stratagem. No political contest escaped his attention and participation, but he was after fun, not office for himself.

Mr. Weaver believed that orthodox sentiment among voters could be enlisted so as to defeat Mayor Powers. Mr. Haile, an influential member of the First Church, had his manufacturing business in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and nobody imagined that he could be persuaded to run for office. The thought came to Ben, a Butler Democrat, that if Mr. Haile were to stand he could be elected. It looked like the forlornest of hopes as outlined by him in advance of a visit to the Chestnut Street house, formerly owned by George Bancroft, the historian, where he got Mr. Haile's promise to accept the nomination. Nobody then realized that because Mr. Haile's father had been governor of New Hampshire, the son might dream of being governor of Massachusetts, an aspiration toward the accomplishment of which the mayoralty could be a stepping-stone. Mayor Haile served creditably for a single term, afterward became lieutenant governor and very nearly reached the governorship.

A racy chapter might be written on Springfield's city marshals. When it was provided that the head of the police department should no longer figure in politics a wise thing was done. But how slow we were in taking that sensible step! It will be difficult for people of this time to apprehend how much the marshalship now it is chief of police had to do with making and unmaking mayors in the years before the police commission and civil service reform changed the situation. If the head of the police came

to be popularly esteemed below par in achievement, or character, or both, there was a lively demand for the official head of the mayor responsible for the marshal's appointment or continuance in office. When a mayor of one party was succeeded by an executive of the other party, the marshal was in danger. Choosing a marshal was the most ticklish job given an executive to perform, and no other appointment carried with it like anxiety or involved so much peril.

It seems unbelievable to-day, the old feverish concentration of interest on an office whose tenure is now almost as secure during the good behavior of its occupant as that of a judge. Not all the men who coveted the salary and the authority of the marshalship were qualified to discharge its responsibilities, and whoever took the place encountered the uncertainties of politics.

Mayor Wight was fortunate. When the name of Hiram Q. Sanderson was brought forward by sensible citizens, and the mayor made that Democrat city marshal, the municipality was benefited. Mr. Sanderson, who had business standing and character, made a superior official and later was elected sheriff of Hampden County. He also did good work as water commissioner.

X

CITY ADMINISTRATIONS IN REVIEW

ISSUES that are exigent and absorbing as administrations enter and pass become of less moment in the backward look. In the years since Mayor Wight's time from 1874 to 1923 - Springfield has had eighteen Republican and six Democratic mayors, but the Republicans usually had longer terms of office than the Democrats. Springfield has been a Republican city, with the voters minded to chasten the dominant party now and then. Such practice is worth keeping as a corrective of dry rot. There is also room for still larger measure of non-partisanship in the conduct of city affairs, where party labels have no legitimate place.

Citizens desirous of seeing how mayors looked may go to the Auditorium and study the photographs that hang in two big frames on the walls of the aldermanic committee room. In former days these pictures were in the mayor's room of the old City Hall. In the forty-nine years of this survey, our mayors included seventeen business men and seven lawyers. The individuals among them who played politics most while in office do not rank highest in the retrospective study. Wise persons acquainted with life would expect such to be the case, but men

more ambitious than sensible wonder why they came short of results that are enduring.

There is nothing puzzling about it. It is as simple as seed time and harvest. Careful and honest planting and faithful husbandry invite fruitage. And it is almost as difficult to fool the people in the long run as it is to mislead Nature.

Edwin W. Ladd, a Democrat, experienced through service in both branches of the city government, succeeded Mayor Haile in 1882 and served for a single term. He made no special mark in office, but was respected for his good sense and public spirit, — just an average citizen of the kind to invite trust.

Henry M. Phillips, mayor in 1883, 1884 and 1885, was sophisticated and attractive. He had seen more of life and affairs than his predecessor, and was more alert in his mental processes and in dealing with municipal business. Mayor Phillips's general success in office was qualified at one point. His theory that fair play demanded that every one desiring a liquor license should be allotted one worked badly in practice. It contravened the theory of the State license law, which sought the regulation and repression of an undesirable business. Colonel Phillips was later, upon the invitation of John A. Hall, to become secretary of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, where William W. McClench is now the strong leader.

Colonel Edwin D. Metcalf, mayor during 1886, obtained his title as a member of Governor Robinson's staff. Mayor Metcalf's father, he told me, had been an officer in the British military service, and the son was ambitious to make a name for himself. He

overwhelmed John Olmstead in the big Republican caucus through heavy reinforcements transported from Indian Orchard. "Uncle John", not a practical politician, had not played the game in that way. Nor afterward did Mr. Olmstead, who was a practical philosopher, get in line for any nomination. While Mayor Metcalf was in office the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Springfield was celebrated. Colonel Metcalf was a keen business man and left Springfield to achieve large financial success in Auburn, New York. Until his death he never lost his interest in this city, and as director of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company came back rather frequently to renew old ties.

Elisha B. Maynard, Democrat, was mayor in 1887 and 1888. He had the general respect and liking. In circumstances of his career, and in personal bearing and qualities, he reminded one of Grover Cleveland. An incident of my first meeting with Lawyer Maynard may be worth recalling. In the Greeley campaign of 1872, my first year in the city, I was sent to report a Democratic flag-raising near the Water Shops. The reporter caring for that assignment was advised to enter Mr. Kimberly's yard and see what could be found back of a lilac bush. Reposing there, surrounded by a group of the faithful, were two bright tin pails with dippers, one containing ice water and the other another liquid now outlawed through amendment of the Federal constitution. There I encountered leading Democrats of the Hill district, including Burr Maynard, Captain Hugh Donnelly and David Power, the speakers, all to be my friends.