The experts came to Our Town And told us how ’twas done. “Begin with Gas and Traction, And half your fight is won. Begin with Gas and Traction; The rest will follow soon.”  We looked at one another And hummed a different tune.

And told us how ’twas done.

“Begin with Gas and Traction,

And half your fight is won.

The rest will follow soon.”

And hummed a different tune.

[Pg 39]  Said Smith, “Saloons in Our Town Are palaces of shame.”  Said Jones, “Police corruption Has hurt the town’s fair name.”  Said Brown, “Our lawless children Pitch pennies as they please.”  Now would it not be wiser To start Reform with these?

[Pg 39]

Are palaces of shame.”

Has hurt the town’s fair name.”

Pitch pennies as they please.”

To start Reform with these?

  The men who came to Our Town Replied, “No haste with these; Begin with Gas—or Water— The roots of the disease.”  We looked at one another And hemmed and hawed a bit; Enthusiasm faded then From every single cit.

Replied, “No haste with these;

The roots of the disease.”

And hemmed and hawed a bit;

From every single cit.

  The men who came to Our Town Expressed a mild surprise, Then they too at each other Looked “with a wild surmise.”  Jimson had stock in Traction, And Jones had stock in Gas, And Smith and Brown in this and that, So—nothing came to pass.

Expressed a mild surprise,

Looked “with a wild surmise.”

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