HAD ORDERS FROM ON
HIGH TO HELP MAYOR.
Crank Headed Off by Phil Murphy
and Given a Steer to Reform
the Wet Block.
"I have a message from God ordering me to co-operate with the mayor in the reformation of every saloonkeeper in Kansas City," seriously proclaimed a well dressed, intelligent appearing man as he entered the outer offices of Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., yesterday morning. The visitor had his pockets filled with neatly printed religious tracts, and began distributing them.
"Here is where I get busy," said Phil Murphy, the mayor's bodyguard and suppressor of cranks.
"My friend," said Murphy to the man, "the mayor informs me that he would be delighted to assist you in your commendable undertaking, but he is too busy just now trying to build a union passenger station, a Twelfth street trafficway and a comfort station. He is also occupied in an extension of the city limits, a big bond issue and a few other unimportant details."
"It hardly seems possible that all these things can be done before the millennium, and the saloonkeepers must be saved," ventured the man.
"I am sure the mayor sympathizes with you," said Murphy, "and to show you how the liquor traffic grieves him he emits copious tears every time he signs a dramshop license."
After some parleying Murphy finally got rid of the caller, telling him that the "wet block" was a good point for him to start in at.
