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Riis, Jacob A., 1849-1914

"The Making of an American"

" That was not consecrated
common sense. I went to the convention of Endeavorers the next
week and told them so. I asked them to send a despatch to Governor
Black then and there endorsing Roosevelt and Mayor Strong, and
urging him to end the deadlock that made public scandal by removing
Commissioner Parker; and they did. I regret to say that I felt
compelled to take a like course with the Methodist ministers, for
so I grieved a most good-natured gentleman, Colonel Grant, who was
Mr. Parker's ally in the Board. Grant was what was described as "a
great Methodist." But I feel sure that Brother Simmons would have
approved of me. I was following the course he laid down. The one
loyal friend Mr. Roosevelt had in the Board was Avery D. Andrews,
a strong, sensible, and clean young man, who stood by his chief to
the last, and left with him a good mark on the force.
The yellow newspapers fomented most industriously the trouble in
the Board, never failing to take the wrong side of any question.
One of them set about doling out free soup that winter, when work
was slack, as a means, of course, of advertising its own "charity.


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