek
F
o
r
fu
r
n
i
tu
r
e
the
ten
a
nt
m
ust
go
$
”
t o the o ffici a l furni ture m an w h o del ivers $ 1 000
w o rth o f fi xi ngs f o r a n o te f o r $ 3 0 00 on
which high i nterest m ust be p a id F o r beer the
”
tenan t m ust go t o the o ffici a l b o ttler and pay
for
a
one
dollar
case
of
beer
f
o
r
wi
nes
and
2
;
$
”
liqu o rs to the o ffici al liquor co m m issi o ner who
ch a rges $ 10 for fiv e doll ar s worth ; for c lothe s to
”
the o ffici a l wr ap per m a ker
These wo m en m ay
not buy shoe s h ats j e w elry or a ny o ther lu xury
o r necessi ty ex c ep t fr om the o ffic i al concessio nari es
a nd then only at the o ffici al m onopoly prices I f
the vi cti m s ha ve anythi ng left a pol ice or s o m e
other ci ty o ffic i al is said to c all and get i t ( ther e
16 6
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P I TTS B URG : A CI TY AS II AM E D 167
a re r i ch e x po li ce o fficia ls i n P i tts burg ) B u t thi s
is bla ck m a i l a n d ou ts i de the syste m w h i ch is wel l
u n ders tood i n the co mm un i ty M any m en i n va
ri o ns w alk s o f li fe told m e sep a r a tely t he n a m es
o f the o ffi c i al bo ttlers j e w e l ers a n d furnishers
they are n o tor i ous bu t they are s a fe They d o
n o th i ng illegal Oppress ive w retch ed what you
ple a se the P i ttsburg syste m i s sa fe
That was th e k eynote o f the Fl i nn \I ngee p l an
b ut th i s v i ce gra ft wa s not thei r busi n ess They
a re c red i ted w i th the suppress i on of disorder a nd
dece n t su pe rfi c ia l re gul a t i ons o f v i ce w h i ch i s a
chara ct eri s ti c o f P i t tsburg I know i t is sa i d that
unde r the Phil a del phi a and Pi ttsburg pl ans w hich
are m u ch ali k e
all gra ft a nd all patro n a ge g o
”
”
“
ac ro ss o n e table
b u t i f a ny
d i rty m oney
re a ch ed the P i ttsb urg bosses i t w as so far as I
could pro ve i n the fo rm of c ontribut i ons to the
part y fu n d and c a m e fro m th e v i ce dealers o n ly as
i t di d fro m o ther b us i nes s m e n
Magee and Fli n n o w ners o f Pi t tsburg m ade
P i ttsb urg the i r bus i n ess a n d m ono pol ist s i n the
tech n ic al eco n o m ic se n s e o f th e w ord th ey pre
par ed to ex plo i t i t as i f i t w e re thei r pr i vate
p rope rt y
Fo r c o n ve n i en ce they d ivi ded i t be
twee n th e m M agee took the fi nanc i al a nd c or
o
r
a
t
e
b
ra
n
c
h
t
u
r
n
n
g
the
st
r
eets
t
o
use
s
i
h
i
s
p
deliverin g to hi m sel f fra n ch i ses a n d b ui l di ng a n d
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI ES
runni ng r a il ways Fli n n w en t i n f o r p ublic con
t ra cts f o r hi s fi rm B oo th
Fli nn Li m i ted a nd
his br a nch b oom ed
O ld streets w e r e rep a ved
ne w o nes l a id o ut ; w h o le districts w ere i mpro ved
p a rks m a de a nd buildi ngs erec ted
The i m
pr o ve m en t o f thei r city w en t on a t a g re a t r a te
f o r ye a rs w i th o nly o ne peri o d o f cess a ti o n a nd
the peri o d o f ec o n om y wa s w hen M a gee wa s
bu il di ng s o m a ny t ra cti o n l i nes th a t B oo th 8:
Fli nn Ltd h a d a ll they c o uld do w i th this wo rk
I t wa s s a id th a t no o ther con tract o rs h a d a n a de
qu a te p l a n t t o su pp le m ent pr o pe r ly the w o r k
o f B oo th 8: Fli nn Ltd Pe rh a ps th a t wa s w hy
thi s fir m h ad t o d o such a l a rge pr opo r tion o f
the p ubl ic w ork a l wa ys
Fli nn s D i r ect o r o f
Public W o rks wa s E M Bigel ow a c o usi n o f
C h ris M a gee a nd a n o the r ne p he w o f o ld Squire
Steele Bigelo w c a lled the E xt ra v a g a n t d r e w
the s p ecific a tions ; he ma de the a wa rds t o the
lowest res po ns ib le b i dders a nd he i ns p ected a nd
a p p r ov ed the work w hile i n p r o gress a n d w hen
d o ne
Fl i n n h a d a quarry the stone of w h ich was
speci fied f or p ublic buildings ; he o bt a i ned the
mo n opo ly o f a cert a i n kind o f a s ph a l t a nd th a t
k i nd wa s s p ecified
N o r wa s this a ll
I f the
o fli c i a l c o n tr a ct o r h a d d o ne his work w ell a nd a t
reason able p r ices the c i ty w ould not h a ve su ffe r ed
168
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
mo no po ly but wa s e a sily be a ten i n 1889 w i th
d r e w a nd a fter th a t one o f i ts o fficers s a id
We
a ll g a ve Pi ttsbu rg a w ide berth recognizing the
uselessness o f o ffering c omp eti tion so long a s the
d oo r o f the Dep ar t m en t o f Public Wo rks is
l o cked a g a i ns t us a nd B oo th
Fli n n a re p e r
”
The m on op oly c a u sed
m itt ed t o car r y the key
n o t o nl y high p rices o n sh or t gu a r a ntee but c a r
r ied w i th i t a ll the c o n tingen t wo rk Cu rb i ng
and gr a di ng m igh t h a ve been let sep a r a tely
but they w e r e n o t I n o ne c o n tract Mr M c C lin
tock cites B oo th Fli nn bid 5 0 cen ts f o r
y ards o f g ra di ng
E H B o eh ma n o ffered a
bid o f 1 5 cents f o r the gr a di n g a s a se pa rate
cont ra ct a nd his bid wa s r ej ected A property
o w ner o n Sh a dy L a ne w h o wa s assessed f o r
cu rbi ng a t 80 cen ts a f oo t con tr a cted privately
a t the s am e ti m e for 80 0 feet o f the s am e s t a nd
ar d curbing f rom the s am e qu a rry a nd set i n
p l a ce i n the sa m e m a nner a t 4 0 cents a f o ot !
“
D u ri ng the n i ne ye ar s succeeding the a dop
ti o n o f the ch a rte r o f
s ays M r Oliver
M cClint o ck i n a re po rt to the N a ti o n a l Munici pa l
Le a gue
o ne fir m [ Fli nn s ] recei v ed p ra ct ic a lly
a ll the asph a l t p avi ng contr a cts a t p r ices ra ng
fr
m
to
pe
r
squ
a
re
y
a
rd
hi
her
1
in
o
$
g
g
t h an the a v er a ge p rice p aid i n neighbori ng ci ties
O u t of th e enti re amo un t o f a sph alt pave m ent s
170
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P I TTSBUR G : A C I T Y AS HA M E I) 17 1
la i d dur i ng these n i ne ye a rs repres e n ted by 193
contr a cts a n d c osti ng
o n ly n i n e
and co s t i n g
s treet bloc k s pa ved i n 1896
”
w ere n o t l aid by th i s fi r m
The bui ldi n g o f br i dges i n th i s ci ty o f b ri dges
th e re pa i ri ng o f pave m ents pa rk m a ki ng and rea l
es t ate deal s i n ant i c i pat i on o f c i ty i m pro v em ents
were a ll c auses o f sca n dal to so m e ci t iz e ns source s
o f pro fi t to othe rs who were let i n o n the ground
”
There is n o s pa ce fo r these here A nother
fl oor
expos ur e c a m e i n 1897 o v er th e c ontracts for a
n ew Public Safety B u i ldi ng J 0 Brown w as
D irec tor o f Publ ic Safety A n ewsp a pe r th e
Leader call ed a ttent i o n to a deal for th is work
d George W G uthr i e and Wi llia m B Roge rs
an
l ead i ng m em be rs o f the P i ttsburg bar who fo l
lo wed u p th e subj ec t disco v ered as queer a se t o f
s pe cifi cat io ns for the buildi ng i ts el f as any city
h as o n re c ord F av o red c ontra c to rs were na m ed or
their w ares descr ibe d all through and a letter to
the a rc h i tec t fro m J 0 B ro w n con ta i ned s pec ifica
t i o ns for su c h fa v o ri t i s m as for ex a m pl e : Spec
i fy the Wes ti nghous e el ect ric ligh t pl ant a n d en
”
“
gi n es stra i ght
D esc r i be the Va n Ho rn I ro n
”
Co s cell s as clo s e as po s sible
The s tone c lause
was Flinn s a n d that i s the one that ra i sed the
ru m pu s Fl i n n s q uarry produ ced L i gon i er b loc k
and L i go ni er b l o ck was specified The re was a let
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
ter fr om Bo o th Fli nn Ltd tell i ng the a rchi te ct
th a t the p ri ce wa s t o be speci fi ed a t
A
local c o n t ra ct o r o ff cred to provide Ten nessee gr a n
i te set up a mo re ex p ens iv e m a teri a l o n w hich the
frei gh t i s higher a t
bu t th a t did not
m a tter
When a n o ther loc a l contr acti ng fi rm
ho w ever o ffered to furnish Ligon ier bl o ck set u p
at
a change wa s ne c essary a nd J 0
Br o wn di rected the a rchi tect to Speci fy that the
Ligon ier bl o ck shall be of a blu i sh ti n t r a ther th a n
a gray v a riety
Flin n s qu a rry h a d the bl uish
”
tin t the o ther people s the g r a y v a ri ety
It
w a s sho w n a lso th a t F li n n wr o te to the a rchi tect on
June 2 4 ; 1 89 5 s ayi ng :
I ha v e s een D irector
Bro w n a n d C om ptroll er Gourley to d a y a nd they
ha v e a greed t o let us start on the wo rki ng p l a n s
a nd get so m e stone ou t for the n e w buildi ng
Ple a se arr a n ge that w e m ay get t he trac i ngs by
We dnesd a y
The tra ci n gs were fur
nis h ed hi m and thus before the advertise m ent s for
b ids were out he beg a n prepari ng the blui sh ti nt
stone The charges were he a rd by a p a ck ed co m
mi tt ee of cou nci ls a nd nothi ng cam e of the m ; and
besides they were directed a g a i nst the D i rector o f
Publ ic Works not Wi l li am Fl i nn
The boss w as not an o ffici al a nd not responsible
The only ti m e Fl in n wa s i n d a n ger w a s on a su i t
that gr ew out of the c on vi ct i on of the C i ty At to r
172
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
were fo r public m oney nor th a t he h a d n o t repaid
the amo u nt
As I h av e said befo re ho w ever u nl aw ful a c ts
w ere excepti o nal a nd u nnecess a ry i n Pi ttsbu rg
H is
h i a gee di d n o t ste a l fr a nchises and sell the m
He a nd the busy Fl i n n
c o u ncils g a ve the m t o hi m
t oo k the m built r a i l ways w hich M a gee s o ld a nd
ht a nd fin a nced a nd c o nducted like any o ther
w h o se suc cessful c a reer is held up as an ex
H is r a il ways co m bi ned
le fo r young m en
the C o ns o lid a ted Tr a cti o n C om p a ny w ere
c ap i t a l ized a t
The public deb t of
Pi ttsburg is ab o ut
a nd the p ro fi t on
the r a il wa y building o f Chr i s M a gee would have
”
w i ped ou t the debt
But you m ust re m e m ber
“
they s a y i n the Pi ttsb urg b a nks
th a t Magee
t o ok risks a nd his p r o fits a re the j ust re w ard o f
”
enterpr i se
This i s business But poli ti ca lly
s p e a ki ng i t w a s a n a buse of the po w ers of a popu
Ja r ruler for Boss Magee t o gi ve t o Pr omo ter M a
all
the
st
r
eets
h
e wa nted i n Pi ttsburg a t his o w n
e
e
g
term s : f orever a nd noth ing t o pa y There wa s
sc a nd a l i n Ch i c a go over the gran ting of ch a rte r s
f o r t w enty eigh t and fi fty years M a gee s re a d
”
”
for 9 5 0 years
for 9 9 9 years
s a id Ch a rte r
”
i s to ex i st a thousand ye a rs
s a id Charter is to
”
ex i st p e rpetu a lly
a nd the councils g a ve fr a n
”
There i s a
chi s es for the
l i fe of the Charter
174
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176
TH E SHA ME OF TH E C ITI ES
legend th a t Fred M a gee a wa ggish b ro ther o f
Chris p u t these ph ra ses i n t o these gr a nts f o r fu n
a nd n o d o ubt the gen i a l Chris s aw the fu n o f i t I
a sked i f the sa m e j o ker p u t i n the c ar t a x w hich is
the o nly co mp ens a ti o n the ci ty gets f o r the use
f o re v er o f i ts streets ; bu t i t wa s expl a i ned th a t
th a t w as a n o v ersigh t The c a r t a x wa s p ut upo n
the old ho rse ca rs and c am e d ow n upon the trolley
bec a use havi ng been left u np a id i t w a s f o rg o tten
Thi s c a r t a x o n
o f p rope r ty a m oun t s
to less than
a year a nd the c om pan ies
h a ve unti l l ately been sl ow a b o u t pa yi ng i t D ur
i ng the t w elve years succeedi ng 1 8 85 all the trac
tion co m p a n ies together p a id the ci ty
While the horse v ehicles i n 1 89 7 p a id
and
bicycles
the Cons o lid a ted T ra ction Co m
!
p a ny ( C L M a gee P r esiden t ) p a id
The speed o f bicycles a nd horse v ehicles i s li m i ted
by l a w that o f the trolley is u n r egul a ted The
o nly requi re m ent o f the l a w up o n the m is th a t the
tr a cti o n c om p a ny sh a ll keep i n r ep a i r the p a v e
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il ways term i nati ng i n the ci ty o f P i tts
so lid ated i nt o the P i ttsb urg R a i lways
b ur g were i n 1 9 0 1 co n
y operat i ng 4 04 m il es o f t r ack und er anapproxi
Co m pan
m a t e capi tal iz at i o no f
I nth ei r stat em en
t i ssued
i ngs f o r 190 1 as
July 1 1909 t h ey r epo rt gr oss earn
4 5 2 89
O ut o f thi s t h ey paid a ca r t ax f o r 1909 to th e c i ty
o f P i tts b ur g o f
a ry r ate o f 5 per
A t th e o rdi n
cent ongross earni ngs th e tax woul d h ave been
All th e
s t reet
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
m it ted t o a ll this f o r a q uar te r o f a cent ury a nd
s om e
h a s been subscribed t oward the mo n
um en
t t o Chris M a gee
This sou nds l ike a ny o ther
w ell br o ken A m eric a n ci ty ; but t o the credi t o f
Pi t tsbu r g be i t s a id th a t there never wa s a ti m e
w hen so m e fe w i ndi vidu a l s w ere n o t fighting the
ri ng D a vid D B ruce wa s st a ndi n g f o r g oo d g o v
er n
m en
t wa y b a ck i n the fif t ies Oli ve r M cC lin
t o ck
a nd Ge orge W Gu th ri e w e h a ve h a d gl i mp ses o f
struggling l ike Joh n H a m pden ag a inst thei r ty
r a nts ; bu t a l wa ys f o r m ere j us ti c e a nd i n the
c o urts a nd a ll i n v a i n till i n 1 89 5 their ex p osu r es
beg a n to bri ng fo rth signs o f public f eeli ng a nd
they ventu r ed t o a ppe a l t o the v o te r s the sou r ces
o f the b o sses p o w e r They enl isted the vener able
M r B r uce an d a fe w other b rav e m en a nd t o gether
c a lled a m a ss m eeti ng A c r o w d g a thered The r e
were not m a ny p rom i nent m en there but evidently
the p e o ple w e r e w i th the m a nd they then a nd there
f o r m ed the Mun ici pa l Le a gue a nd l a u nched i t
up o n a c am p a i gn to beat the ring a t the Febru a ry
el ecti o n 1 89 6
A c omm i ttee o f fi ve w as put i n ch a r ge— B ruce
M cC lint o ck George K Stevens o n D r P o ll o ck
—
and O tto Heeren w ho c om bined w i th M r Gu th
ri e s sterl in g re m n a nt o f the De mo c ra tic p a rty on
a n i ndependen t ticket w i th M r Guth r ie a t the
head f o r m a y o r I t w as a d a ri ng thi ng to do and
1 78
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P I TT S B U R G : A C I TY AS II AM E D 179
they di s co vered then wha t w e h av e di s c o vered i n
St Lo u i s a nd Mi n n e a po l i s M r Bruc e t o ld m e
th at a fter thei r m ass m eet i n g m en w h o should
ha ve co m e out ope n l y fo r the m o v em en t a p
ched hi m by stealth a nd wh i s pe red that he
ro
a
p
could c oun t o n the m f o r m o ney i f he wo uld k eep
sec re t thei r na m es
Outs i de o f those at the m ee t
”
i ng he said bu t one m a n o f all th o se that s ub
scr ibed would let his na m e appe ar A n d m en w ho
ga v e m e in fo rm ati o n to us e a ga i nst the ri n g s poke
t hem sel v es for the r i ng o n the platfo rm
Mr
M cC linto ck i n a paper re ad be fore a c o mm i tt ee o f
the N at i o n al M unici pal Le ague s ay s
By far
the m ost dishearten i ng d i sco v ery howe v er was
that of the apathet ic i n di ffe re n ce of m a ny repre
—
m en w ho fro m ev ery o ther
sen
ta t ive ci tizen s
po i nt o f vi ew are d ese rve d l y l ooked upo n as m odel
m em be rs o f so ci ety
We fou n d that pro m i ne n t
m erchants a n d c on tractors w ho were o n the in
s i de m anu fa c turers enj oy i ng specia l m un i c i pal
privi lege s wealthy cap i t al is ts brokers and others
w ho were holders o f the s ecurities of t ractio n and
other co rporat i o n s had their m ouths st apped
th ei r co n vic t i o n s of duty strangled and the i r in
ce be fore
and v otes on el ec t i o n day p
fluen
e m p ted a gai n s t u s I n s t i ll another d i rec t i o n we
fou n d that the fi nan ci al and poli tic al support o f
the gre a t st eam ra i lroads a n d larges t m anuf actur
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
i ng co rpor a ti o ns c o n tr o lling a s f a r a s they w ere
able the su ff ra ges o f thei r th o us a nds o f e mp l o y
ees we r e thr ow n a g a inst us f o r the si mp le re a s o n
a s wa s f r a nkly ex p l a i ned by o ne o f the m th a t it
a s m uch e a sier t o de a l w i th a b o ss i n prom oting
their c or por a te i n terests th a n t o de a l di rectly w i th
t he p eople s r e p resent a tives i n the m u ni ci pa l legi s
l a ture
We even f o und the direct o rs o f m a ny
b a nks i n a n a t ti tude o f c o ld n eu tr a li ty i f no t o f
active hostili ty to w ard a ny m o ve m en t f o r m unic
i pa l refo r m A s o ne o f the m put i t i f you wa n t
to be a nybody o r m a ke m oney i n Pi ttsburg i t is
n ecess ary to be i n the politic a l s w i m a nd on th e
side o f the city ring
This is c o r rup ti o n but i t i s c a lled good bus i
”
ne s s a nd i t is worse th a n pol i tics
It w as a qu a rrel a m on g the g ra fters of M in ne
a o l is th a t g a ve the grand j u r y a ch a nce there
p
I t wa s a l ow r ow am ong the gr a fters of S t L o u is
th a t g av e J o se p h W F o lk his o peni ng A nd s o i n
Pi ttsburg i t wa s i n a figh t bet w een Qu a y a nd M a
gee that the Mun icip a l Le a gue s a w i ts o ppo r tu
mi ty
T o Qu a y i t w as the other w ay a rou nd The
risi ng of the people o f Pi ttsburg w a s an o ppo r
H e a nd M a gee h a d never got
it y f o r h i m
t un
al on g w ell t o gether a nd they w ere f a ll in g ou t and
h a vi ng thei r di fferences adj usted by Flinn and
18 0
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI E S
dence o f f ra ud the ri ngste r s a f te rward t o ld i n
c o nfidence not o nly th a t Mr Guth r ie w a s co u nted
out bu t ho w i t wa s done Mr G uthrie s appe a l t o
the c o u r ts h ow ever f o r a recount wa s den ied
The co u r ts held th a t the secret b a llot l a w f o rb a de
the o pening o f the b a ll o t boxes
—
Thus the ri ng held Pi ttsburg bu t not the
P it t s b urgers
They sa w Qu ay i n con t ro l o f the
L egi sl a ture Quay the r efo rm er w ho w ould hel p
the m S o they dre w a ch a rter f o r Pi ttsburg w hich
w ould restore the city to the p eo ple Quay s a w the
i nstru m ent and he approved i t ; he prom ised to
h a ve i t p a ssed The Le a gue the Cha m ber of Co m
m erce and other r epresen t a tive b o dies a ll enco ur
a ged by the o utl oo k for victory sen t to H a rri s
bu rg co mm i ttees to urge their ch a rter and thei r
orators p o u r ed forth u po n the M a gee Fli nn ri ng a
fl oo d o f n o t i nvective bu t f a cts s p ecific a ti o n s of
o ut ra ge a nd the a buse o f a bs o lu te p ow e r The i r
ch arte r w en t b oom ing a l o ng th ro ugh its first a nd
second r e a dings Qu a y a nd the M a gee Flin n cr ow d
fi ghti ng i nch by i nch All looked w ell when sud
den
ly there w a s s ilence
Qu ay was de a l ing w i th
his ene mi es and the ch arter w a s h i s club H e
w a n ted t o go back to the Sen a te and he went
The P itt sb ur ger s s a w hi m elected sa w hi m go bu t
their ch arter they saw n o mo re A nd such i s th e
S tate o f Pennsylv a n i a th a t this m a n w ho d i d thi s
182
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PI TI S B U l tG :
A C I T Y A S H A M E D 183
thi ng t o P i ttsburg and has d o ne the l ik e a g ai n
an
d aga i n to a ll cit i es a n d a l l i nteres ts—
e ve n po l i
s —he is the boss o f Pen n syl v an ia to day !
t ici a n
The good m e n o f P i tts b urg gave up a nd f or
four yea rs the esse n t ia l story o f the gove rn m en t
o f t he ci ty is a m ere thre ad i n the pe rs o n a l h i st o ry
o f the quarrels of t h e bo sses i n State p o li ti cs M a
gee wa n ted to go to the Un i t ed S tat es Senate and
he had w i th hi m Boss Mart i n a n d J oh n Wana
m ak er o f Ph i ladelph i a as well as hi s ow n Fli n n
Quay tu rn ed on the c i ty boss es and u n derm i n i n g
th e ir po w er soo n had Mart i n beate n i n P hiladel
ph i a To overth ro w Magee w as a harder t as k a n d
Qu a y m i ght ne v er have a c co m plish ed i t had not
M agee s heal th failed ca us i ng h i m to be m u ch
a w ay P i ttsburg w a s left to F l i n n a n d hi s m as
ess
u n m i tigated by M agee m a de t rouble
t er f ul n
Th e c ri s is c a m e ou t o f a row Fl i n n had w i th h is D i
re ct or o f Publi c Work s E M B ige low a m a n as
d ict a t or i a l as Fl i n n h i ms el f B i gelo w t h re w ope n
to co m pet iti o n ce rt ai n c o n t ra c t s F li n n i n exas
a t io n had the c ou n c i ls thro w ou t the d i rec tor
r
e
p
and p ut i n hi s pla c e a m an who re s tored th e old
specific at i o n s
T his enraged Tho m as S tee l e B i ge low E M
B igelow s b rother and ano ther nephe w o f old
Sq u i re Steele To m h ad an old grudge agains t
Magee d a ti ng fro m th e early days o f tractio n
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
de a ls H e wa s rich he k ne w s om ethi ng o f p o l i tics
a nd he believed i n the po w er of mo ney i n the g am e
G o i ng s t ra i ght to H a r r isbu rg he to o k ch arge o f
Qu ay s fight f o r Sen a t o r s p en t his ow n m oney a nd
w on ; and he be a t M a gee w hi ch w a s his first pur
p o se
Bu t he wa s n o t s a t isfied yet The P itts b ur gers
a r o used t o fresh h o pe by the ne w figh t o f the
b o sses were enc o u r a ged also by the ne w s th a t
the census o f 1 9 0 0 put a second c i ty Sc ra nt o n
“
”
cities o f the sec o nd cl a ss
i nt o
N e w l aw s
h a d to be dr aw n for b o th Pi ttsbu rg s aw a ch a n ce
for a g oo d ch a rter To m Bigel ow s aw a ch a nce
to fi nish the M a gee Fli nn ri ng a nd he h a d
Wil li am B Rogers a m a n w ho m the ci ty trusted
”
“
dr aw the f amo us
R ip p e r Bill ! This wa s
o ri g i n a lly a good ch a rter concent ra ti ng p o w e r
i n the m ayor bu t ch a nges were i n tr o duced
i nto i t t o en able the Governor to re m ove
and ap poi n t m ay o rs or recorde r s a s they w ere
to b e called at wi ll u nt i l April 1 9 0 3 w hen the firs t
el ected recorde r wa s to t a ke o ffice
This wa s
B igelo w s device to rid Pi ttsburg of the ring o ffice
h o lders B ut M a gee wa s n o t de a d yet He and
Fli n n s aw G o vernor S t o ne a nd w hen the Govern o r
ri pped ou t the ri ng m ayor he a p p oin ted a s r e
corder M aj o r A M Bro w n a l aw yer well thought
of i n Pi ttsburg
184
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TH E
18 6
S HA M E
OF TH E C ITI ES
electi o n t o be held i n Febru a ry 1 9 0 2 for Co m p
t r o ller a nd h a l f o f the c ou ncil s A Citizens p a rty
w as org a ni zed The cam p a ign wa s a n exci ted
o ne ; both sides did thei r best a nd the v ote polled
wa s the l a rgest ever k n ow n i n Pi ttsburg E v en the
ri ng m a de a rec o rd The citizens won howe v er
a nd by a m aj o ri ty o f
This sh ow ed the peo ple w h a t they c ould do when
they tried a nd they w ere so el a ted th a t they w en t
—
t
h
e
i nt o
next electi o n a nd c a rried the c o unty the
stronghold o f the ri ng Bu t they now h a d a p a rty
t o look ou t f o r a nd they did not l o ok o ut for i t
They neglected i t j ust as they h a d the city T om
B igelo w k ne w the v a l ue o f a m aj o ri ty par ty ; he
had a pp r eci a ted the Ci ti zen s fro m the st ar t I n
deed he m a y h av e st a rted i t A ll the ref o r m e r s
k now i s th a t the c omm i ttee which called the Ci ti
zens P a rty i nt o existence wa s m a de u p o f t w enty
five m en — five o ld Mun ici pa l Leaguers the rest a
”
m iscell a ne o us l o t
They did not bother then
a bou t th at They kne w T om Bigel ow but he did
not sho w hi m sel f a nd the ne w party went on c on
fidently w ith i ts p assion a te w ork
When the ti m e c am e for the gre a t elect i on that
for recorder thi s ye a r
the citizens w oke
u p one d a y a nd f o und To m Bi gel ow the boss o f
their p a rty How he c am e the r e they did not ex
oss
e
ssio
n
a ctly kno w ; b ut ther e h e wa s i n full
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P I TT S B U R G : A C I T Y ASHAM E I) 18 7
an
d ther e w i th h i m was th e
mis c ell aneo us l ot
o n th e co mm i tt ee M oreo ver B i ge low w as app l y
i n g w i th vi go r re gul ar m a ch i n e m e t hods I t was a ll
v ery as t o n ishi n g b ut v ery s i g n
i fic a n t M a gee was
de ad ; Fli n n s e n d w as i n si ght ; but there was the
B oss th e ev erl as t i n g A m e ric a n Boss as large as
T he good cit iz e n s were shocked ; th ei r di
life
lem m a w as ri dic ulous b ut i t was se ri ou s t oo
H elp l e ss they watc hed
B i gel o w n o m i n at ed for
reco rder a m a n they n e v er wo ul d ha v e c ho s en
F li nn put u p a be tt e r m an hop i ng to c atc h the c i t
s a n d w he n th ese s ai d t hey c ould see F li n n be
iz en
h i n d h i s c andi da te he sa i d
N o ; I a m ou t o f
polit i cs
Whe n M agee di ed I died po l i t ic ally
”
too
N obody would beli e ve h i m
The d ece n t
Dem oc rats hop e d to ret ri eve the i r party and o fl er
a way ou t but B i ge low went i n to the i r con v ent i o n
w i th his m oney and the wre t ched old organ iz atio n
sold out The s m e ll o f m o ney o n the C i tizens side
attra c t ed t o i t th e graft e rs the ra ts fro m F li n n s
si nk i n g sh i p ; m a n y o f the c o rporat i o n s we n t o v er
a n d pre tty s oo n i t w as u n ders tood that th e ra il
ro ads had c o m e t o a se t t l e m en t a m o n g th e m selves
an
d w i th the n e w boss o n th e basi s o f an agree
m e n t s aid to co nta i n fiv e s pecifi ca t i o ns of gra n ts
fro m th e ci ty Th e te m ptatio n t o v o t e fo r Fl i n n s
m a n was stro n g b ut the old re fo rm e rs s ee m ed to
feel th a t th e o nly t hi n g to do was to fi nis h Fl i n n
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TH E S HA M E O F TH E CITI E S
n ow a nd t a ke c a re o f To m Bigelo w l a ter This
view p rev a iled a nd To m Bigelo w w on This is the
wa y the best m en i n Pittsburg pu t i t : We h a ve
s m ashed a ri ng a n d w e h av e w ound a nother a round
”
us N o w w e h av e go t t o s m a sh th a t
There i s the spiri t of this ci ty a s I u nderst a nd
i t Cr a ven a s i t wa s for ye a rs corrupted high
and lo w Pi ttsburg did rise ; i t sh o ok o ff the super
s t it io n o f
p artis a nshi p i n m un icip a l poli ti cs ;
be a ten i t r o se ag a i n ; and no w w hen it m igh t have
boasted of a triu m ph i t s a w s traigh t : a defeat
The old fighters undeceived and undeceiving h u
m iliat ed bu t u ndaunted s a id si m ply : Al l w e ha v e
got to do is to begi n all over a g a in
Me a n w h ile
ho w e v er Pi ttsburg h a s de v eloped so m e y o ung m en
and w i th a n i nheri t a nce of this s am e spiri t they
are going t o try out i n thei r o w n way The older
m en u nderto o k t o save the ci ty w ith a m aj o r i ty
p a rty a nd they l o st the p arty The y o unger m en
h a ve for m ed a Voters Civic Le a gue w hich pro
poses t o s w i ng fro m one party to a n o ther th a t
m i nori ty o f disi nte r ested c i ti zens w hich i s al ways
w illing to be led a nd thus r ai se the st a ndard o f
c a ndid a tes and i m pro v e the ch a r a cter o f regul a r
p a r ty go v ernm en t T om Bigelo w i ntended t o c ap
ture the old Fli n n or g a n ization co m bine it w i th
his Ci tizens p a rty a nd rule a s M a gee did with
one p a rty a u n i on of all parties I f he should
1 88
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PHI LAD ELPH IA : COR R U PT A N D
C O N TEN T ED
TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITIES
f o r ou r m unici p a l c o ndi ti o ns ; Phil a del p hi a wi th
4 7 pe r cen t o f i ts pop ul a ti o n n a ti v e born of na
t ive bo m p a ren ts is the mo s t A m e r ic a n o f o u r
”
g re a ter cities I t is good t oo a nd i ntell igent
I don t k n ow j ust ho w t o m e a sure the i ntell igence
o f a co mm unity b ut a Pen nsylv a n i a c o llege pr o f es
s o r w h o decl a red to m e his bel ie f i n educ a ti o n f o r
the ma sses a s a wa y ou t o f p ol itic a l corru p t io n
hi m sel f j ustified the r a ke o ff of prefer red c o n
t ra ctors on public w orks on the g ro und of a fa i r
”
b usiness p r ofit
Another p lea we h a v e m ade is
that w e are too busy to attend to public busi ness
and we have p ro m ised when we co m e to w ealth and
leisu re t o do bette r Philadelphia has long en
j oyed g r e a t and w idely d i st ri b uted p rosperi ty ; i t
i s the city of ho m es ; there is a dwell i ng house for
—
every five pe r s o ns m en wo m en a nd child r en
o f the popul a tion ; and the people give one a sense
of m ore leisu re a nd r epos e than a ny co m m u ni ty I
e v er d w el t i n So m e Ph il a delphi a ns ac coun t for
the i r poli tical state on the ground of thei r e a se a nd
com for t There is an o ther class of opti m ists whose
hope is i n an ar istocr a cy that is to co m e by
and by ; Phil a delphi a i s surer that i t h a s a r e a l
”
a ri st oc ra cy th a n any other p la ce i n the world
b u t i ts aristoc r a ts w ith fe w ex cept i ons are i n the
ri ng wi th i t or of no pol itical use Then we hear
t hat we are a young people and that when we are
19 4
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P H IL AD E L P H I A : C O N TE N TE D 195
”
olde r and ha v e t raditio n s l ik e s o m e of the old
coun t ri es w e al so w i ll be hon est Ph i l a delph ia is
on e of the o l des t of o u r ci t i es and treasu re s fo r us
s
sce n es a n d relics of som e of the nobles t t radit io n
”
of ou r f ai r la n d Yet I w as to l d ho w o n ce for
”
a j o k e a pa rty of bood l ers c ou n t ed out the
d i vv y o f the i r graft i n u n is o n w i th t he a n cie n t
chim e o f I nde pe n de n ce H al l
Philad e lph i a is repres e n tat ive
This ve ry
”
“
j oke to l d as i t was wi th a l augh is typ ica l
All ou r m u n ici pal go ve rn m e n ts ar e m ore or l ess
bad an d al l ou r people are opt i m ists P hi ladelph i a
is s im ply the m os t corrupt and th e mo st co n te n ted
M in n eapol is has c l ean ed up P i tts bu rg has tr ied t o
N ew York fights eve ry oth e r el ec t i on Ch icago
fights a ll th e ti m e E ve n S t L ou is has be gu n t o
s tir ( si n ce t he e l ecti o n s are o v er ) a n d a t th e worst
was o n ly s ha m e les s Ph i ladelph i a is pm ud ; goo d
peo p le there d efe n d co rru ptio n an d boas t of th eir
m ac hin e
My co llege professor w i th his phil o
”
“
soph ic vie w of rake o ffs
i s o n e Phila del phia
type A n o ther i s the m an who d r iven to hay w i th
his loc al pride s ay s : A t lea s t you m us t ad m i t
”
that ou r mac hi n e i s th e bes t you ha ve eve r see n
D i sgra ceful ? O ther ci t ies s ay so B u t I s ay
t hat if Phi l adelphia is a d i sgr a ce i t is a di sgra ce
n ot to i tse lf alone n or to P enn sy l v a n i a b u t to the
Un
i te d S tates a n d to A m e r ic a n c har a cte r F or
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TH E S HAM E OF TH E C ITIES
this great city s o highly represen t a tive i n o ther
res p ec ts is not behi nd i n p o li tic a l ex p e r ience bu t
ahe a d w i th New Y o r k Phil a delphi a is a city th a t
ha s had i ts refor m s
H a vi ng pa ssed thro ugh a ll
the ty pic a l s ta ges o f corrupti o n Phil adel p hi a
rea ched the pe r iod o f m iscell a ne o us loo t w ith a b o ss
fo r chie f thief u nder J am es M cM a nes a nd t he G a s
Ring way b a ck i n the l a te sixties a nd seven ties
Thi s is t h e T w eed st a ge o f c or rupti o n f rom w hich
St L o uis for ex amp le is j ust e m e r ging Phi l a
delphi a i n t w o i ns p i r i ng p o p ul a r r ev o l ts a tt a cked
the G a s R i ng b ro ke i t a nd i n 1 885 a chieved th a t
dre am of A m e r ican cities— a g oo d ch ar ter The
p resen t conditi o n o f Phil a delphi a the r e f or e is not
that w hich p r ecedes b ut th a t w h ich fo ll ow s r efo r m
a nd inthi s disti ncti o n lies i ts startling gener a l sig
nificance
Wh a t h a s h app ened since the B ul li tt
L aw o r ch a rter w en t int o e ffect i n Phil a del p hi a may
“
ha p pen i n a ny A m eric a n city after refor m is
1 96
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o ver f
’
F
Fo r ref o r m wi th us is usually revolt not gov ern
m ent a nd is soon over Ou r pe op le d o n o t seek
they av oi d self r ule a nd refo rm s a re s pa s m od ic
e ffo r ts to pun ish b a d rule r s a nd get s om ebody that
w i ll gi v e us good go v ernm en t o r so m ethi ng th a t
A sel f a cting for m of g o ve rn m ent i s
vill m ake i t
an ancien t supe r stition
We are an i n v enti ve
p eople and we all thi nk that w e s hall de vi se s o m e
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI ES
1 98
Quay the St a te b o ss let hi m h av e a co m pl i m entary
vote on the fi r s t b a ll o t The poli tician s fooled
M r F itler a nd they f oo led a lso the next bus i
ness mayor E dwi n S Stua r t l i ke w ise a m ost esti
mable gentle ma n U nder the s e t w o ad m inist ra tion s
the f o und a ti o n was laid f o r the p resent go ve r n m en t
o f Phil a del p hi a the c or ruption t o which P hi ladel
hi
s see m s o r econciled and the mac hi ne wh i c h i s
a
n
p
”
a t lea st the best y o u h a ve e v er seen
The Philadel p h i a ma chi ne isn t the bes t
It
isn t sound and I d o ubt i f i t wo uld st a nd i n N ew
Yor k o r Chic a go The enduri ng strength of th e
ty p ic a l A m e r ic a n p o litic a l ma chine is that i t i s a
—
n a tu ra l g row th a s ucke r bu t deep r ooted i n the
p eop le The Ne w Yor ke r s v ote fo r Ta mma ny
H a ll The Phil a del p hi a n s d o not v o te ; they ar e
disf ra nchised a nd thei r di sfr a nchise m ent is one
a ncho r of the foundat i o n of the Ph i ladelphia o r
an
i
z at ion
g
This is no fi gu re of s peech The hones t ci t i zen s
o f P h iladelphia h av e no m ore rights at the po lls
th a n the negroes down South N or do they fight
v ery h a rd for th i s basi c p ri vilege Y ou c an ar o use
thei r Repu b li c an i re by talking abou t th e black
R epub l ic a n v ote s lost i n the Southern Stat es by
white De m oc rat i c i nt im idation bu t i f you re m i nd
the a vera ge Phil a delphi an that he i s i n the sa m e
posi tion he wil l look st a rtled then s ay
That s
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P H I LA D E LP H I A : C O N T EN TE D 199
so tha t s l i te ral ly tru e o n ly I never thought of it
”
i n j u s t tha t way
A n d i t is l i te rally t rue
Th e m ach i ne co n t rols the whole p roc es s of v o t
i n g a n d p rac ti ce s fra ud at e v e ry s t a ge The as
d the as s es so r i s
an
s es so r s l i s t is t h e v oti ng l ist
“
the m a chi n e s m a n
The as ses so r of a d ivi s i on
kep t a di so rderly h ou se ; h e p added h is li sts w i t h
fraudu l en t n am es re gis te red fro m h i s hou se ; two
of th ese na m es were us ed by el ec t i on office rs
Th e co ns tab le of the d i v i sion kept a d i s re pu ta b l e
house ; a poli ce man was as s essed as l i vi n g the re
The el ec t i on wa s held i n the d i so rderly hou se
m a i n ta i n ed by the asse sso r
The m a n n am ed
as j udge had a cr i m i n al c harge for a li fe o ffen se
pen di ng aga i n s t h i m
Two hund red and fif ty
two vo tes we re re tu rn ed i n a d ivi s i o n th a t had less
tha n o n e hund red lega l vo tes w i thi n i ts bound
”
ar i es
The se extra c ts from a repo rt of the Mun i c
i pal Leagu e s ugges t the elec t io n m ethods The
a s s esso r pads the li st wi th the na m es of dead dogs
ch il dre n and n o n ex i sten t pe rso ns One ne w s pa pe r
p rin ted th e pi ctu re of a dog another that of a
li t tl e fou r y ear—
o l d n egro boy do w n on s u ch a l ist
A r i n g ora t or in a speec h res enting s nee rs a t his
”
“
ward as l ow do wn re m i nded hi s heare rs tha t
tha t was the ward of In depe nden ce Hall an d na m
ing o v er si g n e rs of the Dec lar a ti on of I n
depen
d
en ce b e cl osed hi s h i gh e st fligh t of el oq ue n ce w i th
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TH E SH AM E OF TH E C ITI E S
“
the st a te m ent th a t
these m en t he fa the rs o f
”
A m e r ic a n libe r ty v o ted d ow n he r e o nce And he
”
a dded w i th a c a tching g ri n
they v o te he r e yet
Rud o lph Bl a nkenbu r g a p ersisten t fighter f o r the
right a nd the use o f the right to v ote ( a nd by
the wa y a n i mm igr a n t ) sent o u t j ust bef o re
o ne election a registe red letter to e a ch v o te r
on the ro ll s o f a ce rt a i n selected divisi o n Si x ty
”
th ree pe r cen t w ere r etu r ned mar ked not a t
”
”
r emo ved
dece a sed etc F rom one f o u r sto ry
house w here fo r ty f o u r v o te r s w e r e a dd r essed e i gh
teen letters c am e b a ck u ndelive r ed ; f rom a nother
o f fo rty eight v o ters ca m e b a ck fo r ty one letters ;
f r o m a n o ther si xty one o u t of sixty t w o ; f ro m
a nother fo rty fo u r o u t of fo t ty seven Si x houses
i n o ne division w ere a ssessed a t one hundred and
seventy tw o v o te r s m o r e th a n the vo tes c a st i n the
p re v ious electi o n i n any one of t w o hu ndred enti re
divi sion s
The repe a ti ng is d o ne b o ldly for the m achi ne
contr o ls the electi o n o ffice r s often choos ing the m
fro m a m ong the fraudulent n am es ; a nd w hen no
one appea r s to ser v e a ssignin g the heele r re a dy f o r
the ex p ected v a c a ncy The pol ice a re f o rbidden by
l a w t o st a nd W
i thi n thi r ty feet o f the p olls bu t
they ar e a t the b o x a nd they ar e the re to see th a t
the ma chi ne s orders a r e obeyed a nd th a t r e p e a te r s
who m they help to fu r nish ar e pe rm i tted to v ote
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
Bu t ma ny Phil a del p hi a ns d o not try to v o te
They leave e v e ry thi ng to the ma chine a nd the
m achine c a sts thei r b a ll o ts fo r the m I t is esti
m a ted th a t
v oters did not go t o the p o ll s
a t the l a st electi o n Y et the ma ch ine r o lled u p a
maj o rity o f
fo r We aver w i th a f ra udulent
v o te est im ated a ll the way fro m forty to eighty
th o us a nd a nd this i n a ca mpa ign so ma ch ine ma de
”
th a t i t w as c a lled no c o n tes t
F ra ncis Fisher
Kane the De mo c ra t got
v o tes o ut o f s om e
”
“
Wh a t i s the us e o f v o ting ? these
st a y a t h om es a sk A f r iend o f m ine t o ld m e he
was on the lists i n the th ree wa rds i n w hich he h a d
successively dwelt He vo tes p e r son a lly i n none
but the le a der o f his p resent w a rd tells h i m h o w he
has been v oted M r J C Reynolds the pro p ri
et o r o f the St J am es H otel w ent to the polls at
eleven o clock l a st election d ay o nly to be told th a t
he h a d been voted He asked h ow ma ny othe r s fr o m
his h o use h a d v o ted A n election o fficer took u p a
list checked o ff t w elve n am es t wo d ow n t w ice a nd
handed i t to hi m When M r Reynolds got h om e
he learned th a t one o f these h a d voted the o thers
h a d been v oted A nother ma n s a id he r a rely a t
te mp ted t o v ote but w hen he did the office r s let
hi m e v en though his na m e had a l ready been v oted
o n ; and then the neg ro re p ea ters w ould a sk i f hi s
”
b rother wa s c o mi ng r o und to d ay
They wer e
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P H IL A D E LP H I A : C O N TE N TE D 203
go i n g to v ote h i m a s th ey v ote al l goo d n atu red
c itizens who s tay away
When th is ki nd of man
”
tu rn s out said a leade r to m e
we si m ply have
e t o balan ce h i m a n d one
t w o repeaters ext ra—o n
”
I f n eces sary a fte r a l l t h i s
more to the good
”
right a n d there is
t he ma chi ne cou nts the v ote
li ttl e u se a ppeal i ng to the cou rts s i n ce they hav e
held e xcept i n one c a se that the ball o t bo x i s s ec ret
an d ca n n ot be ope n ed The only legal re m edy l i es
i n th e pu rging of the as se s so r s lis ts and w he n the
M u n ic i pal League had th i s done i n 1 899 they re
po rted tha t there was wh ol es al e v ot i n g on t he
ve ry n a m es s tr icke n o ff
Depr ived of sel f go ve r nm en t the Phi lade l ph i a ns
ha v e n t eve n se l f go ve r n i n g m ach i ne go v e rn m en t
They ha ve the i r o wnboss bu t h e a n d his machin e
are subj ec t to th e S ta te r i n g an d take th ei r orders
fro m th e State bos s M a tthew S Quay who i s the
p rop rieto r of Pen ns yl v an i a a n d the real ruler of
P hiladelphi a j us t as W i lli a m P e n n th e G reat P ro
l
Philadelph
ia
ns
es
p
ec
ia
ly
the
lo
c
a
l
t
o r wa s
r
i
e
p
bosses d i s li ke thi s desc ri pt i on of the i r go ve rn m ent
an d thev po i n t for refuta t i o n to th ei r charte r But
this v ery B ulli tt Law was passed by Quay a n d he
put i t th rough th e Le gi slatur e not for refo r m
reaso ns b u t at th e i nstan ce of Da vi d H L an e his
P hil adelph i a li e ut en a n t as a ch eck u po n th e power
of B oss M cM anes La te r wh e n M cM anes p ro ved
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TH E S HAM E OF TH E CITI ES
h opelessly i nsubo r din a te Q uay decided t o h a ve
d o ne w ith hi m f or ever He ch o se D a vid M a rti n f o r
b o ss a nd f r om his se a t i n the U ni ted St a tes Sen a te
Penn s successo r r a ised u p his ma n a nd set hi m o ve r
the p eople C ro ker w ho rose by his o w n stren gth
to the hea d of T a m ma ny H a ll h a s t ried t w ice t o
a p po in t a success o r ; no o ne else c o uld a nd he
f a iled The b oss o f T amma ny H all i s a grow th
So Cr o ker has a tte m pted t o ap p o in t district le aders
and fa iled ; a T amma ny dist r ict lea der is a g row th
Boss M ar tin picked u p a nd set d ow n f rom above
w a s ac cepted by Phi l a del phi a a nd the Phil a del p hi a
ma ch i ne a nd he re m o v ed old wa rd le a de rs a nd a p
p o inted ne w ones So m e le a ders i n Philadel p hi a
ow n thei r wa rds of cou rse but Martin a nd a f ter
h i m D u r h am h a ve sen t m en i nt o a ward to le a d i t
and they h av e led i t
The Phil a delphi a org a n i zation i s upside down
I t has i ts ro o t i n the a i r o r rather li ke the b a ny a n
t ree i t sends i ts roots fro m the cen ter o ut b o th u p
and d ow n and all around and there l ies i ts p eculi a r
strength For when I sa i d i t was dependent and
n o t sound I did not m e a n th a t i t w as w eak I t is
dependent as a m unicip a l m ach i ne bu t the o r gan
iz at io n that rules Philadelphi a is as we have seen
not a m ere m un icipal m achi ne bu t a city Sta te
a nd n a tional orga n iz a t i on The people of Phi la
delph i a are Republi cans i n a Republi can ci ty i n a
2 04
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TH E SH AM E OF TH E C ITI ES
h av e s p read s edulously the doct r i ne of refo rm
”
w ithi n the party and fro m the C o m m ittee of O ne
Hundred on the refor m ers h a ve stuck pretty f a i th
fully to this pr i nciple B ut lest the ci tizens should
co m mi t such a s i n a ga inst the i r p a rty M a rti n
form ed a pe rm anen t co m b i nation of the De m ocrati c
wi th the Republican o rganization usi ng to that
end a goodl y sh a re of the Fede ra l a nd coun ty p a t
rouage
Thus the people of Phil a del phi a were
fixed s o that they couldn t v ote i f they w an ted
to and i f they should wan t to they couldn t v ote
for a De m ocrat ex c ept of Re p ublic a n or independ
en t choo s i ng I n other wo r ds havi ng t a ken aw ay
thei r ball ot the boss es took away also the choi ce of
part i es
B ut the greatest l esso n learned and appl ied wa s
”
t hat of c onciliat io n and good gov ern m ent
The
s t not wan t to v ote or rebe l a ga i nst the
u
p eople _
rn
_
ri ng QThi s ring like any other w as form ed fo r
the explo i t a tion of th e c ity for p ri vate profit and
the cem en ting f or c e i s the cohesi ve po w er of
public plunder fl l B ut M cM anes and T w eed had
p r ov ed th a t m iscellaneous l a rceny was dangerou s
and w hy should a lot of chea p pol it i cian s get so
m uch and the people nothi ng a t all ? The people
had been tau gh t to expect but l ittl e fro m the i r
ruler s : good w a ter good light clean streets w ell
pa v ed fa i r tran s p o rtatio n the decent re pres si on of
920 6
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P HI L A D E L P H I A : C O N TE N T E D 207
vi ce publ ic o rder a nd publi c sa fety a n d no sca n
dalous or ope n co rru pt i on would m ore tha n s a tis fy
th em I t w ould be good b u si n es s an d go od pol i tics
to give th e m the se th i n gs L ik e Chr is M agee w ho
studi ed out the proble m w i th h i m M a rt i n too k
away fro m th e rank and fi l e of th e party an d fro m
the wa rd lead e rs a n d oflicc ho l de rs the pr i v i lege of
theft and he fo rm ed c om pa n i es an d g rou ps to ha n
It
dl e th e le gi t i m ate publi c b us i n es s of the ci ty
was all graft b ut i t was to be al l law ful a n d i n
the m ai n i t was Publi c fran ch ises publ ic wor ks
an
d publ ic contra c ts w ere the p r i n c i pal bran c h es
of the b us i n es s and Mart i n a dopted the dual boss
idea wh ich w e ha ve s ee n worked out by Magee a n d
F li nn in P i ttsb u rg I n Philadelph i a i t was Ma rt i n
an d Po rt e r a n d j ust as Fl i n n had a fi rm B oo th
Fl i nn L td so Porter was F i lbe rt and Po rte r
F i lbe rt an d Port e r go t all th e publi c co n t ract s
th ey could handle a n d th e res t wen t to o ther co n
t ra c tor s friendly to the m a n d to the ri ng Som e
ti m es th e p re ferr ed con tra cto r was the low es t b i d
de r b u t he d i d n ot ha ve to be The law allow ed
”
a w ards to be th e lowes t and bes t and th e cou r ts
held tha t th is ga v e th e offi c i als disc re t i on B u t
s i n ce pu b li c c ri ti cis m was to be co n side red th e
ri ng t o keep u p appeara n ces re sort ed to m a n y
t rick s On e was to ha ve fake bi ds made abo ve th e
fa v o rite A n o the r was to ha ve th e fa v ori te bi d
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITI E S
high b ut set a n i m possible ti m e l i m i t ; the depar t
m ent of t h e city councils c o uld extend the ti m e
a f ter w ards Still another was to a rr a nge for spec
ifica t io ns w hich w o uld ma ke ou tsiders bid h igh
then ei ther openly a l ter the pl a ns or let t he r i ng
fi rm pe rf o rm w ork not u p to requi re m en ts
Many of M a rti n s deals a nd j obs were s c andals
b u t they were safe ; they were i n the d i rection of
publi c s er v ice ; and th e great m ass of the busines s
was done qu ietly Moreo v er the public w as get
—
t i ng so m eth ing for its m oney n o t full value but
a good percen tage I n other words there was a
li m i t to the
and so m e i nsiders ha v e told
m e that i t had been l a id do w n a s a p rinciple wi th
the ri ng that the p e o ple sh o uld ha v e i n va lue ( that
is , i n work o r benefit i ncluding a fai r p r ofi t ) n ine
ty five cents ou t of e v ery dollar
I n s o m e of the
deals I h av e i n v estig a ted the r ake o ff o v er and
above p rofit w as as high as t w enty five per cent
”
Still e v en a t this there w a s a li mi t and the
public w a s gettin g as one o f the lea ders told m e
”
a run fo r i ts mo ney
Cyn ic al as i t a ll sounds
thi s vi ew i s taken by ma ny Phil a delphians al m ost
i f n ot q ui te as i ntelligen t as m y college p rofessor
B u t ther e was another ele m en t i n the poli cy of
concil ia t i on wh ich is a poten t fac tor i n th e co n te nt
m en t of Philadelphi a and I regard i t a s t he key to
“
”
that apa thy wh i ch has m ade th e co mm un i ty
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2 10
TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITI ES
m int or post o th ee Then the r e a re the ba nkers
w h o enj oy or may so m e d ay enj oy p ublic de p osits ;
th ose th a t p rofit o n l oa ns t o fi n a nce po li tica l finan
c ial de a ls ; the pr o m oti ng c ap i ta l ists w h o sh ar e w ith
the bosses o n f ra nch is es ; a nd the b roke rs w h o dea l
i n ri ng sec ur i ties a nd specul a te u po n ri ng tips
Th rough the exch a nge the ring financie r s re a ch the
i nvesting public w hich i s a l a rge a nd i nfluenti a l
b o dy The t r a cti o n co mpa n ies w hich bought thei r
way fro m beginnin g to end by c o r ru ption w hich
h av e al ways been i n the ring and w hose financie r s
h av e usu a lly sh a red in other big ring de als a dopted
ear ly the p o licy of b ri bing the p e o ple w i th s ma ll
”
blocks o f stock
D r F rede r ick S p ei rs i n his
”
The St r eet R a ilw ay Syste m o f Phil a delph i a
“
ca m e u pon t r a nsactions w hich
indic a te cle ar ly
that it is the p oli cy of the U n ion Co m p a ny to get
the secu r i ties i nto the hands of a l a rge nu m ber o f
s ma ll holde r s the p l a i n i nference bei ng that a w ide
distributi o n of secu ri ties will fo r ti fy the co m p a ny
”
a g a i nst possible attac ks by the p ublic
I n 1 8 95
he f ound a di rector sayi ng : Ou r c r i tics have eu
g a ged the Ac a de m y of Music a nd a re to c a l l a n
asse m blage of p eople opposed to the street rail way s
as now ma naged I t would t ake eight A c ade mies
of Music to h o ld the s tockholders of the U n i on
T r a ction Co m pany
B u t we are n ot yet th rough Quay has m ade a
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P H IL A D E LP H I A : C O N TE N TE D 2 1 1
s pec i a lty all his li fe o f refor m e rs a nd he and h is
l oca l bosses ha v e w o n ov er so ma ny tha t the lis t of
fo rm er re for m e rs i s v ery v ery lo n g M a rt i n d rov e
dow n h is roots through r ac e a nd religi o n too
P h i ladelphia was one of the hot beds of k now
”
n othi n gis m
Ma rt i n r ecogn ized the Ca t h o lic and
th e I ri sh I r i sh and so dre w o ff i n to the Republ i can
p arty the great n atu ral supply o f the De m oc rats ;
an
d h is s u cc es so rs ha v e g iv en h i gh pl a ces to repre
”
se n
Su rely th i s is n t cor ru pt i on !
ta t ive Je w s
No a n d n ei ther i s that cor ru pt i o n which m ak es the
heads of gre at educat i o n al and cha ri ty i nstitut i ons
”
go al on g as t hey say i n Pen nsylvan ia i n order
to ge t app ropr i at i o n s fo r t he i r i n sti tut i o n s fro m
the S tat e a n d land fro m th e ci ty They k now wha t
is go i n g o n but they do not j o i n refo r m m o v e m en ts
Th e p ro v os t of the Un i v ers i ty of Pennsyl v ani a de
clin
ed t o j oi n i n a re v ol t beca use he s a i d i t m igh t
im pa i r hi s usefulnes s to the Un ive rsi ty A n d so i t
is wi th othe rs and w i th c l e rgy m e n who ha v e fa vor
i te chari t i es ; wi th Sab bath associ ations and C i ty
Beau ti ful clu bs ; w i th lawye rs who wan t b riefs :
wi th re al es tat e dealers who like to know i n ad v an ce
abou t pu b l ic i m pro ve me n ts and r eal es ta te owners
who app reci a te l i gh t assess m e nt s ; w it h shopk ee pe rs
who do n t wan t to be b o the red w i th st ric t ins pec
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If
th e re
is
no oth e r h o l d for the r i n g ona
man
TH E SHA M E OF THE C ITI ES
the r e a l ways is the p ro tective t ar i ff
I don t
”
c ar e s a id a ma nu f a ctu re r
Wh a t i f they d o
p lunder a nd rob us i t c a n t hu r t m e unless the y
ra ise the tax ra tes a nd even th a t wo n t r uin m e
Ou r p a rty kee p s u p the t ar i ff I f they sh o uld re
”
du ce th a t m y busi ness wo uld be r ui ned
Such then a re the r am ific a ti o ns o f t hi s ma ch ine
such i s i ts st r ength
N o wo nder M a rti n could
b r e a k his ow n rules a s he did a nd comm it excesses
Phil a delph i a is not m e r ely c or ru p t i t i s c or ru p ted
Ma r ti n s d oo m wa s p ro cl a i m ed n o t i n Phil a del p hi a
bu t i n the Uni ted St a tes Sen
a te and his o ffense was
n o ne o f this busi ness of h is but h is f a ilu r e to nom
inate a s successor t o M ay or Stu a rt the m an B o ise
Pen ros e w h o m M a tt Qu ay ch o se f o r th a t p l a ce
M a rt i n h a d consented bu t at the l a st mom ent he
orde r ed the n om in a tion of Ch ar les F W a r w ick in
stea d The d ay th a t h app ened M r Qu ay a r ose o n
the fl oo r o f the Senate and i n a s peech s o i rr ele vant
t o the m e asu r e under c o nside ra tion th a t n obody
out o f Pennsylv a n i a unde r stood i t s a id th a t the re
was i n his t ow n a ma n wh o h a d given a s his r eas o n
for not do ing wh a t he h a d p ro m ised t o do the ex
cuse th a t he wa s u nder a hea v y s al a ry f r o m a
g r eat corp or a ti o n ( the P en nsylv a n i a R a il r oa d )
and wa s co m pelled to do w h a t the co rpor a tion
”
wished hi m to d o A nd a dd ed Sen a t or Quay
m en i n such a pos ition wi th high power f o r good
2 12
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
£ 14
a nd p ro m ising i n ret urn t o sh a ke the p lu m t r ee
Qu ay his son R ich a rd R a nd Benj am in J H ay
w ood the State Tre a su rer w e r e indicted for co n
s
r
a
c
i
ff
a
nd
e
v
e
r
y
e
o
rt
w
as
ma
de
t
o
have
the
t
r
i
a
l
p
y
p re cede the next electi o n fo r the Legislatu re w hich
w as t o elec t a su c cessor to Qu a y i n the U n ited
S tates Sen a te ; but Qu ay got stays a nd p o stpo ne
m ents i n the h op es th a t a m ore friendly D istrict
A tt o rney c o uld be p ut i n that office M a rt in se
cu r ed the electi o n of Peter F R o the rm el w ho was
eage r to t ry the case and Quay had to dep end on
other resou rces The t r ial ca m e i n due c ou rse a n d
fa iled ; Judge B iddle ruled out the essenti a l e v i
dence on the g r ound th a t i t w a s excluded by the
statute of l i m it a t ion R o ther m el wen t on with the
t r ial but i t was hope less ; Quay wa s acqui tted and
the o ther cases w ere abandoned
Popul ar feeling w a s exci ted by th i s exposu re of
Quay but there was no a ction till the f a ction a l
fighting suggested a use for i t Quay h a d refus ed
the sec o nd Un i te d St a tes Senatorship to J ohn
Wana make r a nd Wan am aker led th ro ugh the
St a te a nd i n Phil a del ph i a a fight against the boss
which has ne v er ce a sed I t took the for m of a r e
for m c a m paign a nd Quay s m ethods were m ade
pl a in but the boss beat Wan am ake r at e v ery poi nt
had Pen rose m ade Sen a to r a nd th rough Pen ros e
and D u rh a m was gra dually getting possession of
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P H IL A D E LP H I A : C O N TE N TE D 2 15
P h ilade lph i a T he fi n a l t ri u m ph c am e w i th the
el ect i o n of Sam uel H As hbridge as mayor
”
Sta rs an d Stri pes Sam as A s hb ri dge is s o me
”
t i m es called was a s peech mak er a n d a j oi ner
Tha t i s to say h e m ade a p ra c ti ce of go i ng to
lodges ass ocia t io n s b rothe rhoods Sunda y s c ho o ls
an d all so r ts o f pu b li c and p ri v ate m ee t i ngs j oi n
i n g so m e b u t m ak i n g at all s peec hes pat ri otic a n d
se n ti m e n ta l He was ve ry popular U nder the
B ull i tt Law as I ha ve s a i d all that is n ecess a ry to
a good ad m i n i st ra ti on a n d com plet e though t em
o
r
a
r
e
for
m
i
s
a
good
m
ayor
T
he
pol
i
t
ici
a
n
s
r
y
p
feel that they m ust no m inate a m an i n who m the
p eople as well as the m sel v es ha v e faith They ha d
ba d fai th in Wa rw i ck both the r i ng a n d the people
an
d Wa rw ick had fo und i t i m po ssi bl e to s a t i s fy two
such m as te rs Now they put the i r fa i th i n Ash
b ridge a n d so d i d Du rha m and so d i d Ma rt i n All
i n te res ts a cce pt ed h i m th e re fore and all watc h ed
hi m wi th hope and m o re o r less ass uran ce ; n one
m ore tha n the good people A n d i nd eed n o m a n
could have p rom ised m ore o r be t te r publ ic se r vi ce
tha n A s hb ri dge Th e res u l t ho wev er w as d is
trac ti ng
M r A sh b ri dge th re w do w n M art i n a n d he
reco g ni zed Quay s m an
I s D u rha m as the po
Du rha m i s a high type of b o ss can
li tios l boss
di d, b u t of fe w words ; ge n erou s b u t bu si n ess l ik e ;
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
c omp lete ma ster o f hi m sel f a nd a genius a t organ
iz a t io n F o r Pennsylv a ni a p o litics he is a co n
s e rv
a tive le a der a nd the r e wo uld h a ve been no excesses
”
u nde r hi m a s there h a ve been few r ow s
Bu t
M r D u rh am h as n o t been the ma ster of the Phila
delphi a situ a ti o n He bo w ed t o Qu ay a nd he c o uld
not h o ld Ashb r idge Phil a del p hi a ns s ay th a t i f
i t sh o uld c om e t o a fight D u rh am c ould bea t Quay
i n Phil a del p hi a but i t doesn t c om e t o a fight An
other th ing Phil a del p hi a ns s ay is th a t he keeps
”
h is wor d yet he b roke i t ( w i th n o t i ce ) w hen Qu ay
a sked hi m t o st a nd fo r Pennyp a cke r fo r G ov e rn o r
As I s a id befo re h ow eve r Phi l a del ph i a is so c o n
stitu ted th a t i t ap p a rently c a nn o t h a ve sel f gov
er n
m ent n o t even i ts ow n b oss so th a t the a ll e
i
ce pa id to Qu a y is c omp r ehensible
an
B
ut
the
g
sub m ission o f the b o ss to the may o r wa s ext r ao r
dina r y a nd i t see m ed to so m e s a g a c i ous p o litici a ns
da n ge rous
Fo r M r A shb ridge br oke th rough a ll the p ri n
c i les o f m ode ra te g ra fting devel o ped by M a rt in
p
—
D u rh am form ed his ri ng t a king i n J am es P Mc
N i ch o l as co rule r and p r efer red c o ntr a ct or ; Joh n
M Mack as p ro m ote r and fin a ncier ; a nd he wi dened
the i nside ci r cle to include mo re i ndi vi d ual s B ut
w hile he wa s mo re libera l to wa rd his le a ders an d
not i ncli ned t o g rab o ff e v erythi ng f o r h im sel f
a s one le a der told m e he m ai ntai ned the pri nciple
216
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TH E SHA ME OF TH E CITIE S
Q 18
to say
Think how th a t could b e c onst rued I
said
I d o n t care a ny thing a bou t th a t he de
c la r ed
I m e a n t o get out o f this o ffice eve ry thi ng
there i s i n i t fo r S am uel H Ashbridge
When he r eti red fr om o ffice l ast A p r il he bec a m e
the p residen t o f a b a nk a nd w a s r eputed to be rich
Here is the su mma ry p ubl ished by the M unicipal
Le a gue a t the cl o se of h is l ab o rs
The four ye ar s o f the Ashb r idge ad mi nistra
ti o n h a ve pa ssed i nt o hist o ry le a vi ng behind the m
a sc a r o n the fam e a nd reput a ti o n o f o u r ci ty w hich
w ill be a l o ng ti m e he a l ing N ever befor e a nd let
us h o pe neve r a g a in w ill there be such br a zen defi
a nce o f public o pin ion such flagran t disreg a rd of
p ubl ic i nte r est such abuse o f p o w e r s a nd res p ons i
Th ese a re not gene ra l iza
b il it ies f or p r iv a te ends
t ions b ut e a ch st a te m ent c a n be abund a ntly proved
”
by nu m erous i nst a n ces
These nu m e r ous i nst a n ces are noto r i ou s i n
Phil a delph ia ; som e of the m w ere repo rted all o v er
the c o u ntry O ne o f the m wa s the a tte mp ted in
Tho m as B
t im ida t io n o f J o hn W a n am aker
W a n am aker J o hn W a n am aker s son bought the
N or th A m erican a ne w s pa per w hich h a d been
a nd still is ex p os i ng the abuses a nd corrupt io n
of the p o l i tic a l ri ng Abr ah am L E ngl ish M r
t o f Pu bli c
As hb ridge s D irector of the Depart m e n
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P H IL A D E L P H I A : CON T E N TE D 2 l 9
Sa fety c a lled o n M r Joh n Wa n a m ak er s a id he
had bee n ha vi n g hi m wa tc hed a n d wa s fi n ally
i n a pos i tio n to de m a n d tha t the n ewsp a per s t o p
th e atta ck s The m erc hant e x po sed the w hole
th i n g a n d a c o mm itt ee appo i n ted to i nves t i ga te
re po rt ed that
M r E n gl i sh h as pra c t ic ally
ad m i tted that h e at t e m pted to i nt im idate a re pu
tab l e c i t ize n a n d u nlawfully th rea tened hi m i n an
effo rt to s i le n ce c rit i c i s m of a publ i c n ewsp a per ;
th at fro m the m ayor s re fusa l t o order an i nvest i
i
re
t
o
o
f
the
c
ondu
c
t
o
f
M
r
E
n
gl
i
sh
o
n
the
a
n
g
q uest o f a town m ee ti n g o f re pre se n tat i ve ci t ize ns
the co m m u n i ty is j ust ified i n re gard i n g hi m as
ai di ng a n d a be tting M r E n glish i n the co rru pt
ac t co mmi tt ed
and that the m ayor i s therefore
”
to be equally c e n sure d b y the co mm u n i ty
“
The other i nstan ces of braze n a buse of po w
”
er were the i n cre ase o f p rot ect ed vicc the im
rt a t io n fro m N e w Yor k o f the
o
wh
i
te
sl
avery
p
”
“
sys te m o f p ro s t i tu ti o n th e growth o f s pe a k
”
e as ies a n d th e spre ad o f ga m bl i ng and o f poli cy
play i ng u nt i l it took i nth e school ch i ldre n T hi s
l as t the N orth Amer ic ane x po sed b ut i n v a i n t i ll
i t n am ed po li ce o ffice rs who had re fused w h e n asked
to i nte rfere Then a j udge s u mm oned the e d i tors
an
d re po rters of the p a pe r the m ayor D i rec tor
E n gli s h sch oo l c hi ldre n a n d poli ce o ffi ce rs to a p
pea r be fore him The m ayor s pe rs o n al attorn e y
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
s poke f o r the p o li ce duri ng the i nqui ry and i t
l o oked bl a ck f or the ne w sp a per till the children b e
g a n t o tell thei r sto ries When the hear i ng wa s
o ver the j udge s a id
The evidence sho ws c onclusively th at our pub
l ic sch o ol syste m i n th i s c i ty is i n d a nger o f bein g
cor r upted a t i ts foun t ai n ; th a t i n o ne of the s ch oo ls
o ver a hu nd r ed a nd fi fty ch ildren w ere buyers of
p o l icy a s w ere als o a l a rge nu m ber of sch o l ar s i n
other scho o ls
I t wa s firs t discovered a bou t
eigh teen m onths a go a nd for a bout one ye a r h a s
”
been i n full operati o n
The police o fficers w ere
n ot p u nished h ow ever
Th a t co rruptio n had re a ched the pu blic schoo ls
a n d w a s spreading r ap idly through th e syste m
wa s discovered by the exp o sure a nd c on vi cti o n o f
three sch o ol di r ect o rs o f the t w enty eighth w a rd
It wa s k n ow n before th a t te a che r s a nd princi pa ls
li ke a ny othe r o ffi ce h o lders h ad t o h a ve a p ull
a nd p a y a ssess m ents for electi o n expenses
Vol
t a r y c o n t r ibuti o ns
wa s the ter m used but over
un
the notices i n blue pencil wa s w ri tten 2 p er
a nd te a che r s w h o a sked direct o rs a nd war d b o sse s
w h a t to d o w ere a dvised th a t they would better
pa y
Th o se th a t sent less th a n the am ou nt sug
gested g o t r ecei p ts
check r ece iv ed ; sh a ll we
”
?
h o ld f o r b a l a nce o r ente r o n acc o un t
B ut the
exp o sure i n the t w enty eighth war d br o ught i t
220
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
Elkins the n a ti o n a l fr a nchise buye rs a re Phil a
delph ia ns a nd they w e r e i n the o ld M ar ti n ri ng
They h a d c om bi ned a ll the stree t r a il w ays o f the
ci ty be f o re 1 9 0 0 a nd they w e r e w i thd raw in gfro m
politics w i th thei r tr a cti o n syste m Bu t the Penn
syl v a ni a r i ngs w ill no t let cor po r a ti o ns th a t h a ve
risen i n c o rru p ti o n refo r m a nd r etire a nd besides
i t w a s ch a rged th a t i n the M a rt i n Qu a y fight the
street rail ways h a d p ut up m oney t o be a t Qu a y f o r
the U ni ted St a tes Sen a te A t a ny r a te pl a ns w e r e
l a id t o m ace the street r a il wa ys
M a cing is a f o r m of high bl a ck ma il When
they h a ve s o ld o u t a ll they h a ve the p ol itici a ns
f o rm a c omp eti ng c ompa ny a nd c omp el the o ld
c o ncern t o buy ou t or sell o ut While Widener a nd
Elki ns w e r e a t se a b o und f o r Eu rop e i n 1 9 0 1 the
Phil a del p hi a ri ng w en t t o the Legisl a ture a nd h ad
i ntroduced there t wo bills g ra n ting a ch a rter t o
pr a ctic a lly a l l the st reets a nd a lleys n o t covered by
t ra cks i n Phil a del p hi a a nd t o ru n sh or t st retches
o f the o ld co m p a nies tr a cks to m a ke c o n necti o ns
Cli n t o n R o ge r s
w ho wa s a n Asse m bly
o o dr ufl
m an h a s t o ld the st o ry Wi thou t n o tice the bills
w ere i ntr o duced a t 3 P M on M o nd ay M ay 2 9 ;
they were reported f ro m co mm i ttee i n five m inu t es ;
by
they w ere pri nted a nd o n the m e m
P
M
bers desk a nd by 9 P M ere pa ssed o n firs t re a d
i ng The bills pa ssed sec o nd r e a ding the nex t
292
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W
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W
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PH I LA D ELP H IA : C O N T ENT E D 2 23
day Me m ori a l D a y a n d o n the th i rd d a y we re
pas s ed fro m the Se n a te to the Hous e whe re they
were j a m m ed th rough wi th s i m i lar has te a n d
w o rs e tr i ckery I n s i x leg i slat iv e d ays the m eas
ur es w ere be fo re G ov er n or Stone who sig n ed th em
June 7 at m idn i ght i n t he pre sen c o f Quay
Pe nro se Con gre ss m an
oc rde rer
M a y o r Ash
br i dge s b a nker Ja m es P M c N icho l Joh n M
U nde r
M ac k a n d other c api talists and po liticians
the law o n e hund re d cha rt ers w ere appli ed for t he
n ex t m o rn i ng th i rt ee n for Ph i ladelph i a The
cha rters were gra nt ed on Ju n e 5 and that sa m e
day a s pec ial m eeti ng o f the Ph i ladelph i a Select
Co un c il w as called for Mo n day Th e re the c i t i
zen s of Phi ladelph i a m et the o n co m i ng c harte rs
but th ei r hea ri ng wa s b rie f Th e charters we n t
th rough withou t a h i tch a n d w e re se n t to M ayo r
Ashb ridg e o n Ju n e 1 8
The m ayor s s ec re tary s tat ed au thori tat iv e l y i n
the m orn i ng that the m ayor w o uld not sign that
day B ut he did An u n e x pec ted i n c ident forced
John W an a m aker s e n t h i m an o ffer
his hand
of
for th e fra n ch i se s a bou t to b e
gi ve n away A shbri dge thr e w th e letter i nto th e
s t ree t u n re ad Mr W ana m ak e r had deposit ed
as a gu ara n tee o f good fa i th and hi s s e
t i o n was bec o m i ng k now n Th e ordi n a n ces were
si gn ed b y mi d night a n d th e ci ty l ost a t le as t t wo
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E C ITI ES
a nd one h a l f m illi o ns o f d o ll ar s ; bu t the ri ng ma de
i t a nd m uch mor e When Mr W a n ama ker s letter
w a s publ ished C o ng ress ma n o erderer a n i nco r
o r a t o r o f the co m p a ny a ns w ered f o r the ma chi ne
p
H e s a id the o ffer wa s a n a dvertise m en t ; th a t i t wa s
l a te a nd th a t they w ere s o r ry they hadn t h a d a
”
ch a nce t o c a ll the blu ff
M r W a n amaker r e
s po n
ded w i th a rene wa l of the o ffe r o f
to the ci ty a nd he s a id I will a dd
as a
bo nu s to yoursel f a nd y o u r ass o ci a tes pers o n a lly
for the conv ey ance of the gr a nts a nd corp ora te
”
p ri v i leges you now pos s ess
Th a t ended the con
224
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t r o vers y
.
Bu t the de a l went o n T w o m ore bills ca lled
”
T r o lley Ch a sers were put thro ugh t o finish o ff
the legi sl a tion too hurrie dly d o ne t o be p erfect
O ne wa s t o gi ve the co m p a ny the r i ght t o b uild
ei ther ele va ted or underg ro und or both ; the sec
o nd to f o rbid a ll furthe r such g ra nts w i th o u t a
he a ri ng be f or e a b oar d c o nsisting o f the G o vern or
the Sec ret a ry o f the C ommo n w e a l th a nd the At
t or ney Gener a l Wi th a ll these f ra nchises a nd ex
elusive privileges the n ew c ompa ny m a de the o ld
o n e le a se thei r pl a n t i n op er a ti o n t o the co m p a ny
”
whi ch h a d n o thin g but r ights or i n P ennsyl
”
v ani a sl a ng a g o od h usky ma ce
A s hb r idgeis m pu t Phil a delphi a a nd the Phil a
delp h i a m achi ne to a test whi ch c an di d ri ng
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THE S HA ME OF TH E CI T I ES
226
i
n
t
o
p g
elect R o ther mel the D istrict A tt o rney
wh o h a d dared to try Qu a y Surely the re wa s a n
o ffici a l to su ppo rt ! But n o Qu a y wa s a g a inst
hi m The re f o r m ers used m oney so m e
I
—
—
re
belie v e fi gh t ing the devil w i th fi
bu t the m a
chi ne used m ore mo ney
f rom the te a ch
”
“
ers
spe a k easies
o ffice holde rs b a nkers a nd
c o rporation s The m a chi ne handled the ballots
Rotherm el was beaten by J o hn Weaver There
h a v e been o ther ca m p a igns b efore and si n c e led
by the M unici pa l League which i s m an aged wi th
pol iti c a l sense bu t each su cc ess iv e defeat w as by a
l a rger m aj o ri ty f o r the m ach i ne
There i s no check upon thi s m a ch i ne excepting
the chance o f a m ist ake the i mm inent fear o f
treachery and the r em ote danger of re v olt To
m eet this l a st the m achi ne a s a State o rg a ni za
t i on has set abou t throttli ng publi c c ri ticis m
A shbridge f o u nd th a t bl ack m ail w a s i ne ffecti v e
D urh am Qu ay a nd Go v ernor Pennyp a cker have
p assed a li bel l aw whi ch m ean t to m uzzle
the p ress The Go v erno r was a ctu a ted a pp a rently
only by his su ffe ri ngs fro m cartoons a nd comm en ts
du ri ng h i s cam p a i gn ; the P h i ladelph i a r i ng has
boodl in g pl ans ahead whi ch exp o sure m igh t m ake
ex a sperati ng to the peo p le The Phil a delph i a
P res s the leadi ng Re p ub lic a n organ i n the Stat e
puts i t right : The Go v er n or w a nted i t [ the l aw]
a
re
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P H I LA D E L P H I A : CON TE N TE D 227
inth e hop e o f e sc ap i n g fro m the u n es c apable c ar
too n Th e ga n g wa n t ed i t i n ho pe o f m uzz l i n g
the op pos i ti o n to j obs
The act is dis
c tly des ig n ed t o gag the p re
tin
s s i n the i n teres t o f
th e p l u n dere rs a n d aga i ns t the i n te res t o f the
”
peo p l e
D is fra n c h is ed w i thou t a c ho ice o f part i es ; de
ni ed s o th e M u n ic ipal Le ague dec lares the a n cie n t
”
r i gh t o f pet i ti o n ; a n d n ow t o los e free s p eec h
is th e re no hope for Ph i l ad el ph i a ? Y es the P hi la
d el ph i nus ha v e a v ery prese n t hope I t is i n thei r
n e w m ayor Joh n Wea v er The re is nothi ng i n his
reco rd to i nsp i re fa i th i n an ou ts i der H e s pe aks
“
hi m sel f o f two n o t o rious m isc a rri ages o f j u s
tice du ri n g h is t e rm as D is tr ic t A ttorn ey ; h e was
the n o mi n ee o f th e ri ng ; and the r i n g m e n ha v e
co nfi den ce i n him B u t so ha ve the p eople and
M r W e a ve r m akes fa i r pro m ises So di d Ash
b ri dge
Th e re i s th i s di fierence howe v er : M r
Wea v er h as m ad e a good s ta rt H e c o m p ro mised
wi th th e m a c h i ne o n his appo i nt m e n ts b u t h e
d ecl ar ed aga i nst the p rotec t i o n o f vice fo r free
v o ti n g a n d h e s topp ed so m e whol es ale grabs
“
”
o r m a c es
tha t appe ar ed i n th e L e gis lature
j us t be fo re he too k o ffice
On e was a bi ll t o ena b le ( ri n g ) co m pa n ies to
appropri ate tak e and u se all wa te r w i th in t his
co mmo n w ea l th a n d be lo n ging ei th er t o pu b l i c o r
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TH E SH A M E OF TH E C IT IE S
2 28
to pri v a te p e r s o ns a s i t m ay requi re for i ts
”
p riv a te p ur po ses
Thi s wa s a sche m e t o se ll
ou t the wa ter w orks o f Phil a del p hi a and a ll
o the r such p lants i n the St a te A n o the r bill wa s
to op en the way t o a seizure o f the l ight a nd
pow e r o f the ci ty a nd o f the St a te M ar ti n a nd
“
W a r w ick le a sed the ci ty g a s works Du rh am
a nd his c row d wa nted a wh a ck a t i t
I t sh a ll
”
be l aw f ul
the bil l re a d
fo r a ny ci ty t ow n
o r bo ro ugh ow ni ng a ny g a s works o r electric
li ght p l a n t f o r s upp lying l i gh t he a t a nd p ower
to sell le a se or o the rw ise dis po se o f the s am e to
i ndi viduals o r c orpo r a ti o ns a nd i n or der to o h
t a i n the best possible r etu rn s the r e f or such m u
v est i n the lessees o r
nicipal body m a y
purcha s ers the exclusive ri ght both as ag a inst
such m un icip a l corpo ra ti o ns a nd ag a i nst a ny
and all other persons a nd c o rpo r a tions to su p ply
g a s or electrici ty
As i n St Loui s the
p ublic pro p e r ty of the ci ty is t o be s o ld o ff
These s che m es ar e to g o th r ough l a ter I am
told b ut o n M r Weaver s decl a r a ti o ns th a t he
w o uld n o t stand fo r the m they w ere l a id o ve r
I t looks as i f the Phil a delphi a ns w ere ri gh t
a b ou t M r We av er but w h a t i f they a re ? Thi nk
o f a ci ty putting i ts w hole fai th i n one m an i n
the h o pe th a t John We av er a n E nglish ma n b y
'
b i rth w ill give the m g oo d go v ern m ent
A nd
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C H I CA GO : HALF FR E E
F I G HT I N G O N
TH E SHAM E OF TH E C IT I E S
they h a ve g o t l o ts of po in te rs fro m the c o r
rup ti o n a rticles I trust t he re f o rm ers w i ll pick
—
u p s om e p o i nters f t o m Chicago
Y es Chic a go
Fi r st i n v i o lence deepest i n di rt
l oud la w less unlo v ely il l s m elling i r r e v erent new ;
“
”
an o v erg rown g aw k o f a v i ll a ge the
tough
a m ong cities a s pect a cle fo r the n a t ion — I gi v e
Chicag o n o qu a rter a nd Chica g o a sks for n o ne
”
Good they c heer w hen you fi nd fa ult ; give us
”
the ga it We dese rv e i t and i t do es us good
They do deser v e i t Lyi ng l o w bes i de a g r e a t l a ke
of pu re cold wa te r the ci ty has n either en o ugh
n o r good enough wa ter With the i ngenui ty a nd
w ill to tu r n thei r se w er the Chic ago River and
ma ke i t ru n b a ck wa rds a nd u pwa rds out o f the
L ake the ci ty can not s o lve the s m oke nu isance
Wi th resou r ces for a m agn ificen t syste m of publ i c
p ar king it i s too poor t o p a ve a nd clean the streets
They c a n bal a nce high buildings o n rafts floatin g
i n m ud but they c a n t quench the stench o f the
The ente rp rise w hich c a r ried th rough
S tocky ar ds
a W o rld s F a i r to a w o r ld s t riu mp h i s s a tisfied
wi th two thousand five hundred police m en for t w o
m illion i nh abi ta n ts a nd one hundred a nd n inety si x
squ a re m iles of terri t or y a force so i nsu fficient
a
nd
ine
ficient
th
a
t
i
t
c
a
nnot
p
r
otect
itsel
f
to
s
a
y
f
(
)
noth i ng of h a ndli n g m obs riot o us strikers a nd the
re st of that lawles sness whi ch disgraces Chi c ago
2 34
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285
C H ICA G O : H A LF FR E E
Th ough the c ity has a n e x t ra legal syste m o f co n
t rolling vi ce a nd c ri m e whic h is so e ff ec ti v e t hat
the m ayo r has bee n ab le to sto p any p ra c t ices
agai n st w hich he ha s tu r n ed h i s face the pan el
”
” “
” “
“
ga me
the hat ga m e
w i n e ro o ms
safe
blo wi ng
th ough ga mbl i n g i s l i m i ted re gu
la ted and fai r a n d p ros t i tutio n orderly ; th ou gh
i n sho rt th rough the powe r of ce rta i n poli t ica l
an
d c r i m i nal l e aders—the m ayor has bee n a b le t o
”
m ak e Ch i cago c ri m i n ally spe ak i ng
ho n es t
bu rglary and c ru el hold ups a re to le rate d As
go ve rnm ent all th i s is p reposterou s
B ut I do not ci te C hicago as an e x am p l e o f
good m u n ic ipal go v e r nm e n t n or y e t o f good
A m er ica n m u n i cipal go v e rn m en t ; N ew Y ork has
fo r t he m om ent a m uch better ad m i i st ra t i o n
B ut n either is Chi cago a good e x a m ple of bad
governm ent There i s graft i ng there bu t afte r
St Louis i t see m s pe tty and afte r P hi ladelp hi a
m os t unp ro fessional
Ch icago i s i n tere st i n g fo r
”
the thi ngs i t has fi xed
What is w ro n g there
is r i d ic ulous
Poli ti c all y and m orally spea k i ng
C hi ca go s hould be celebrat ed a m on g A m eri ca n
ci ties for refo rm rea l refo rm not m oral fi ts and
politi cal up risi ngs n ot re form wa v es that was h
“
”
th e bes t p eople i nto ofii ce to m ake fool s of
the m se l v es and subside lea vi ng the m achi n e
—
st ro n ge r th an e ver n o n e o f these a rist o c rat ic
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E C ITI ES
—
dis appo i n t m en ts o f pop ul a r go ve r n m en t but re
fo r m th a t re f o rm s slo w su re pol itic a l de mo c ra tic
r e f orm by the p eop le f o r the p eople Th a t is
wh a t Chic a go has
I t h a s found a way I don t
kno w that i t is the w ay A ll th a t I a m su re of i s
th a t Chic a go h a s som ething t o te a ch every city
and to w n i n the c oun try — i ncluding Chi cago
F o r Chic a go i s refo rm ed o nly i n spots A
p oli tic a l map o f the city w o uld sho w a centr a l
ci r cle o f w hi te w i th a few whi te dots a nd d ashes
o n a b a ckg rou nd o f bl a ck gr ay a nd yello w Bu t
the city o nce wa s p retty s o lid bl a ck C ri m in a lly
i t w as wide o p en ; c omm erci a lly i t wa s b ra z en ;
soci a lly i t wa s thoughtless and ra w ; i t wa s a settle
m en t of i ndi v idu a ls and groups a nd i n te r ests with
n o comm on ci ty sense a nd no p o li tical conscien c e
E v eryb ody w as fo r h i m sel f none w as fo r Chi c a go
There w ere poli tical p arties bu t the org a n iz a
t i o ns were con t roll ed by rings which i n tu r n were
part s of Sta te r i ngs w hi ch i n turn w e r e b a cked
and used by leadi ng b usi ness i n teres ts thr o ugh
which thi s c o rrupt and corru pting syste m r ea ched
w i th i ts ra m ifi ca tions fa r and h igh a nd lo w i n to
the soci a l org a n i z a ti o n The gr a fting was m is
c ellan
eo us a nd ve r y gene r al ; bu t the m os t o p en
c o rru p tion wa s that w hich center ed i n the Ci ty
Cou ncil I t n ever wa s well orga n i zed and orderly
”
The alderm e n h a d co mb i nes l eaders and p ri ce s
Q 36
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2 38
TH E SH AM E OF TH E C ITI E S
Eve ry c omm un ity city t ow n vill a ge St a t e
—
a
the Uni ted S t tes i tsel f h a s a ce r t a in nu m be r of
m en wh o a re wi lling i f i t d oesn t c o s t a ny thing
“
t o v o te right They don t wa n t to hu r t thei r
business
they c a n t a ff o rd the ti m e to go t o
”
the p r i ma ries ; they don t c ar e to thi nk m uch
B u t they w ill v o te This may n o t be m uch bu t
i t is en o ugh All that this i ndependent non
p a rtis a n v o te wa nts is le a de r shi p a nd th a t i s
wh a t the C hi ca g o refo r m e r s f u rnished
They h a d n o such defi ni te ide a w hen they b eg a n
T hey h a d no theo r y a t a ll— nothing but w r a th
experience co mmo n Chic a g o sense a nd news
p a pers re a dy to b a ck reform n o t fo r the ne w s
bu t fo r the comm on g oo d Theor ies they had
tried ; and ex p osu r es celeb ra ted t r i als e v en s om e
convictions of b o odle r s They h a d g o ne i n f o r a
ci vil se rv ice r efo r m l a w and by the way they got
a good one pr o bably the bes t i n a ny ci ty i n the
c ou nt r y B ut expos ! s are good o nly for one elec
t i on ; cou r t t r i a ls ma y pun ish i ndi viduals b ut
ev en con v ictions do no t bre a k up a cor r upt syste m ;
”
and a refor m l aw w i thout r efor m ci tizenship
Wi th all thei r
is l ik e a ship w ithou t a crew
”
bad gov ern m en t persisted
Ther e
r efo rm s
wa s that b ea r garden — the Ci ty Council ; s o me
thing ought to be done t o that Men li ke Willi a m
K e nt John H Ha m li ne W R M anier r e A W
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C H I C AGO : H A L F F RE E
28 9
Maltby a nd Jam es R M an n had gone i n there
fro m t h ei r res pec tab l e w a rds and thei r pres
en ce p rov ed tha t they could ge t the re : the i r
s peec hes w e re public p rotests and the i r vo tes
”
”
”
no
no
no
w ere pl ai n i ndic a to rs o f
w ro ng Bu t a ll this was n o t enough The Civi c
Federa ti on a res pec ta ble bu t i neffic i ent u nive rs al
refo rm i ng as sociat io n m et w ithou t p l ans i n 1895
I t ca lled toge ther two h und red re presenta t iv e
m e n w i th L y m a n J Gage at the i r he a d to do
”
som eth i ng
The t w o hu ndred a ppoi nted a co m
”
One
m ittee of fi fteen to
fi nd so m e th i n g to do
of the fif teen drew forth a fully d ra w n pl a n fo r
a new m uni c i pal pa rty the old old sche m e
”
“
Th a t w o n t do said Edwi n B u rr i tt S m i th to
M r Gage who sat beside hi m
N o that won t
”
do sa i d Gage B ut they didn t k now what to
do To ga i n ti m e M r S m i th m o v ed a sub co m
The sub co mm i ttee re po rted ba c k to the
m ittee
fi ft ee n the fi fteen to the two hund red A n d so
”
as M r S m ith said they fu m bled
B ut n ot ice what they d i dn t do
F u m b ler s a s
they were th ey didn t ta lk o f m ore e x po s u res
”
“
Hea v ens we k n ow enough
said o n e They
d i d n t go to the Legi slatu re for a n ew cha rte r
They n eed ed on e they need o ne to day a n d badly
too bu t the m e n who didn t k n ow what bu t did
k n ow what not to do would n t let th em co mm i t
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
2 4-0
the f o lly o f a sking o ne c orr up t legisl a tu r e to
legisl a te a n o the r c orr upt legisl a tu re out o f exist
ence A nd they didn t wa it till the nex t may o r
“
”
a lty electi o n to elect a business may o r w h o
sh o uld give the m good go v e r n m ent
They w ere b o und t o a ccept the s i tuat i on j us t
—
as i t w a s the l aw s th e c o nditi o ns the pol itic a l
ci rcu m st a nces a ll exactly as they were a nd j ust
a s a p o l itici a n w ould go in t o the nex t fight what
e v e r it w a s a nd fight A ll they n eeded was a
figh ter
So i t w as mo ved to find a ma n o ne ma n
and let thi s ma n find eight other m en w ho should
”
o rga nize the Munici pal V o te r s Le ague
There
we r e n o i nst ru ctions ; the ve r y n am e was chosen
because i t m eant nothi ng and m ight m ean any
thi ng
B ut the ma n ! Th at w a s the p roble m Ther e
we r e m en a f ew bu t the o ne m an i s al ways h ar d
t o find The r e w as W ill i am Kent ri ch y o ung
a f ra id o f n o th ing a nd a l ways rea dy bu t he was
a n a lde r m a n a nd the w ise o nes decl a red th a t the
N i ne m u st n o t only be disinte r ested bu t m ust ap
pea r so
W illi am Kent wo uldn t do
Others
we r e suggested ; none th a t wo uld do
H ow ab out Ge o rge E Cole ?
”
Just the m an said M r Gage and all k new
the th o ught wa s a n i nspi r ati o n
George E Cole desc r ibed h i mself to m e as a
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24 2
TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITI ES
a we ll kn o wn re a l est a te ma n R lt D o nnelly the
he ad o f o ne o f the g re a te st pri nti ng es t ablish
m ents in the city ; a nd H oy t King a y o ung l aw
yer w h o tu rned o u t to be a n a tu r al i nvestiga to r
These ma de w i th C o le h i m sel f o nly seven but
he had the help a nd counsel o f Kent A llen B P o nd
the a r chi tect Judge M u rr ay F Tuley F r a ncis
L a ckner a nd G r ah am T ayl o r
We w ere j ust a
few c ommo n p l a ce or di n ar y m en s a id o ne o f the m
“
to m e
a nd the r e is you r encou ra ge m ent for
”
othe r c ommo n p l a ce o r din ary m en
These m en
w e r e selected for w h a t they c o uld d o h ow ever not
“
”
fo r w h a t they
rep resented
The One Hun
d r ed w hich the N ine w ere t o comp lete wa s to d o
the representing B ut the One Hundred never
was co mp leted a nd the wa rd c omm ittee a fe a tu re
of the fi rs t c ampa ign wa s aband o ned late r o n
”
The b o ss and the ring wa s the m odel o f the
N i ne o nly they di d n o t know i t They w ere n o t
thi nki ng of p r i nci p les and m eth o ds W o rk wa s
thei r i nsti nct a nd the figh tin g h a s a lw ays been
thick The next election wa s t o be held i n Ap ri l
and by the ti m e they w e r e r ea dy Feb r uary w as
h a l f ov er Since i t was to be a n electi o n o f alder
m en they wen t right ou t a fter the a lderm en
—
There w ere sixty eight i n all fif ty seven of the m
”
thieves as the Le a gue r epo r ted p rom p tly and
pl a i nly O f the six ty eight the t e r ms of th i rty
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2 48
C H I CA GO : H A LF F R E E
fou r were e x p i r i ng an d th ese all we re li ke l y to
co me u p fo r re elec tion
The t h i n g to do was to beat t h e m e al s B u t
how ? M r Cole a n d h is co mm i ttee we re p i on ee rs
they had to blaze the way a n d w i th ou t p la n s
they se t a bout i t direct ly S eeki n g votes and
h o n es t v o tes w i th n o organ izat i on to de pe nd u pon
th ey had to have publ i city
We h a d fi rs t to le t
”
peo ple k n ow we were there
sa i d Col e s o he
“
”
stepped out i nto the li m e li gh t and wi th h is
s ho rt l egs apa rt his w eak eyes blinki ng he ta lked
The Le ague was ou t to be at the boodle rs u p fo r
he s ai d w ith m u ch pi c tu resq ue Eng
re e le c t i on
Now Chicago is will ing to ha v e anybody
li sh
t ry to do an y th i ng worth wh i le i n Ch icago ; no
m att e r who you ar e or wh e re you co m e from
Ch icago wi ll gi ve you a ch ee r a n d a fi rs t boos t
Wh en t h e re fo re Geo rge E Col e stood u p a n d
sa i d h e a n d a qu iet l i ttle com mi ttee w ere going to
beat so m e politic i an s at the ga m e of pol i ti cs the
“
good natu red tow n said : All right go ahead
and beat e m ; b ut how ?
C o le was ready with his
“
ans wer
W e re go i ng to publ ish the r ecords of
”
the th i e ves who wa n t to ge t back at the trough
Al derm a n K en t a n d h i s d ece nt colleagues pro
duced the r eco rds of the i r i n dec ent co lleagu es a n d
th e Le ague an n oun ced that of th e th i rty four
r eti r ing alde rm en t w e n ty si x w e r e rogu es H oy t
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TH E SH A M E OF TH E C ITIES
K ing a nd a st a ff o f b r iefies s y o ung l awyers l oo ked
“
u p wa rd reco rds a nd these a ls o w e w ill p ub
”
lish s ai d Cole A nd they did ; the Chi c a go ne w s
p a pe rs long o n the right side a nd ever rea dy
“
p r inted the m a nd they w ere m ighty in te r esting
”
re a di ng
Ed w in B u r ri tt S m i th st a ted the f a cts ;
”
Cole added gi ng e r a nd Kent pepper a nd s al t
and vi neg a r
They soon h a d p ubl ici ty So m e
o f the c omm i ttee sh r a nk fro m the w o rst o f it
but
Cole stood out a nd t ook i t H e beca m e a char
a cter i n the t ow n H e w as p h o t o gr a phed a nd
ca r icatu red ; he wa s Boss C ole a nd Old Ki ng
”
C o le b ut a ll wa s gri st t o thi s refo rm m i ll So m e
of the r et i ring a lde rm en r eti red at o nce O thers
were reti r ed I f i n for ma tion tu r ned u p by H oy t
Ki ng w as too p rivate f o r public a tion the co m
—
was
a
nd
is
o
m ittee
t d a y c apa ble o f sen di ng f o r
the candid a te a nd a dvisi ng hi m t o get o ff the
”
“
t ic ket Thi s wa s c a lled bl a ck m ail a nd I will
c a ll i t that i f the wo rd w ill help a nybo dy t o ap
r ec ia te h ow ha r d these refo rm p o l iticians played
p
and p l ay the g am e
While they w ere talking howe v er they were
wor kin g and thei r work w as d o ne in the wards
E a ch wa rd w as separately studied the po li ti c s of
each wa s separ a tely u nde rst oo d a nd se par ately
each w a r d wa s f ought D ecl ar ing only f o r a g
ce
r es s ive h o nes ty
o t co m et en
a
t
fi
rs
t
they
n
p
g
24 4
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
I wa n t t o e mp h as ize the fac t th a t they h a d n o fine
s p u n theo r ies a nd no defini te p r i nciples beyond
t h a t o f bei ng a l wa ys fo r the best a v a ilable ma n
They w e r e w ith the De m oc ra ts i n one war d w ith
the Re p ublic a ns i n an o ther bu t i n none w ere they
respecters o f p ers o ns
R igh t here app eared that i nsidi o us i nfluence
which w e h a ve seen defe a ting o r op posi ng r efo r m
—
i n othe r ci ties the in te r fe r ence o f r es p ec ta ble
m en to save thei r f riends I n the T w enty sec o nd
W a rd the De m oc ra ts nom in a ted a di recto r ( n ow
deceased ) of the Fi rs t N a tion a l B a nk and a pr om i
nen t ma n social ly a nd fi n a nci ally J oh n C o lvin
”
“
one of the
B ig F o u r
a po li tici a n w ho had
gone a way rich to Eu r op e and wa s retu r nin g t o go
The League
b a ck i nt o p o li tics a ls o wa s ru nning
p r e f e rr ed J o hn M ayn a rd H ar l a n a s o n o f J us
t ice H ar l a n a nd they elected hi m The b a nk o f
w h ich the r es p ect able De m oc r a tic c a ndid a te wa s
a di rect o r w a s the b a nk o f w hich Ly ma n J Gage
of the Lea gue wa s p r esident
All th a t the
Le a gue h a d a gainst th i s m an wa s th a t he wa s the
p rop ri etor of a house leased for questi o n able pu r
poses a nd his f r iends includi ng M r G a ge w ere
h ighly i ndign a n t M r G a ge plea ded a nd pro
tested The c o m m i ttee w a s sick of pulls a nd
they m ade shor t work of this m os t r espectable
“
”
pull They h ad tu rned down
pol itici a ns o n
24 6
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2 47
CH I CAG O : H A L F FR E E
n o better e x c use and they dec lared t hey were n ot
go i n g t o o v erloo k i n the fri e n d o f thei r fr i ends
wha t they co n de mn ed i n s o m e poo r de v i l who had
n o fri e n ds
There were m any s uch ca s es t hen and later ;
thi s so rt o f th ing has n e v er ce ased and i t n ever
”
wi ll ce as e ; re fo r m m ust alway s go too far i f i t
is to go at all for i t i s u p there i n the too far
th a t co r rupti o n has its sou rce The Le a gue by
”
m eet i ng i t early and s potting i t
as M r Cole
s aid not only discou rage d s uch i nterferen ce bu t
fix ed i ts own ch a ra c ter and wonpubl i c confiden c e
For e v ery thing i n those d ays w as o pe n The
Le a gue wo rks m o re qu ietly no w bu t then Co le was
talking i t al l out plai n to the v erge of bru tali ty
forc ible to the l i m i t o f language a n d hones t to
u tter ru thless n ess He blund e red and they all
m ade m i sta kes but the i r b lunder i ng only hel ped
the m for while the er ro rs we re plai n errors the
fa i rn es s of m i nd that rej ected an Edward M
Stanwood for ex am ple was pl ai n too S ta nwood
a res pec tabl e busi ness m a n had se rved as a l de rm an
but his re elec tion was ad vi sed aga i ns t by the
”
“
League b eca u se h e had voted w i th the gang
A h i gh publ ic o ffici al th ree j udge s and s e v eral
other p ro m i n e n t m en i n te r ced ed on th e grou n d
“
that i n e ve ry i n s ta n c e where he is charged wi th
ha v ing v ot ed fo r a se call ed boodl e ordi nan ce i t
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
wa s n o t d o ne c o rru p tly bu t th a t he m ight secure
”
vo tes f o r s om e m e r it o r i o us m ea su r e
The Le a gue
ans w e r ed i n t h i s s tyle : We r eg ar d this de f ense
w hi ch is p u t forw a rd w ith c o nfidence by m en o f
y o u r st a ndi ng a s pai n ful evidence o f the l ow
st a nd a rd by w hich th e p ubl ic c o nduct o f city
o ffici a ls has co m e t o be m ea su red by good ci tizens
D o y o u n o t kn ow th a t this i s one o f the m ost in
s idio us a nd c ommo n f o rm s o f legisl a tive co r r u p
ti o n ?
M r St a n woo d w as defe a ted
”
The Le a gu e ma de go od
Of t h e t w enty si x
outgoing a lde rm en w i th bad records sixteen w e re
not ren om i n a ted O f the ten w ho w e r e f o u r w ere
be a ten a t the p olls The Lea gue s r eco mmenda
t i o ns were foll ow ed i n twenty five w a rds ; they w e r e
di sregarded i n fi v e ; i n so m e war ds no figh t w as
m a de
A victory so extraordi n ary wo uld h a ve s a tisfied
so m e ref o rm e r s Ot hers w ould h a ve been infl a ted
by i t and ru ined The s e m en bec am e c a nny
They chos e this p ropi tious m o m ent t o get r i d of
the co m m i ttee of One Hundred res pect ables
Such a body i s a ll v ery W
ell to l a unch a refo r m
when no o ne kno w s th a t i t i s go i ng t o do seri ous
w ork ; bu t as the Cole comm ittee h a d lea r ned
re p resent a tive m en wi th m any in terests can be
reached The li ttle co mm i ttee i nc o r p o ra ted the
League then call ed togeth e r the big co m m i ttee
248
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI ES
busi ness a ll abou t st reet l amp s and he mp— vet d o t
”
“
is ?
s ai d a Germ an boodler o ne ni ght
We
d o n t co me here f or n o such a busi ness
“
We m e a n t o nly to ma ke hea d l ines f o r the
”
pap ers s a id one o f the r efo rm a lderm en
If
w e c o uld keep the a ttenti o n o f t he public upon the
Counci l w e c ould make clear w h a t wa s going o n
there and th a t would put m e a ning i nt o ou r nex t
ca m p a i gn A nd we cert a i nly did fil l the gal
”
leries and the news pap e rs
As a ma tte r of f a ct however they did m uch
m o re
They de v eloped i n th a t ye a r the issue
whi ch has domi nated Chi c a go l oc a l poli tics ever
—
since the p r op er c om pensati o n t o the ci ty f o r
public f ra nchi ses Th ese v alu able rights should
n o t be given a way they declared and they r e
t
d
a
e
e
i
t
f
o
r
o
od
m
e
a
su
res
as
w
ell
a
s
b
a
d
N
ot
p
g
on ly m ust the city be pa id bu t p ublic convenience
a n
d i nteres t m ust be s a f egu a rded
The boodle r s
boodl ed a nd the fr a nchis es w ent o ff the p rotesta
tion hu rried the rotten business ; bu t even th at
haste helped the c a use For the sight w eek a fter
week of the boodl e r a ids by r a pa cious c apital
fixed public o pinion a nd i f the c r y r a ised then for
m un icip a l o w ne rship eve r bec om es a fact i n Chi
cago c a pi tal c a n go back to thos e days and b la m e
i t s el f
Most of th e early C hi cago street railway fra n
250
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C H I CAG O : H A LF F RE E
25 1
ch is ca w e re li m i ted ca reles s ly to tw en ty fiv e y ea rs
—
the fi rs t o n e i n 185 8
I n 1 883 wh e n the ear
lie st fra n c hises m i ght ha ve bee n te rm i nated the
Cou n ci l ve ntu red to pa ss on l y a b lanket e x t en s i o n
for twenty y ear s—t i ll July 80 1 90 3 Thi s was
w ell e n ough for Ch ica go fi n anci ers b ut i n 1 886
87 whe n Yerk es app ea red wi th W i de n e r and
E lk i ns beh i n d h i m a n d bough t u p the Wes t and
North S i de co m pa n i es he appl ied Pennsyl v an i a
m ethods
He push ed b i lls t h rough the Legi s
la ture sa w the m v etoed by Go v e rnor Altgeld set
abou t ha v i ng his o wn Go v e rn o r next t i m e and i n
1 897 go t n ot all tha t h e wan te d ( fo r the p eopl e
of I lli n o is a re n ot li ke the p eople of Penns yl
v a n i a ) b u t the A l l e n b i ll w hi c h woul d do —if the
Ch icago C i ty Coun ci l of 1 897 w ould gi ve i t fo rce
T he Mu n i c i pal Voters Le ague had begu n i ts
second ca m p a ign i n Dec e m be r 1 896 w i th the pu b
li ca tio nof the reco rds of th e re t i ri ng alde rm en th e
s econd hal f of the old b ody a nd th ough th is was
bef ore the Al len bi ll was pas sed Y er k e s wa s
a ct iv e and his m e n w e re pa rti cula rized A s th e
ca m pai gn p rogres s e d th e legi slat io n at Sp r i ngfi eld
ga v e i t po i n t and l oca l de v elop m ents ga v e i t
breadth I t was a m ayoralty year and A lde r
m an John May n ard H arlan h a d h i m sel f nom i
nated o n an i ndependent non part i sa n t i ck et
”
“
B obbie
B u rke the De m oc ra tic boss , b rough t
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E CITIES
fo r wa rd Cart er H H a rri son a nd the Re p ublic a ns
no m in a ted Judge N a th a niel C Sears H a r ris o n
at th a t ti m e w a s kn ow n o nly as the son of his
fa ther Se ar s w as a fi ne m an ; but ne i ther of these
h a d seized the st r eet r a il way issue M r H a rl a n
s tood on that a nd he ma de a c am paign wh i ch i s
talked ab o ut to thi s d ay i n Chic a go I t w as bril
l i a n t He h a d h a d the ear of the town thr o ugh
the newsp a per re p orts of his ti r a des i n the C o un
c il and the p eo p le w en t to he a r h i m now as n igh t
after ni ght he a r ra i gn ed no t the b r i bed legisl a to rs
O nce he call ed the rol l of
b ut the rich b r ibe r s
s treet rail wa y di rect o r s and ask ed e ach what he
w as d o i ng w hile h is business w as being boodled
through the St a te Legisl a tu r e E a rnest elo
quent honest he w as w itty too Y e rkes ca lled
hi m a n as s
I f Y erkes w ill consul t hi s B ible
said H a rlan he will le a rn th a t gr eat thi ngs ha ve
”
b een done with the j aw b o ne of a n a ss
This
y o ung ma n h a d no org a niz a tion ( the League con
fined i tsel f t o the a lde rm en ) ; i t wa s a spe aki ng
ca mpa i gn ; bu t h e c a ught the s p i r i t of Chic a go
a nd i n the l a st w eek m en s ay you coul d feel the
d r i ft of senti m ent to hi m Th ough he w as de
fe a ted he go t
votes
m ore than the
regul a r Re p ubli ca n c a ndi date and elected Har
rison And his c am p a ign not only ph rased the
t ra ction iss ue i n m en s m inds ; i t is said to ha ve
5
25 2
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
b a nds p l ay i ng o r a t o rs sh o u ting a nd C o le r oa r
i ng like a se a c ap t a i n t hey ma de the c ampa ign o f
1 89 8 the hottest i n their hist o ry
I t ne arly k illed
”
so m e o f the m but they w o n o u t ; th e Le a gue
had a no m i n a l m aj o ri ty o f the Ci ty C o u ncil
Then c am e thei r fi rst bi tter di s appo int m ent
They fa iled t o o rg a n ize the a lde rm en They t r ied
and w ere on the verge of success w hen defe a t
ca m e a m ost signi fi c a n t defe a t The Lea gue h a d
b rough t i nto p o l itic a l l i fe s om e ne w m en shop
keepers a nd s ma ll business m en a ll w i th pe r fect
records or n o ne They w e r e m en w h o m e a n t
well bu t business i s n o tr a i ni ng for po l itics ; the
shop kee p ers wh o kne w h ow to resist the tem pta
tions of t r a de w ere u ntried i n th o se o f pol itics
a nd the boodle ga ng b ow led the m o ver li ke l ittle
ti n s o ldi e r s
They we r e pers uaded th a t i t was
“
n o mor e th a n r igh t t o let the d om in a n t pa r ty
”
ma ke up co mm i ttees a nd run the C o unci l ; th a t
”
wa s us a ge a nd w h a t w i th b r ibery s o phist ry
a nd fl a tte ry the Le a gue was be a ten by its wea k
friends The r e a l c risis i n the Le a gue h a d c om e
M r C ole resigned He took the vie w that the
Le a gu e w o r k was d on
e ; i t c o uld d o no m ore ; his
he a lth wa s su ffe r ing a nd h is business was go ing
t o the d o gs The big c o r po ra ti o ns the r ai l ro ads
g r e a t business h o uses and thei r f r iends h a d t aken
thei r busi ness a w ay fr om hi m B ut this boycott
254
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25 5
CH I CA G O : HAL F R E E
had begu n i n the fi rst c a m pa ig n and Co le had me t
“
it w ith the dec l a rati o n that he d i dn t
ca re a
”
”
“
d—n
I have a w i fe a n d a boy
he s ai d
“
I w ant thei r res pec t The res t ca n a ll go to
”
—
Cole h a s orga n ized s i n ce a le a gue to
h l
refo rm the Leg i slatu re but afte r the 1 89 8 ca m
a
the
N
i
ne
w
e
r
e
ti
red
d
i
s
ppo
i
n
ted
a
n
d
C
le
n
a
o
i
g
p
was tem po ra ri ly u s ed u p
The N i n e h a d to let C o le a n d Hoy t K i ng go
B ut they w ouldn t let the League go
They ha d
n o su cc esso r for Cole
None on th e co mm i t tee
w ou ld take his pla ce ; they all dec lined i t i n tu rn
They looked outside for a m an fi ndi ng no body
The prospec t was dar k Then W ill iam Ke n t
spoke u p Ke n t had t i m e a n d mo n ey bu t he
wouldn t do any thi n g a n yo n e el se could be pe r
s uaded to do
H e was not stro n g physi cally a n d
h is physi ci a n s had warn
ed him that to li v e h e m ust
work l i ttle and play m u ch A t that m o m en t he
was under o rders to go West and shoo t B ut wh e n
he saw what was happe n i ng he sa i d :
I m not the m an fo r th is j ob ; I m no orga n
iz e r
I can s m as h m o re th i n gs i n a m i nute tha n
I can bu ild u p i n a hundr ed y ea rs B u t th e
Lea gue has got to go o n so I ll ta k e Co l e s pla ce
i f you ll give m e a hard wor ki n g ab le m a n for
”
sec retary a n orga n i ze r a n d a m as ter of de ta i l
Su c h a sec reta ry was hard to fin d b u t Alle n B
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25 6
TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
P o nd the a r chitect a ma n ma de f o r fine wor k
t oo k this ro ugh a nd tu m ble t a sk And these t wo
w ith the co mm ittee strengthened a nd a ctive not
o nly held thei r o w n they not only m et the r eced
ing wa ve o f reacti o n a ry senti m ent a ga inst refo rm
bu t they ma de p r o gress I n 1 899 they wo n a
clea r maj o ri ty of the C o uncil p l edged the i r m en
be fore election to a n o n p a rtis a n orga n iz a tion of
the Council a nd w ere i n sh ap e fo r c o nst ructive
legislation I n 1 90 0 they increased thei r ma
o r it
bu
t
they
did
n
o
t
think
i
t
necess
ar
y
t
o
bind
j
y
candid a tes before the election t o the non pa r tis a n
c omm i ttees p l a n a nd the Re p ublic a ns o rgan ized
the house This p ar ty m aint a i ned the st a nd ar d
o f the co m m i ttees ; there was no falling o ff there
but that w as n o t the po i nt P a rties were re cog
niz ed i n the C o uncil a nd the Le a gue had hoped
f o r only one l ine of de m ar c at i on : specia l i nterests
v e r su s the i nte r ests of the ci ty D u r i ng the ti m e
o f Kent an d P o nd
ho w e v e r the p o we r f or good
the Le a gue wa s est ablished the questi o n of its
pe rm anency settled and the use of a ble con
The p ublic o p in
s c ien
t io us a lder m en re c ogn ized
i o n i t developed and pointed held the Council so
stea dy that w i th May o r H a r r ison and h i s p erson a l
f ollo w ing a m ong the D e mo c ra t s on that side the
a lderm en refused to do a nything fo r th e st r eet
rail way co m pan ies until the Allen b i ll wa s repeale d
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T HE S H A M E O F TH E CITI ES
”
I hadn t I s a id
Well y o u wa n t t o he said
and I w en t st r a ight way a nd s aw Fishe r— M r
W a lter L Fishe r sec r eta ry of the Mu nici pa l
V o te rs League Then i t w a s th a t I bega n to
u nderstand the Ch ic a go p oli tical situ a ti o n Fisher
wa s a re for m er : a n able young l aw yer o f ind e
pe nden t m eans a m ind ripe w i th high pu r poses
a nd idea ls self con fident high m i nded c o ncl usive
H e sho w ed m e an o r de r ly b u re a u o f i ndexed inf o r
m at ion such as I had seen befo re
He o utl ine d
the sche m e o f the Municip a l Voters Le a gue a ll in
a bo red poli te fa m ili a r way There was no l i gh t
i n h i m n or a nything new or v i tal i n his reform a s
he described i t I t was all i nc om p r ehensible till I
asked hi m how he ca r r ied the Se v enteenth W ar d a
m i xed and no rm all y De m ocr a tic w a r d i n one year
for a Republi c an by so m e 1 3 00 p lu rali ty the next
year fo r a De m ocrat by so m e 1 800 the thi rd f o r
a Republic a n a g a i n H i s face li ghted u p a keen
sh r e w d look c am e i nto his eyes a nd he said : I
di d n o t c ar ry th at w ar d ; i ts o wn p eople did i t bu t
”
I ll tell vo u how i t was ma n aged
A nd he told
m e a st ory that w as poli tics I a sked ab o ut an
o the r w a rd a nd he told m e the sto ry of th a t I t
w a s enti r ely di fferent bu t i t too w a s poli tics
—
isher is a po li tician w ith the educ a tion a sso
c iat io n
s and th e i deal is m of the re f o r m e r s w ho fail
thi s ma n h as cu n ning cou rage t ac t and rarer
25 8
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25 9
C H I C AG O : H A LF F R E E
sti ll fai th i n the peo ple I n short refo rm i n
Chi ca go has s uch a lea de r as co rru ption a lo ne
u s ual ly has ; a fi rs t c la ss e xecu t ive mi n d and a
natu ral m anage r of me n
Wh en after the ald e r ma n ic cam pa i gn o f 1 90 0
M es s rs Ke n t a n d Po n d res ign ed as pres ide n t a n d
ee
a
t
ec
r
e
t
ry
of
th
e
L
e
gue
s
ex
e
c
u
iv
e
c
o
m
mi
t
t
a
s
Charles R Cran e and M r Fis he r s u ccee d ed i n the i r
places M r Cra n e is a manw i th a n i n te rn at i on a l
bus in ess wh i ch ta k es h i m ofte n to R u ssi a b ut h e
co mes ba ck for the Ch ica go alde rm an ic ca m pa ig ns
H e lea v es the gam e to M r Fi she r a n d says F is her
i s the m a n but Cra n e is a b a cke r of great fo rce
an d of pe rs is te nt thou gh q u ie t a ctivi ty Th ese
two w i th a pi ck ed co mm i t tee of e x pe ri e n ced a n d
—
sens ib l e m e n Pond Kent S m i th F ra n k H Sco tt
G raha m Tay lo r Sigm u n d Zeis l e r a n d L eas ing
—
Rosen thal took the L eagu e as a n es tabli shed ia
i ts sy stem ope n ed a h ea d
s t itut io n p e rf ect ed
q uarters for work th e year around ; and th is force
M r F i sher w i th h is pol it ical ge ni u s has m ad e a
fa cto r of the fi r s t ra n k in p rac t ica l poli ti cs
Fishe r mad e fi gh ts i n th e hope l ess wards a n d
won th e m H e has ra ised the re form m aj o r i ty i n
t he C i ty Coun ci l to two th i rds ; he h as l if ted th e
s ta n da rd of alderm e n from hon es ty to a gradually
ris i n g s ca l e of abi lit y an d in h is fi rs t y ea r th e
Cou nci l was orga ni z ed o n a nonpa r tis a n b as is
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E C ITI E S
Thi s fe a tu re o f m un ici pa l re f o rm i s est ablished
no w by the s a tis f a cti o n o f the a lde rm en the m
selves w ith the way it w orks A nd a m ost i mp or
tant featu re i t is too
We h a ve fou r sh o ts a t
”
e v ery m an he a ded f o r the Cou ncil said one o f
the Leagu e
one w ith his rec or d w hen his ter m
expi res ; anothe r when he is u p fo r the n o m ina
tion ; a th i rd w hen he is ru n ni ng as a c a ndid a te
the fou rth when the c omm i ttees a r e for m ed I f he
is bad he is p ut on a m ino r i ty i n a st ro ng co m
m ittee ; i f he is doubt f ul wi th a w e a k o r d o ubt f ul
m aj o ri ty o n an i m portan t c omm i ttee w i th a strong
—
m ino r i ty a m i no r i ty s o strong that they c a n let
hi m show his h a nd then be a t h i m w ith a m ino r it v
”
r ep o rt
C a reful n o t to i nte r fe r e i n legisl a tion
the Le a gue keeps a watch on e v ery m ove i n the
Council C o le st ar ted this H e used t o si t i n
the g a llery e v ery m eeting n ight but under C rane
a nd Fisher an a ssist a nt s ecret a ry firs t Hen r y
—
B Ch am berlai n now George C S ik es h a s fol
lowed the d a ily routine o f co mm i ttee wo r k a s well
as the fin al m eetings
F i sher has ca r ried the early pr a ctice of m eet
i ng politi c i a ns on thei r o wn g r ou nd to a very
p r a ctical ext r e m e When t a ct an d good hu m or
fail ed he a pplied force Thus when he set abou t
p rep a ring a year ahead for h is fi gh ts i n unp ro mi s
i ng wards he se nt to the ward l eaders on b oth
2 60
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TH E S HA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
De m ocratic c a ndi d a te fo r a lde rma n i n h is w ard
Hot Stove B renner
I o eftle r s busi ness pa rtner
wa s ru nn ing on the Re p ubl ic a n ticket a nd Fisher
knew th a t the D emoc ra t ic o rg a n iz a tion w ould p ull
fo r B renner B u t Fisher a cce p ted w h a t w a s a
ch a llenge t o p o l itic a l pl ay and suggested M ich ael
J P r oib L oeffler wa s d a zed at the na m e ; i t w as
ne w t o hi m bu t he a ccepted the m an and no mi
The N inth is a st rong Heb rew w ard
na ted hi m
T o dr aw o ff the Republic a n a nd Jew i sh v ote from
B renne r Fishe r p rocu r ed the no m i nati o n as an
i ndependent o f J a c ob D i amo nd a p o pul a r young
Hebre w a nd he b a cked hi m to o i ntending as he
t o ld b o th P r eib a nd D i amo nd to p r efer i n the end
t h e o ne th a t sh o uld devel op the gre a te r st r ength
Me a nwh il e the Le a gu e wa tched L o efller H e wa s
qu ietly th row ing his sup por t fro m P reib to B ren
ner Five d ays bef or e election i t w as cle a r t h a t
th o ugh D i amo nd h a d de v eloped unexpected
st r ength P reib was stron ger Fi sher wen t t o
L o effler a nd a ccused h im o f no t d o ing a ll he coul d
for P r eib L o efller decla r ed he was Fi she r p ro
p o sed a letter from L oeffler to h i s pers o nal fri en ds
a sking the m to v o te fo r P reib L oefiler hesi ta ted
b ut he signed one tha t Fisher di c tated L oefller
a dv i sed the publ icati o n of th e st a te m en t i n the
Je wi sh p a pers and though he c onsented to ha v e
i t m a iled to v oters he though t i t an anneces
2 62
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C H ICAG O : HALF F R E E
2 63
sa ry expe nse
Whe n F isher go t ba ck to th e
Le ague hea d uarte rs be rushed o f co pies o f the
le tte r th rough the m a i ls to a ll the vo ters i n the
ward B y the t i m e L o eflle r he a rd o f this i t was
too la te to d o anyth i n g ; he t r i ed bu t he never
caught u p wi th th o s e l ette rs H i s pa rt ner B re n
n er w as defeat ed
A pol it icia n ? A boss Ch icago has i n W al
ter L Fishe r a refo rm boss a nd i n the N i ne of
the M u nici pal V o ters Le a gue with the i r as soci
a ted edi to rs a n d able fi n a n ce and ad viso ry co m
m ittees a re fo rm ri ng
They h a ve n o mach i ne
no pat ro n a ge no power th a t they can abuse
They ha v en t e v en a lis t of thei r v ote rs All they
ha v e i s the con fi den ce of the anony m ous hones t
m en of Ch ic ago who ca re m o re for Chica go than
for any thi ng el se This they have won by a long
re co rd of good j udgm ents ho n est ob vi ous de v o
t i o n to the pu b l i c good a n d a dis i n te restedness
w hi c h has a v o i ded e v en individual c redi t ; not a
hundred m e n i n the ci ty co uld na m e the Co m mi ttee
of N i ne
Work i n g w i d e ope n a t fi rst wh e n i t was neces
sa ry they ha ve w i thd raw n m ore and m ore e v er
si n ce an d the i r pol icy no w is o n e of di gn ifi ed s i lence
exce p t wh e n a pla i n sta te m e n t o f fac ts is req ui red ;
the n th ey s peak as the Lea gu e si m ply di rec tly
but w i th hu m a n feeling an d l e a ve th ei r follow i n g
q
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264
TH E SHAM E O F TH E C ITI ES
o f v o te r s to a ct w i th o r a ga inst the m a s they
p le a se I h a ve l a id gre a t stress on the technic a l
pol itic a l skill o f Fishe r a nd the N i ne n o t bec a use
th a t is thei r chief reli a nce ; i t isn t : the study a nd
the enlighten m ent o f public op i ni o n is thei r g r e a t
functi o n a nd fo rce B ut o ther r eform organiz a
t i o ns h a ve t ri ed this wa y These r ef o r m e rs h a ve
w i th the ne w sp a pe rs a nd the a lderm en n o t o nly
done i t th oro ughly a nd p ersistently ; they h a ve not
only de v el o ped a n educ a ted ci tizenshi p ; they ha ve
ma de it a n e ffective fo r ce e ffective i n legisl a t ion
a nd i n practic a l p oli tics I n short : poli ti ca l r e
for m po l itic a lly conducted h a s p rodu ced re for m
politici a ns worki ng for the refor m of the c i ty wi th
the m ethods of pol itics They d o eve ryth i ng th a t
a politici a n d o es except buy votes a nd sell the m
They pl ay p o li tics i n the i nte r est of the ci ty
And w h a t has the city got ou t o f i t ? Many
things bu t a t le a st one gre a t specta cle to sh o w
the w orld the po litic a l spectacle o f the ye a r a nd
i t is still go i ng o n The p r operly a cc r e di ted
representatives of two A m eric a n ci ty r a il way
c om p a nies a r e m eet i ng i n the o p en w ith a regul a r
co mm ittee o f a n A m erican b o ar d o f a lde rm en a nd
they a re nego ti a ting f o r the continu a nce of cer
ta i n street rail wa y f ranchi ses o n ter m s f a i r b o th
t o the city and to the corpor a tions W
ithou t a wh is
pe r o f b r ibery w ith c o m po s u re re a son a blenes s ,
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E CITI E S
the r a il way s a nd h a d t o get i t f rom Sp r ingfi eld
The Republi ca n ri ng w ith so m e D emo cr at ic f ol
l ow ing h a d orga n i zed the Legisl a tu re on a n e x
“
l
no
t
r
a
ction
legi
s
l
a
ti
o
n
i
cit ar r a n gem ent that
p
sh o uld p a ss i n
The r a il ways knew they
couldn t get a ny ; a ll they a sked w as that the ci ty
shouldn t have any either I t was a p o l i tic a l
gam e bu t Chic a go w as su r e th a t t w o could pl ay
a t it Har ris o n w as up fo r r e electi o n ; he w as
r ight on t ra cti o n The Republ ic a ns no mi n a ted a
business ma n G r a e m e Ste w art w ho a lso p ledged
hi m sel f Then they a ll w en t t o Sp ri n gfi eld and
with the wh o le ci ty a nd St a te l oo king on the ci ty s
refor m pol i tici a ns be a t the r egul ar s The ci ty s
bill w as bu ried i n c omm ittee bu t to make a sh o w
i ng for S te w art the Re p ubl ic a n r ing h ad to p ass
so m e s o rt of a bill They o ffered a p oor s ub s ti
tute Wi th the ci ty a g a inst i t the S pe aker
gaveled i t th r ough am id a scene o f the w ildes t
excite m ent He p a ssed the bill but he wa s d ri ve n
f r o m hi s ch a i r a nd the sc a nd a l c om pelled h i m a nd
the ring to r ec o nsider th a t bill a nd pass the c i ty s
o w n en abling a ct
B o th the t ra ction c om p a nies had been i nterested
i n this Sp ri ngfield fi a sco ; they h a d been wor k i ng
t o gether but the loc a l c a pit a l ists did not like the
business They soon o ffe r ed to s ettle sep a r a tely
and w ent in to sessio n wi th the ci ty s lawy e rs ,
Q66
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26 7
CH I C A G O : HA LF FRE E
E dw i n B u r ri tt S mi th of t he Le a gue and JohnC
M athis The E as te rn e rs rep res e n tat iv es headed
”
by a br i l li a nt N e w Y o r k la w yer had to n ego
t ia te too
The i r b ri ll ia n t la wyer u n de rto o k to
talk sense
i n to the al de r man ic com m i ttee
Th i s co mm ittee h a d bee n ou t vi s i t i ng all the la rge
Eas ter n c i ties study i n g th e t ra cti on si tuat i o ns
ev erywhere ; o n the i r o w n a cco unt th ey had had
d ra wn fo r the m one of th e m os t co m p lete re po rts
eve r m ade for a c i ty by an expe rt Moreo v er
th ey k new the la w and the fi nan ces o f the t racti o n
co m panies better fa r than the Ne w Y ork lawyers
When there fo re the b rilliant lega l l ight had ma de
one o f his s m ooth el a bo rate s peeches som e hard
headed alder m an would get u p and say tha t he
”
“
gathered a nd gleaned
thus and so fro m the
l as t speaker ; he w as n t qu i te su re bu t i f thus and
s o wa s wha t the gentle m a n fro m New York h a d
sa i d th e n i t lo o ked to h i m l i k e t o mmy rot Then
the lawyer w ould sp i n a n other web o nly to have
som e other co mm o npla ce looking alderm an tea r
i t to pi ece s
Thos e la wye rs w ere du m fou n ded
Th ey wer e ad vi sed to see Fis h e r
They saw
F ish er
”
You are w el co m e i f you w i sh h e is sa i d t o
“
ha ve sa i d
to t alk fooli sh n ess b u t I ad vise
you to s te p i t I do not S pea k for t he Co u n
cil b u t I t hi n k I k n ow what it w ill say wh e n i t
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
spea ks for i tsel f Th o se a lde rm en k no w thei r
busi ness They kn ow sense a nd they kn ow n o n
sense They c a n t be f o oled I f you go a t the m
w ith r ea son thev wi ll g o a l o ng w ay tow a rd helpi ng
you Ho w ever you sh a ll d o a s y o u plea se abou t
this Bu t let m e bu rn this o ne thing i n upon y o u r
consciousness : Don t t ry mo ney on the m o r a ny
body else They w ill l isten to you r n o nsense w i th
p a tience bu t i f we he ar of y o u t ry ing t o b r ibe a ny
—
b o dy a na lde rma n or a po litici a n o r a ne w s pape r
—
or a rep o rter a ll nego ti a ti o ns w ill ce ase inst a ntly
d nob o dy w ill a tte m pt to bl a ck ma i l y o u n o
An
”
one
This see m s to m e to be the h ighest p e ak o f r e
fo rm Here is a gen tle ma n spe a ki ng w i th the au
th o r ity o f a bsolute f a i th a nd k n ow ledge a ssu r i ng
the rep r esent a tives of a co rpora ti o n th a t i t c a n
have a ll th a t i s due it f rom a b o dy o f a lde rm en by
the ex p endi tu r e o f n o th ing m o r e th a n r e as o n I
h a ve heard ma ny a business ma n s ay such a c o n
d i ti o n of thi ngs w ould be h a iled by his ki nd w ith
r ej oicing How do they l ike i t i n Chic a go ? They
d o n t li ke i t a t a ll I spent o ne w h o le fo r enoon
c a lli ng o n the p residents o f b a nks g re a t business
m en and fina ncie r s i nterested i n public uti li ty com
an
i
W
ith
a
ll
the
evidence
I
h
a
d
had
i
n
other
es
p
pl a ces that these m en a r e the ch i ef s o u r ces of cor
rupt i on I w as u nprepared for the s en s ation o f
268
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
f o rm ers else w he r e m ight a s w ell r e a l ize th a t i f they
succeed thei r city w ill pay t oo a t fi r st C a pit a l
w ill boyc o tt i t a nd c ap i ta l w il l giv e i t a b a d n am e
The b anke r s w h o o ffe r ed m e p roof o f thei r los ses
w e r e o ffe r ing m e ma te ri a l t o wr i te d own the ci ty
A nd has Chic ag o h a d conspicuous c r ed i t fo r re
”
f o r m? N o i t is i n i ll repute
a n a rchistic
so
c ia lis t ic
w
a
c
omm
e
r
ci
a
l
te
rm
f
o
r
m
un
ici
p
a
l
o
n
(
”
er s h ip) ; i t i s
un f r iendl y t o c a pi ta l
B ut C hi
c a g o kn ow s w h a t i t is a fter a nd i t kn ow s the c os t
There a re busi ness m en there w h o a re w illing to
p ay ; they told m e s o The r e a r e busi ness m en on
the execu tive and fi n a nce c omm i ttees of the Le a gue
a nd o thers hel p ing outside w h o a re a m ong the
lea ders of Chic a g o s business and its b a r M o re
o v er there are p ro mo te r s w ho expect t o l ike a n
honest C o unci l One such told m e tha t he m eant
to app ly f o r fr a nchises sh or tly a nd he bel ie v ed
th a t though i t wo uld t ake lon ger th a n b ri bery t o
ne goti a te f a i r te rm s w ith a lderm en w ho w ere keen
t o s a fegu a rd the ci ty s i nterests yet busi ness could
b e d o ne o n th a t b asis
Th o se r eform a lderm en
”
a re sl o w bu t they are f a i r he s a id
The a lder m en ar e fai r E x a s p er a ted as they
have been by the t r ifling the tricke r y a nd pa st
boodling of the street ra il w ays i nc o nven ienced by
b a d serv ice beset by c orp o ra ti o n te mp t a ti o ns they
—
are fa i re r to day than the corpo ra tions They ha v e
2 70
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27 1
C H I C AG O : H A L F FR E E
The nego tia
the st ree t rai l ways n ow i n a co rn er
t i o ns are o n a n d they could sq uee ze the m w i th a
v e n gea nce W hat is th e s p i r i t o f tho se alde rme n ?
Well sa i d one to m e I ll tell you how w e feel
We v e go t to ge t the city s i nterests we ll p rotec ted
That s fi rst B ut we v e go t m o re to do than tha t
T hey re shy o f us ; these ca pi talists don t k n ow ho w
to ha n dl e us They a re not up to the ne w refo rm
We v e go t to
oh the le v el way of do i ng business
s how ca pi tal th a t w e w ill g iv e the m all th a t i s co m
a l i t tle m o re
to
the
m
a
n
d
j
ust
a
little
m
o
r
e
in
g
”
j ust to ge t the m u sed to bei ng hon es t
Th i s w as
sa i d w i thou t a b it o f hu m or w ith so m e an x iety bu t
n o bi ttern es s and n ot a word ab ou t soci alis m o r
rs h i p
m
un
ici
pal
ow
n
e
t
hat
s
a
co n
fiscatin
g
cap i tal istic
bugaboo A gai n one Satu rday
n igh t a pe rs onal f riend of m i ne who had los t a
half holi day at a confe ren ce w i th so m e of the l ead
”
i ng ald e rm en co m pl ai n ed of thei r p rec ise n ess
”
F i rs t he s a i d
they had to ha v e ev e ry t r iv ial
i n ter es t o f th e ci ty pro t ec t e d then wh en w e
see m ed to b e done they t u r n ed around and a rgu ed
like co rporat i o n lawy e rs for the p rotecti o n of th e
”
co rpo rat i on
Th os e Chicago ald e r m e n are a n ho n or t o t he
cou n t ry ! Me n like Ja c kso n and Ma v or H e rrm a nn
an d
would be a c re d i t to a n y l e gis lat ive
ern
o
body i n the la n d b ut the re is no s u ch body i n the
.
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W
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E C ITI ES
2 72
l a nd whe re they co uld d o mo re good o r w i n m ore
honor I beli e v e c a pi tal wi ll s om e day prefer to d o
busi ness w ith the m than w i th bl a ck m ai le rs and
boodlers a nywhe re
When th a t day c o m e s the alder m e n w ill sh a re
the c redit w ith the Munic i pal V o ters League but
all the ch a racter a nd all the a bili ty o f both C o uncil
a nd Leagu e w ill n o t expl a i n the refo r m o f Chic a go
The ci tizens of th a t ci ty w ill t a ke mo st of the glory
They w ill ha v e d o ne i t as they h av e done i t s o
far
So m e o f m y c r i t i c s h av e decl ared they c ould no t
b el ieve there was s o m uch di ffe r ence i n the char
acter of c o m m u n i ties as I h a ve described Ho w can
they a c c o unt then for Chicago ? The p eo p le there
h a v e poli tical parties they a r e p a rtisans B u t
they know how to v ote B efore the Le a gue w as
sta r ted the records sho w the m shi fting thei r v ote
to the c o n fusion of w ell laid p ol itic a l plans So
they h av e a lw ays ha d bosses a nd they ha v e the m
now bu t these b osses ad m it th a t they c an t boss
”
Chi c a go
I thi nk this is partly thei r fa ul t Wil
lia m Lori m er the do m inant Republican boss wi th
who m I talked for a n h ou r one d ay ce rtai nly does
not m ake the i m p ressi o n either as a m an o r a s a
poli tician th a t Cro ke r m akes or D u r ha m of Phi la
delphi a B u t a n ou ts ide r m ay e a sily go wrong o n
a poi n t li ke thi s a nd we may lea v e the credi t w her e
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITI ES
cago —p ap ers th a t serve speci a l i nteres ts — and
t hese don t p ay
The agents o f r efor m h av e been ma ny a nd effi
cien t but ba ck of the m a ll w a s a n i n tell igent de
ter m in
ed people a nd they ha ve decided
The ci ty
of
C hic a g o is ruled by the citizens o f Chic a go
Then w hy a re the ci tizens of Chic a g o s a tisfied w ith
h a l f r efo r m ? Why h av e they r e f o rm ed the C o un
cil and left the a d m i ni st ra ti v e side of g o ve rn
”
m ent so far behi nd ?
O ne th i ng at a ti m e they
w ill tell you ou t the re a nd i t is w onderful to see
the m p atien t after se v en years o f ste a df ast figh t
i ng refo rm
B u t th a t is not the re a son The a dm inist r a tio n
has be en i mp r o v ed I t is absu r dly b a ck war d a nd
u ne v en ; the fire dep a rt m en t is excellent the poli ce
i s a di sg r ace the law dep a r t m ent i s expert the
he alth bu reau is corrupt a nd the st r eet cle a ni ng is
ha r dly worth m enti o n Al l this i s C a rte r H H a r
rison He is a n h o nest ma n p erson a lly bu t i ndo
len t ; a sh rew d poli tici a n a nd a ch ara cte r w ith r e
ser v e pow e r but he has no i ni ti a l ene r gy Wi tho ut
i de a ls he d o es only w h a t is de m a nded o f hi m H e
does not see m to kno w wro ng i s w ro ng till he i s
taught ; nor t o ca r e till c r i ticis m ar o uses his poli t
ical sense of popular requ i r e m ent Th a t sense i s
keen bu t thi nk o f i t : Every ti m e Chi c a go wa nts
to go ahead a foo t i t h a s fi rst to push i ts ma yor up
2 74:
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275
C H I CAG O : H AL F FR E E
i nch by i n ch I n b r i e f Ch ica go is a c i ty tha t wan ts
to be led an d Ca rter H arris o n w i th all h i s pol i t ica l
am b i ti o n hones t w i ll i ngn ess and ob s t i n a te i n de
en
ce s im p l y foll o ws i t
en
d
e
L
e
ague
l
e
a ds a n d
T
h
p
i ts leaders u n d e rsta n d the i r peo ple The n why do es
the League su b m i t t o Ha r r i so n ? Why does n t the
L eague r eco m m e n d m ayors as w ell as a lde rmen ? I t
may so m e d ay but sett i ng ou t by a cci d en t to c l ea n
the Cou n c il stop the bood li n g an
d settle the c i ty
ra il way t rou b les they ha v e been conten t w i th
Mayor H arri s o n beca u se he had learn ed his l es s o n
o n that
And I th i n k as they say the m ay o r
th i nks that wh e n the p eople of Ch icago ge t th e
ci ty rail way s ru n n i ng w i t h e n ough ca rs a n d power ;
when th ey ha v e pu t a stop t o b ood l i n g fore ve r ;
they w i l l t ake u p the ad m i ni st ra tiv e s i de of the go v
c ram e n t A p eople who c a n su ppo rt for se ve n
y ear s on e m o ve m e n t tow ard re fo rm sh ould be abl e
to go o n foreve r W i th th e big boodle be a ten
petty pol i t ica l gr aft i n g ca n eas i ly be s topped All
that wi ll be needed the n will be a m ayor who u nder
s tands and represe n ts the ci ty ; he will be able to
mak e Chi ca go as ra re an e x a m ple of good go v e rn
m en t as i t is n ow o f re form ; wh i ch w ill be a n adver
tisemen
t ; good b u s in ess ; i t w ill pay
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.
Pos t Scfiptum D ece m be r 1 90 8 —C hic ago has
t a ken up since a dmi n is tra tiv e graft Th e Cou n cil
,
,
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.
2 76
TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITIES
i s condu ct i ng a n i nvestig a tion which i s showi n g
the ci ty g ov ern m ent to h a v e been a second M i nne
a o lis
M
a
yor
H
arrison
is
helpi
ng
and
th
e
c
i
ti
p
zens are i nteres ted Th e r e is li ttle dou b t that
Chi c ago w ill b e c lea n e d up
.
,
.
.
N EW Y OR K : G OO D G OV E R N M E N T TO
TH E TES T
N
m
o
v
e
b er 19 0 3 )
(
J un a b out the ti m e th i s article w ill appe ar
G reater New York w il l be holdi ng a loc a l electi o n
o n w ha t has co m e to be a n a t io nal quest io n
good go v ernm e n t N o d o ubt there wi ll be other
”
“
iss ues
A t t hi s w ri ti ng ( Septe m ber 15 ) the
c andi dates w ere not n am ed n or the platform s
w ri tten bu t the re gul a r poli t i c ia ns hate the m a i n
i ssue and they h av e a pretty trick o f co n fusing
the honest m i nd a nd spl i tti ng the ho n es t v ote by
”
“
rais i n g loc al iss u es w h ich would settle the m
s elves u n der p rolonge d hones t go v ern m en t
So
too there will pro b ably be so m e talk abo u t th e
e ffec t thi s elec tio n m i ght ha v e u po n the ne x t
Pre s id e n ti al elec tion ; anoth e r cle v er fraud wh i ch
seldo m fails to w ork to the ad va ntage of r i ngs
and grafte rs a n d to the hu mi li atio n and des pa i r
of goo d c i t i zens hi p We ha v e n o thi n g to do w ith
thes e decept i ons They m ay c o u n t in New Y ork
they m ay determ i ne the res ult but let th em They
a re c o mm o n m o v es i n the corru pt i on i st s ga m e
a n d there fore fa i r tes ts o f ci tiz e ns hi p for ho n
,
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITIE S
esty is not the s o le qu a l ific a tio n f o r a n h o nest
vo ter ; i ntelligence h as to pl a y a p a rt too a nd
a li ttle intelligen ce w ould defeat all s uch t ri cks
A nyhow they c ann o t di sturb u s I am w ri ting
too far ahe a d a nd m y re a de rs f o r t h e m ost p a rt
w ill be readi ng t oo far aw ay to kno w or c a re
anything a bou t the m We c a n gr a sp fi rm ly the
essen ti a l issues i n vo l v ed a nd then wa tch w i th
equani m ity the retu r ns f o r the a ns w e r p l a in yes
or no w hich N e w Yo rk w ill gi v e to the only ques
t i ons that c oncern u s a ll :
Do w e Am e r ic a ns r e a lly want good g ov ern
m en t ? D o w e kno w i t w hen we see i t ? A re w e
c ap able of th a t sustai ned good citizenshi p w hich
alone can m ake de m ocracy a success ? O r to
sa v e our p ride one other : Is the N ew Y ork w ay
the right ro a d to perm a nen t reform ?
For N ew Y ork ha s good govern m en t or
to be m ore precise i t h a s a good ad m i nistra
t i o n I t is no t a question there o f turn i ng
the r a s c als ou t a n d pu tting the honest m en
i nto the i r pl a ces Th e honest m en a re i n a nd
thi s electi o n i s to dec i de w hether they ar e to be
kep t i n which i s a very d i ff eren t m a tter Any
pe o ple is ca pable o f ri s i ng i n wrath to o v erthro w
2 80
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q
Tamm any t r i ed to i ntr od uce nat i onal i ss ues b ut fai led
”
“
l
t
h
o
n
l
u
o
w
r
a
a
l
e
e
n
d
v
e rn
e
n
t
a
s
c
t
i
c
y
y
s
t
i
m
o
d
oo
an
p
g
g
,
,
TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
s it io n
: the c o rru p t a nd u ns a tisfied m i n or i ty
the
disgru ntled gr o u p s of the m aj o ri ty the ref o rm
o rg a n i z a ti o ns ; they n om i n a te a m i xed ticket
”
“
he a ded by a g o od busi ness ma n
fo r m ayor
”
“
m ake a
h o t c ampa ign
a g a inst t he gove rn
”
m ent w i th S t op thie f ! fo r the cry a nd make
”
a cle a n s w ee p
Usu a lly this e ffects o nly the
disci p l ini ng o f the reckless gr a fters a nd the im
p r o ve m en t o f the gra ft syste m o f c o rrupt go v
er n
m en
t
The g oo d m ay o r turns ou t to be w eak
”
or fo o l ish or
not so good
The poli ti c ia ns
”
c o m e i t ove r hi m a s they did ov er the business
“
m ay o rs w h o follo w ed the
G a s R i ng
rev o lt
i n Phi l a del p hi a or the p e o ple beco m e disgusted
a s they did w i th M ayor Str o ng w ho wa s c a rried
i n to o flice by the a nti T amma ny rebelli o n i n N ew
Yo rk a fter the Lexo w exp o sures
Phil a del phi a
g a ve u p a fte r i ts di s appo i nt m ent a nd th a t i s
w h a t m ost cities d o The re p e a ted f a ilures of
rev o luti o n a ry refo rm to a cco m plish more th a n the
s trengtheni ng of the m achi ne h av e so dis c redited
this m eth o d th a t w ide awa ke refo rm e r s i n several
—
ci ties Pi ttsburg Ci nci n n a ti Clevel a nd Detroit
—
M i nne a pol is a nd others a re fo llo wi ng the le a d
of Ch i c a go
The Chic a go pl a n does no t depend for success
u
pon a ny one ma n o r a ny o ne yea r s w ork nor
upo n exci te m en t or a ny sort o f bad go v ern m en t
528 2
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N EW Y O R K : G OOD G O VE R N M EN T 28 3
The refo rm ers there ha v e n o w a rd organ iza t i o ns
no m a chi n e at all ; the i r appe al is so lel y to the
intel li ge n ce o f the v oter a nd the i r power res ts
upo n that Th is is de m o crat ic a n d po li t ic al
no t bou rgeo is a nd b u s i n ess re fo rm a n d i t is ia
te r est i n g t o n ote tha t whereas re fo rm e rs elsewherd
ar e foreve r s eeki n g t o co n ce n t ra te al l the po w ers
i n the m ayor those o f Chi c ago tal k o f st ri ppi n g
the m ayor to a fi gu re he a d and gi v i n g h i s power s
to the alderm e n who d i rec tly re prese n t th e peopl e !
a n d w ho c ha n ge year b y year
Th e Chi c ago way is b u t o n e way how ev er a n d
a n ew o n e a n d i t m u s t be re m em be red that th is
p l a n ha s n o t yet produ ced a good ad m i ni s t ra
ti o n N ew York has th a t Chi c ago after se ve n
yea rs s teady work ha s a b ody o f alderm e n ho n
es t e n ou gh a n d co m pe tent to defend the c i ty s
i n t e res t s aga i ns t bo odle c apital bu t that i s abou t
a ll ; i t h a s a wre tched ad m i n istratio n
N ew Yor k
has stuc k t o th e old way Pro vi nc i a l a n d sel f
centered i t hardly k n ow s th e re is a n y oth e r
Chi cago laugh s a n d o th e r ci t ies w onder b ut n e ver
mi n d N ew York by pe rsi ste n ce has at l as t
a ch i e ved a go od ad m i n i s tra ti o n W ill the N e w
Yor k ers co n ti n u e i t ? Th a t i s the ques ti on Wh a t
Ch i cago h as i t h as sec ure I ts i n de pe ndent ci ti
is
tra
i
ned
to
v
ote
ev
ery
ti
m
e
and
to
v
o
t
e
s hi
z en
p
for un i nt er es t i ng good a l de rm e n N ew York has
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
a ni ndepe nden t vote of
a dec isive m i nor
i ty but the vo ters h a ve been t a ught to vote only
o n c e i n a l o ng w hile , only w hen exci ted by pie
t ur es ue l e a dership and sensation a l ex p o sure s
only ag ains t N e w Yo rk h a s been so far a n
a nti b a d go v ern m en t a n ti T amma ny not a good
govern m en t to w n C a n i t vote w i thou t T am
ma ny into i ncite i t f o r a good m ayor ? I thi nk
this electi o n w hi ch wi ll ans w er this question
should decide othe r c i ties ho w to go a bout ref o r m
The ad mi ni str a tion of M a yor Seth Lo w m ay
n ot have been perfect not i n the best Europe a n
s ense : n ot expert not co o rdi n a ted cert a i nly n o t
w ise N e v ertheless f o r a n A m eri c a n ci ty i t h as
been n o t o nly h o nest bu t a ble u ndeni a bly o ne
o f the best i n the w hole country S om e o f the
dep a rt m en ts h a ve been dish o nest ; o the r s h a ve been
so i nefficien t th a t they m a de the w h o le a dm inis
Bu t w h a t o f th a t ? C o rrup
t r a t io n ridicul o us
tion also i s clu m sy and m akes absu rd m i st akes
when i t is ne w and untr ai ned The o a ths a n d
cere m on ies an d m uch of the b oo dl ing o f the St
L o ui s ri ng see m ed l augh a ble to m y c or rupt
f r iends i n Ph i l a delph i a a nd T a m m any H a ll a nd
N e w Y ork s o w n T w eed r! gi m e wa s n o j ok e
o nly because i t wa s s o gener a l and so expensi v e
to N e w Yo rk I t took t im e to perfect the
”
Phil a del p hi a pl a n
o f m isg o ve rn m ent and i t
2 84
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TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
Ta mm a ny fo r ces w h o n om inated M r Lo w s ai d
“
Wh o else w as
t hey m ight r en om i n a te hi m
”
there ?
they a sked
A nd they though t he
”
“
m ight
be re elected
The a ltern ati v e was
Rich a rd Cr o ker Dr Ch a rles F Murphy his m an
f o r n o m atter w ho T amma ny s ca ndid a te for
m ay o r was i f Ta mm a ny w o n T amma ny s boss
w ould rule The personal issue w a s pl a i n enough
Y et wa s there n o a ssu ra nce f o r M r L o w
h y ? There a re m a ny form s of the an s wer
given but they ne ar ly a ll reduce the m sel v es t o
—
o ne the m a n s p ers o n a l i ty I t is no t v ery en
g a gi ng
M r Low h a s m a ny respect a ble qu a l
i ties bu t these ne v er ar e a m i a ble
D id y o u e v er
”
see hi s s mi le ? s a i d a p ol itici a n w ho w a s trying
t o accou nt for hi s i nsti nctive disl ik e for the
m ay o r I h a d ; the re i s no l a ughte r b a ck o f i t
no hu m or a nd n o sense there o f The app e a l ing
hu ma n ele m ent i s l a cki ng a ll th ro ugh H is g o od
a bili ties a re self s ufficient ; h i s digni ty is s m ug ;
his cou rtesy see m s n o t ki nd ; his sel f rel i a nce is
called obsti n a cy bec a use though he listens he
see m s not to c a re ; though he u nderst a nds he
sho w s no sy m p a thy a nd when he decides hi s
re a soni ng is p riv a te H is m o st useful v i rtues
—
pr obi ty ; i ntelligence a nd c o nscienti o u s ness in
a cti o n a re o ften a n i rrit a tion ; they a re so con
tented M r Lo w is the bourgeo i s refor m er typ e
2 86
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N EW Y OR K : G OO D GOVE R N M E N T 28?
E v e n where he co m pro m i s es he ge ts no cred i t ;
his c o n ce ss i o ns m ak e the i m pressi o n c l s u rre n
“
ders A politi c i a n c a n s ay n o a n d m a k e a
fri e n d where Mr Low w i ll l o se o n e by s ay i n g
”
“
yes
Cold a n d i m pers o n al he coo ls e v e n h is
head s of depart m e n ts Loyal public service they
give bec ause his t aste i s f o r men w h o wo uld do
thei r du ty fo r thei r own sak e n ot for his a n d
th at exce lle n t s erv ice the ci ty has h ad B u t
m em be rs o f M r Lo w s ad m in i str a t i o n helpe d me
to ch aracteri ze hi m ; they could n ot hel p i t M r
Low s i s n o t a lo v able chara cter
B ut what o f that ? W hy should h i s co lle agu es
lo ve h i m ? Why shou l d a n y body l i k e h i m ? Why
should h e s eek to charm wi n a ffec tio n a n d m a ke
fri ends ? He was el ec ted to attend to the bus i n ess
o f h is o ffice a n d to ap po i n t s ubord i n ates w ho
no t
s hould atte n d to th e b us i ne ss o f t h ei r o ffices
“
to m ak e po l i ti c al stre ngth a n d w i n elect i ons
W il li a m Tra ve r s Jero m e t h e pictu resq ue D i s
t ri et A tto rn ey whose s i n ce ri ty a n d i n t ellec tual
ho n esty m ade sure th e el ec t i o n of M r Low t w o
years ago detes ts him as a b ourgeo is b ut th e
m ayor al ty is he l d i n N e w York to be a bourgeo is
o ffice M r Low is the ideal produ ct o f the N ew
York th eo ry that m u ni c i pal go ve rn m e n t is bus i
n ess n ot po l i ti cs a n d that a bus i n ess m a n who
wo ul d m an age th e ci ty as h e wou l d a b usi n ess
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TH E SH A M E OF TH E CITI ES
co rpora ti o n wo uld s o lve f o r us a ll our troubles
Chic a g o r e f orm ers thi nk w e h av e go t t o s o lve
ou r o w n p roble m s ; th a t g o vern m en t i s po li tic a l
busi ness ; th a t m en br o ugh t u p i n p o li tics a nd
expe r ienc ed in p ublic o ffice w ill m ake the best a d
is t r a t o rs
m in
They h av e refused t o tu rn fr om
their p oli tici a n m a yor C a rter H H a rri s o n f o r
the m ost ide a l busi ness c a ndid a te a nd I h av e
he a rd the m say th a t w hen Chic a go wa s ri pe f o r
a better ma y o r they would p refe r a c a ndid a te
ch o sen fr om amo n g their w ell tried a lder m en
A gai n I s ay ho w e v er th a t this is o nly o ne way
a nd N ew Yo rk h as a nothe r a nd this othe r is the
stand a rd A m eric a n wa y
B u t a g a i n I s a y also that the N e w Y ork w ay
i s on tri a l f o r N ew Y ork h a s wh a t the w hole
cou nt ry h a s been l o oki ng f o r i n a ll m unici pa l
c ri s es— the n o n poli tical ruler Mr L ow s very
faults w hich I h a ve e m ph a sized f or the purpose
e mp h a si ze the p o i nt
They ma ke it i mp ossibl e
for hi m to be a p o litici a n even i f he sh o uld w ish
t o be As fo r h is selfishness his l ack o f t a ct
—
s
coldness
these are o f no consequenc e H e
hi
h a s done hi s duty a ll the better for the m Adm i t
th a t he i s uni nteresti ng ; w h a t d o es th a t m a tter ?
He h a s served the ci ty Will the ci ty n o t v o te
for h i m beca use i t does n o t lik e the way he s m iles ?
Absurd as i t s o unds that is wh a t all I ha v e heard
2 88
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THE SHA M E O F TH E C I TI ES
290
a nd a ll the w o rld ma y kn ow w h a t i t is a nd w hat
i t is a fter F o r hypoc r isy is n o t a T amma ny
v ice T amma ny is for T amm a ny a nd the T am
m a ny m en s a y s o Othe r r ings p ro cl a i m l ies a nd
m a ke pretensi o ns ; o ther r o gues t a lk a b o ut the
t ar i ff a nd i m pe r i a l is m T amm any is h o nestly
dish o nest Ti m e a nd ti m e a g a i n i n pri v a te a nd
i n public the le a de r s big a nd li ttle h a ve s a id
they are o u t for the m sel ves a nd thei r ow n ; n o t
”
“
for the publ ic but f o r m e a nd m y f r iends ;
n ot f or N ew Yo rk bu t fo r T amma ny Rich a rd
Croker s a id unde r oath o nce th a t he worked for
hi s o wn p o ckets a ll the ti m e a nd To m Gr a dy
the Ta mm a ny o r a t o r h a s b ro ught h is cr ow ds to
the i r feet cheeri ng sen ti m en ts as p ri m itive stated
wi th cand or as b ru t a l
The m a n fro m M a rs w ould s a y th a t such an
o rganiz a ti o n so sel f c o n f essed c o uld n o t be v ery
d a ngerous t o a n i ntelligen t p e o ple F o reigners
m a rv el a t i t a nd a t us a nd even A m e r ic a ns
an
Pennsyl va ni a ns f o r exa m l
no t u nde rst a nd
w hy w e N ew Yo rkers r eg ar d T amma ny a s so
f orm id a ble I thi nk I can expl a i n i t T am
m a ny i s c o rrupti o n w ith c onsen t ; it is b a d gov
c r a m en t f o u nded on the su ff r a ges of the p eo p le
The Phil a del p h i a m achi ne is mor e p ow erful I t
rules Phil a del ph i a by fraud and for ce a nd does
not require the v otes o f the people The Phil adel
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N EW Y OR K : G OOD G OV ER N M EN T 2 9 1
p hi s u a do n ot v o te for the i r m ac hi n e ; the i r m a
ch i n e v ot es for th em Ta mm a n y u sed to s tufl
the b allo t bo x es a n d i nt i m i da te v ot ers ; to da y
th e re i s pra c t i cally n one o f that Ta mm
rules whe n i t rules by r i ght o f the v o tes o f
p eople of New York
T a mm a n y c o rrupt io n is dem oc rat ic co rrupt i o n
That o f the Phila delph i a ri ng is roo ted i n sp eci a l
i n terests Ta mm a n y too is a llied w i th v es t e d
—
t
e
i n e r sts
bu t Ta mm a n y l a bo rs u n der dis adva n
t agu n o t k n o w n i n Ph i l ade lp hi a
Th e Phil adel
ph i a ri n g i s o f the s a m e pa rty that rules the
S ta t e a n d the n a tio n and th e loc al ri ng form s a
l ivi n g cha i n w i th the State a n d n at i o n al ri n gs
Ta mm a n y i s a pu re ly loc al con ce rn ‘V i th a
m aj ori ty o n ly i n old New Yo rk i t has n ot o n ly
to b uy what i t wan ts fro m the Republic a n m a
o
t
r
i
i
n
the
Stat
e
but
m
u
s
t
trade
to
g
e
t
the
j y
whol e ci ty B ig b u si n es s e v eryw here
sour ce o f pol i t ic al corru pt i o n a n d i t i
i n N ew York ; b ut m ost of the big
res ented i n N ew Y ork ha ve no pla nt s there
O ffi ces there are a n d head ofi ces o f m any tru s t s
a n d rail w ays for e x a m p l e but that i s all Th e re
are bu t two r ai lw a y term i nal s i n th e ci ty a n d but
three railways u se th e m The se ha ve to do m o re
w i th Al b any than N ew Yo rk So w i th Wa l l
S treet
P hi ladelph i a s stock exch a n ge de als
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TH E SHAM E OF TH E C ITIES
l ar gely i n Pennsyl v a n i a securi ties Ne w Yo rk s i n
th o se o f the w h o le U ni ted St a tes
The re is a
s m a ll \V a ll St reet g ro u p th a t speci a lizes i n l o c a l
c o r po r a ti o ns and they a re a ctive a nd give T am
m a ny a W a ll Street c o n nection bu t the bigges t
a nd the maj o ri ty o f our fi n a nci a l le a de rs b r ibe r s
th o ugh they ma y be i n o ther cities a nd even i n
N e w Yo rk St a te a re i nde p endent o f Ta mm a ny
H a ll a nd c a n be h o nest ci ti zens a t h om e Fr om
this cl a ss i ndeed N e w York c a n a nd o f ten d o es
d raw s om e o f its ref orm e rs N o t s o Phil a del p hi a
Th a t b o urge o is o p po si ti o n w hich h a s p ersisted
f o r thirty ye a rs i n the fight a g a inst T amm any
c or ru pti on w a s squelched i n Phil a del p hi a a f te r i ts
fi r st gre a t uprisi ng
M a tt Q ua y throu gh the
b a nks r a il w ays a nd o the r busi ness i nterests was
a ble t o re a ch i t A l ar ge p a rt o f his po w er i s
neg a tive ; there i s n o o pp o siti o n T amma ny s
p ow er is p o si tive T amm a ny can n o t re a ch a ll the
l argest in te r ests a nd i ts h o ld i s upon the people
T amma ny s de mo c ra tic c o rru p ti o n rests u po n
the c orr u p tion o f the p e op le the pl a i n pe op le
l a nd there lies i ts g r e a t signific a nce ; i ts g ra ftin g
syste m is one i n w hich m ore i ndividu a ls sh a re th a n
a ny I h av e studi ed The pe o ple the m selves get
very li ttle ; they c om e chea p but they a re inter
est ad D ivided i nto districts the org a n iz a ti o n
s ub d ivi des the m i nto precincts o r neighborhoods
2 92
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E CITI E S
fight w hich l as ts often f o r ye a rs I n P h iladel
p hi a the St a te boss design a tes the ci ty bos s I n
Ne w Yor k Croker h a s f a iled sign a lly to m a i n
t a i n vice b o sse s w ho m he app oi n ted
Th e boss
o f Ta mma ny H a ll i s a gr ow th and j ust a s
Cr o ker gre w s o h a s Ch a rles F Mu rp hy gr ow n
up t o C r o ker s pl a ce
Ag a i n w here a s i n Phil
a del p hi a the b o ss a nd his ri ng h a ndl e and kee p
al mo st a ll o f the g ra ft le a ving li ttle to the di s
triet le a ders i n N e w York the district le a ders
sh a re h a ndso m ely i n the sp o ils
The r e is m o r e t o sh ar e i n N ew Y o rk I t i s
i mpo ssible t o esti m a te the amo un t o f i t no t o nly
N o T amm a ny m a n
f o r m e bu t f or a nyb o dy
k n ow s i t a ll P o lice f r iends of m ine s a y th a t
the T amma ny le a de r s never k new h ow ri ch po lice
c orr u p ti o n w a s till the Lexo w c omm ittee ex po sed
i t a nd th a t the po l i tici a ns w h o h a d been con ten t
w ith s ma ll p resents contributi o ns a nd i nfluence
did n o t b utt i n fo r thei r sh ar e till they s aw
by the testi mo ny o f fr i ghtened p o lice gr a fters
th a t the dep a rt m en t was wort h f rom f o u r t o fi v e
m il li o ns a ye ar The i te m s a re s o i ncredible th a t
I hesi t a te t o pri n t the m Devery t o ld a friend
o nce that i n one ye a r the poli c e gr a ft w as so m e
t h i ng o ver
A fter w ard the syndi
c a te w hich di v ided the graft under D every t o ok
i n for thi rty s ix m on ths
a m onth fr om
294
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N EW Y OR K : G OOD G OV E R N M E NT 29 5
g a m bling a n d poo lroo ms al o ne Saloo n b ribe rs
di sorderly house bl a c km a i l pol i cy et c etc b ri n g
th is total up to a m azi ng p ro po rt io ns
Yet th i s was but one dep a rt m ent a n d a de
a
r
t
m
en
t
tha
t
wa
s
o
v
erloo
k
ed
b
y
T
mm
a
n
y
for
a
p
ye a rs The annu a l budge t o f the city is a bo ut
a nd though the po w er th a t c o m es
o f the ex pendi tu re o f that a m o unt is en o rm ous
and the oppo rtu nit i es for rake o ffs i n fi nite this
su
m is n o t one h a l f o f the reso urce s o f T a mm a ny
when i t i s i n power Her re s o u rces a re the re
sou rces o f the c i ty as a bus i nes s as a pol i ti ca l
as a soci a l pow er I f T a m ma ny c o uld be i nco r
o ra tcd and all i ts earn i ngs
b
o
th
legiti
m
ate
and
p
i llegi t i m a te g a thered up a nd paid ov er i n div
ds the stoc k holders w ould get m o re tha n the
iden
N ew Yor k Ce n tral bo nd a nd s tock holders m ore
tha the Standard Oil stoc kh o lders and the con
t rol li ng c li que would w ield a po w er eq ual to th a t
o f the U ni ted States Steel Co m pany Ta mm a ny
whe n i n c ontrol o f N ew Yo rk t a kes ou t o f the
ci ty u n be lie vab le m i ll i ons o f dollars a year
N o wo n der the leade rs are all rich ; no wonder
so m any m ore Ta mm any m en are rich than are
the leaders i n any other town ; n o w onder Ta m
m a n y is lib er a l i n i ts d i v i s i o n of the graft
Cro k er too k the bes t a n d the safe s t of i t and he
a cce pt ed s h ares i n o th ers H e w as
i n o n th e
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296
TH E SHA M E OF TH E C ITI ES
”
W a ll St r eet end
a nd the T amma ny cl ique of
fi n a nciers h a ve kn o cked d ow n a nd b o ught u p a t
l ow prices M a nh a tt a n R a il wa y s t o ck by thre a ts
o f the city s pow er o ve r the r oa d ; they h a ve been
let i n o n Met ropo li t a n de a ls a nd on the Thi r d
Avenue R a il roa d gr a b ; the I ce t ru st is a T am
m a ny trust ; they h a ve bank s a nd t r ust c om
p a nics a nd th r ough the N e w York Re a l ty C om
pa ny a re f or ci ng a ll i a nces w i th such fi n anci a l
g ro u p s a s th a t of the Stand a rd O il Co m pany
Croker sh ared i n these de a ls a nd busi nesses He
s o ld j udgeships t a k i ng hi s p a y i n the f o rm of
c o nt r ibu ti o ns t o the T amma ny c am p a ign fu nd
o f w hich he wa s tre a su r er a nd he had the j udges
t a ke fr om the regul a r re a l est a te exch a nge a ll
the enor m ous r e a l est a te business th a t p a ssed
through the cou r ts a nd give i t to a n exch a nge
c o nnected w ith the re a l est a te business o f his fir m
Pete r F Meye r 8 Co This a l o ne wo uld m ai n
t a i n a duc a l est a te i n E ngl and But his r e a l
est a te busi ness wa s gre a ter than th a t I t h a d
ext raor di n ary leg a l f a cili ties the free a dvert i si ng
o f a buse the pr es tige o f poli tic a l p riv ilege a ll
o f w hich brought i n trade ; a n d i t h a d a dvance
i n f o rm ati o n a nd follo w ed w i th pr o fit able de a ls
gre a t p ubl i c imp r ov e m ents
Th o ugh C ro ker s a id he w orked for his o w n
pockets a ll the t im e a nd did take the be s t o f
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2 98
TH E SHA M E OF TH E CITI ES
mo re a b o u t Mu rp hy a nd i t sh o uld wa nt t o k n ow
a b o u t the ma n a ge m en t o f i ts d o cks si nce j ust
a s othe r ci ties h ave thei r c o r r up t de a li ngs w ith
r a il w ays a nd thei r ter m in a ls so N e w Y ork s gr e a t
te rm i n a l business is w i th ste am ships a nd d o cks
These docks sh o uld p a y the city h ands om ely
M r Murphy s a ys they shouldn t ; he is wise a s
C ro ker wa s bef o re he bec am e old a nd g a rrul o us
a nd a s T amm a ny m en p u t i t
kee p s h is m outh
”
shu t bu t he did s ay th a t the d o cks sh o uld no t
be ru n f o r re v en ue t o the ci ty bu t f o r their ow n
i m prove m ent
The D o ck B oa rd h a s exclusive
and priv a te a nd sec r et c o ntr o l of the ex p endi tu r e
of
a ye a r
N o wonder Mu rphy
chose i t
I t i s im possi b le to follow a ll Ne w Y ork g ra ft
fr om i ts sou r ce t o i ts final desti n a ti o n I t i s
i m p o ssible to foll ow here th e c o u r se of th a t w hich
is w el l kn ow n t o N e w Yorkers There ar e p ubli c
works fo r T amm a ny cont ra ctors There ar e pr i
vate w orks f or T amm a ny c o n tr a ct or s a nd c o r
s a nd i ndivid ua ls find i t ex p e di en t t o let
o r a t io n
p
i t go t o T amma ny c o n tr a ct or s T amma ny h a s a
ve r y go o d syste m o f gr a fting on publ ic works ; I
m e a n th a t i t is go o d f rom the cri m in a l p oi nt
o f vi e w— a nd s o i t h a s fo r the f u r nishi ng o f s up
p lies L ow bids a nd sh o rt deliveries gener a lly
s pe a ki ng ( a nd th a t is the only w a y I c an speak
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N E W Y ORK : G OO D GO VE R N ME N T 299
h e re ) is the m ethod B u t the Ta mm a n y sy stem
a s a who l e i s w e a k
T am m a n y m e n as gra fte rs ha ve a co nfi de n
ce
i n the i r m ethod s a n d sy s tem wh ich i n th e li gh t
o f s u c h pe rfec ti o n as tha t o f P hi lad e lph i a is
a m usi n g a n d th e a ve rage N e w Yorke r ta kes i n
the o rganiz at i o n a q u ee r so rt o f pri de wh ich
is i gn ora n t a n d pro vi n c i al
T a mm a n y is w ay
beh i n d the ti m es I t is grow i n g ; i t has i m pro ved
I n Tw eed s day the po li t ici a n s s tole fro m the ci ty
tr e as ury d ivi d ed th e m o n ey o n th e steps of the
C i ty H all a n d no t o nly th e l eade rs b i g a n d
l i ttl e b u t h ee lers a n d outs i ders ; n o t o nly T w e ed
b u t ward c a rpe nters robbed th e c i ty ; not only
“
po li t ici a n s b u t n e wspape rs and ci t ize n s w e re i n
”
o n th e di vv y
New York n ot Tam m any a l one
was co rru p t
Whe n t h e e x posure c a m e and
Tw eed asked his fa m ous qu es tion What are you
go i n g to do about i t ? the ri n g m ayor A O a k ey
H a ll as ked a n other a s s i gn i fic an t
I t w as re
po rted that s u i t w as t o be b rought aga i ns t th e
“
ri n g to rec o ve r s tole n funds
W ho i s go i n g
”
t o s u e ? s ai d M ayor H all who could not th ink
o f a ny body o f im po r t a n ce s uffici e n tl y w i thout s i n
to throw the firs t s to n e Steali n g was s topped
an
d graft i ng w a s m ade m ore b u si n e ss like b ut
s ti ll i t w as too gen e ral and the bood li ng for t h e
B roadway s tree t ra i lway fra n chise p ro m p ted a
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TH E SHA M E O F TH E CITI ES
st ill cl o ser gri p o n the b usi ness The o rg a niz a
t i o n si nce then h a s been gradu a lly concentr a ti ng
the control o f graft Cr o ker di d n o t proceed
s o far a l o ng the li ne as the Phil a delphi a ri ng
h a s a s the pol ice scand a ls showed A fter the
n Lex ow ex pos ures T amma ny took ov er th a t gr a ft
bu t still let it g o p r a ctica lly by districts a nd
the p olice ca p t ai ns still got a thi rd A fter the
M a zet exposures Devery bec am e C hi ef and the
p o lice gr a ft was so concentr a ted th a t the di v i sion
w a s reduced to fourteen parts A ga i n l a ter i t
w a s reduced t o a syn dic a te o f four or five m en
wi th a dribble o f m iscell a neous gr a ft f o r the
p o lice I n Phi l a delphi a the p o l ice h av e nothi ng
t o d o w i th the p o lice gr a ft ; a p olice m a n ma y col
lect i t bu t he a cts f o r a p oli tici a n w ho i n turn
p a sses i t up to a s ma ll ri ng Th a t is the dri f t
i n N ew Y o rk Unde r Deve ry the police o ffice r s
g o t co m p a r a ti v ely li ttle a nd the r a nk a nd file
the m selves w ere bl a ck m a iled for tr a ns fers a nd
pr o m otions f o r re m i tt a n ces of fi nes and in a
dozen o ther petty wa ys
Phil adelphi a is the end to w ard w h i ch N ew York
under T amm any i s dri vi ng a s f a st a s the lo w er
i ntelli gence and higher c o nce i t of i ts le a ders w ill
let i t I n Phi l a delph i a one very s m all r i ng gets
everyth i ng divid i ng the w hole as i t p le a ses and
n o t all t ho se i n the i n ner ri ng a re poli t i ci ans
800
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’
TH E S H AM E OF TH E CITI ES
T amm a ny le a ders ar e us ua lly the n a tu ra l
le a de rs o f the p e op le i n these di stricts a nd they
a re o rigi n a ll y goo d n a tured k i ndly m en N o o ne
h a s a mo resi nce r e l iki ng th a n I f or so m e of th o se
c ommo n bu t gener o us fello w s ; thei r ch a r i ty is
r e a l a t first B u t they sell o u t thei r ow n p e o ple
They d o give the m c oa l a nd hel p the m i n thei r p ri
v a te t ro ubles but a s they gr ow r ich a nd pow er
ful the ki ndness g o es o ut o f the ch a r i ty a nd they
—
n o t o nly c o llect a t thei r saloons or i n rents c a sh
fo r thei r g oo dness
they n o t o nly ru i n f a the rs
a nd s o ns a nd c a use the t roubles they rel ie v e ; they
s a cri fice the children i n the sch oo ls ; let the He a l th
Dep a rt m ent neglect the tene m en ts a nd wor st of
p lan t v ice i n the neighborhood a nd i n the
a ll
ho m es o f the po o r
This is n o t only b a d ; i t is b a d poli tics ; i t h a s
defe a ted T amma ny
W o e t o N e w Yo rk w hen
T amma ny le ar ns bette r H o nest foo ls t a lk o f the
re f o rm o f T amm a ny H a ll I t i s a n o l d h op e this
a nd t w ice i t h a s been dis ap p o i nted but i t i s not
v a i n Th a t is the re a l d a nge r a he a d The re f o r m
o f a co rrupt ri ng m e a ns a s I ha v e s a id be f ore the
ref orm o f i ts syste m of grafti ng and a w ise co ns id
e r a t io n o f ce r t a in f e a tu r es o f go o d g o vern m ent
”
C roke r tu rned his best chi ef o f p o l ice Willi am
S Devery ou t of T amm any H a ll and sl ow and old
a s he wa s Croker le a rned w h a t clean street s were
302
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N EW YO R K : G OO D G O VE R N M E N T 803
fr o m C o l o nel W a ri ng and g a ve the m No wthere
i s a ne w boss a y o u ng m a n Charles P M urphy
a n d unkn ow n t o N e w Y o rkers H e look s de ns e
but he a cts w ith f o rce deci sion and s k ill Th e
n ew m a y o r w ill be his m a n He m ay di vi de w i th
Cro k er and lea v e t o the old m an a ll h is acc us
t o med graft bu t Charl i e M u rphy w ill rule T a m
m any and i f T a mm a n y i s elected N ew Yo rk also
L e w is N i xo n i s urg i n g Murphy publ icly as I
wr ite to declare agai nst the poli ce sc an dals and all
the w o rs t p ra c ti c es o f Ta mm any Lewi s N ixon i s
a n ho n es t m a n but he was o ne of the m en Crok e r
t ri ed t o appo i nt leader o f Ta mm any Hall And
when he resigned M r N i x o n said that he fou nd
th at a m a n co uld not keep that leade rs h i p a n d hi s
self re s pec t Yet M r N i xon i s a typ e o f the m a n
wh o t hi nks Ta mm any would be fi t to ru l e N ew
York i f the orga n izat i on would re form
As a New Yo rker I fe ar Mu rphy wi ll pro v e s a
a
c
i
o
s
e
n
ough
to
do
j
ust
that
stop
the
scan
u
:
g
dal pu t all th e graft i n the hands of a few
t ri ed and t rue m e n and giv e the c i ty what i t
wou l d c all good go v ern m e n t Mu rphy say s he wi ll
”
n o m inate for m ayor a m a n s o
good that h is
goo d n ess w ill as ton i sh New York
I do n t fear
a b ad Ta mm a n y m ayor ; I dread the el ect i o n
o f a go od o n e
F or I ha v e be e n t o Phil a
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TH E SHAM E O F TH E C ITI ES
Phil a del phi a h a d a b a d r i n g ma y o r a ma n who
p romo ted the g ra ft a nd c a used sc a nd a l a f te r sc a n
d a l The le a ders there the w isest p o l i tic a l g ra f t
ers i n this c o u nt ry le ar ned a gre a t lesson fro m
th a t A s o ne o f the m s a id t o m e
The A m eric a n p eo p le d o n t m ind g ra fting bu t
they h a te sc a nd a ls They d o n t k ick s o m uch o n a
j iggered p ubl ic c o nt r a ct fo r a b o ulev a rd bu t they
w a nt the b o ulev ar d a nd n o f uss a nd n o dust We
w a n t to give the m th a t We wa n t to gi v e the m
w h a t they re a lly wa nt a quiet Sabb a th s a fe
streets o rderly nights a nd ho m es secure They
let us h a ve the p o l ice gr a ft Bu t thi s m ay or w as a
h o g Yo u see he h a d bu t o n e term a nd he c o uld
get hi s sh a re o nly o n what wa s m a de i n his term
He n o t o nly t oo k a h o g s sh a r e o f? w h a t w a s c om
but
he
wa
nted
everythin
g
t
o
co
m
e
i
n
his
te
rm
in
g
So I m d ow n on grafti ng m a yors and g ra fti ng
o ffice h o lde r s I tell y o u i t s go o d po l i tics to h a ve
ho nest m en i n o ffice I m ean m en th a t a re pers o n
”
ally h o nest
S o they g o t J o hn We av e r f o r m ay or a nd h o n
est J o hn We a ver is checki ng co rru p ti o n resto r ing
o r der a nd d o i ng a gre a t m any goo d thi ngs w hich
i t is good p oli tics t o d o F o r he is s a tisfy ing
the pe o ple s oo thing thei r ru ffled p ri de a nd r ec o n
e ll i ng the m t o m a chi ne r ule I have lette r s f rom
friends of m i ne there honest m en who wi sh m e to
304
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T H E SHA ME O F TH E C IT IE S
to th e T amm any c ampa ign fu nd
a ted he a v il y
a nd the people o f N e w York elected the T am
m a ny ticket by a dec i sive m aj o ri ty o f
The v ot e w as : M cC lellan
Low
80 6
,
(M
t 0
“M
g
(“ x
,
a
n‘
u a
t
w
r
m
:
Auth o r
of
“
a (Emma B oyle
.
Th e Advent ures
THE
F
S h erloc k Ho lm es
of
A D V E N TU R E S O
GE R AR D
S TO RIES
f th e re mark ab l e a d ven t ures o f a
I n E t i enne G e
B ri gad i e r i n N a po l e o n s arm y
ra rd , Co n a n D oyl e h as a dd e d t o hi s a l re ad y famo us
o
'
.
a
ll
e
r
y
o f c h ara c t e rs o ne wor thy t o s ta n d b es i d e
g
th e n o ta b l e S h e rl ock Hol m es M an y a nd th ri ll
ar
e
e
r
ard s ad ven t ures a s re l a t e d by hi ms e l f
G
in
g
fo r h e ta k es part i nne arly eve ry o ne o f N apo l e o ns
ca m pa i gns
I n V en i ce h e h as a n i n t e res ti n g
rom a n t i c escapa d e w h i c h causes h i m th e l oss o f
an ear
ith th e ut mos t b rave ry an d c unn i ng
h e capt ures t h e S pa n i s h c i ty o f Saragossa ; i n
Port ugal h e saves th e arm y ; in R uss i a h e f ee d s
th e s tarv i n g sol d i e rs by s uppl i es o b ta i ne d at
E ve rwh e re e l se
M i nsk af t e r a wo n d e rful ri d e
h e i s jus t as m arve l o us and at at e rl oo h e is th e
cen t e r o f th e wh ol e battl e
n
v
a
n
i
ty
h
e
i
s
a
e
i
a
l
o
l
d
o r a ll h i s l um b e ri n
g
g
soul an d a re m ark a b ly v i v i d s tory t e ll e r
I ll us t ra t e d b y
B
oll en
.
'
,
,
'
W
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F
W
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,
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WW
.
m
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-
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n
D
s
uti lat e, e s u
Q
E
s
e
.
Auth o r
of
“
F
Th e So we rs
B A R L A SC H O
.
TH E
etc .
GU A R D
THE story is se t i n those despe rat
d ays w hen
the ebbi ng tide o f N apoleon s fortunes s w ept
E uro pe w i th des o l a ti o n
Barl as ch
P a pa
Barl asch o f the G u ard I ta ly Egypt the D an
ube — a vete ran i n the Li ttle Corpo ra l s se rvice
—is the d om in a n t figure o f the sto ry
Q uar
tered o n a disti nguished fam ily i n the histo ric
to wno f D a ntzig he gives his li fe to the ro ma nce
o f Des i ree the d a ughte r o f the fam ily and Lo ui s
d A rrago n w h o se c o usi n she h as ma rri ed a nd
p arted w ith a t the ch urch d oor Lo uis s search
wi th Ba rl asch fo r the m issing Ch arles gives an
un forgetta ble pictu re o f the te rri ble ret rea t from
Russi a ; and as a c om pa ni o n pictur e the re is the
he ro ic de fen ce o f D an tzig by R app a nd his li ttle
army o f s ick a nd star ving A t the l as t Bar
lasch learning o f the dea th o f Charles p lans
a nd exec utes the escape o f D es iree fro m the
beleaguered to wn to j o i n Lo ni
Ill ustrat ed by the Ki nneys
e
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