THE CITY FATHERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 489, 23 April 1909, Page 3

THE CITY FATHERS.

WHO ARE THEY? J How many women could, if they were asked, ■ recite straight off the names of the venerable (using the word in its ecclesiastical sense) men , who govern the destinies of the city? And —to push the-question further—how many women know these dignitaries by sight? Week after week, these men, City Fathers, by the grace of the ratepayers, take up their chosen task of caring tor the civic welfareguardian angels, watching over the careless srtizens who go about their daily work, consent to leave questions affecting streets, lighting,, .building, water supply, traction, and many other matters 'of great importance to the Fathers. Probably the average man, once or twice in the course of the year, has something to say in praise or blame of the particular councillor whom he knows, and many a man feels bettor when he has expressed his opinion about the Mayor, either " saying how well ho does things, or how much better they could be done. . The Mayor looms very large in the public 0y0. % Ho has come to stand as the symbol of civic administration, but of the doings of the Fathers, what woman shall speak? Feminine Wellington, does not know thein—collectively. They are known to exist, they are known to do some work, and'once every two years one realjsos thai they have to bo elected, but the haziest notions prevail as to their individuality, their actions, or their functions.' Probably most women have in their minds a vague idea that the typical City Father is very old and grave, and wise. If she has read anything of the classics, or European history, _ she pictures him as a reverend seigneur, an' elderly gentleman, well on in fho evening of his days, devoting the ripo, experience of years, the wisdom-that comes i,with dispassionate age, the solid virtues of the business man who has honourably won his own fortune, 'to .the service of the community in which that fortune has been earned, and she thinks in a casual manner that in his hands tho city's prosperity is' safe. One thing she ' knows is that this Father'is quite blind. How else would he endure'the pitiless blaze - of the electric lights in the city's halls? 'He is quite deaf. How else could he tolerate the violent, wicked noise of the city's trams in tho streets? And withal she knows that ,he is an old gentleman' of astonishing agility,, for, were it not so, how would he evor clamber into tKoso lofty cars? These things are pleasant to think on, andthe only disturbing element comes with the elections, and tho r irreverent fact {hat the ' worthy Fathers have to be elected to their honourable position. There is somothing wrong here. One feels that the City Fathers, like 'the 'little /Topsy, ought to arrive mysteriously.. But sine© they do not, since the ultimate responsibility of placing them in their proud position rests on the shoulders of the municipal electors, men and women alike, since, in fact, the people of tho iity are ultimately responsible for the city's welfare, ..every single vote should be given with careful consideration, and tho woman voter should take the trouble to learn.something of the men. who "have the honour to solicit her vote. She should not even 'be > content to vote for a good man, though that is in itself certainly quite an' achievement; she should take trouble' to. vote for the best. To keep the best man out of office comes next in the list of civic crimes after that of putting tho wrong man in.