Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-26
MUNICIPAL Reform.


on 18th street. In the absence of the President,
Mr. d. NJ. Kelsey (Vice Presidsnt) took the
chair; St Clair Burleigh, secretary.
lie Chair stated that there Was large meet
ing OF the Boys in Blue IN progress at Union
League Hail. at which many OF their members
were present, but there was still enough left 10
form respectable meeting here He vas will
ling always to lend his and to the cause OF re-
form, which work was going brayely ON. Their
prospects were bright Tor success, AMI the cam
paign might be sad 10 be fairly opened and in
vigorous action. The numbers present were not
so large "a would have been were it not for
the meeting spoken OF, but they represented a
very large party, which WAS constantly increas-
ing he (Mr. n had known >. j. Bowen per
sonally, had been associated with him init
nately, and mad laboTed for him to his utmost
Ihe speaker was member Of the convention
which nominated Bowen for Mayor, and from
his knowledge Of HIM he could say that h,
vas the most selfish of men, He believed
IN going for the regular nomination, however,
and supported him (BOwen-) After the nomi-
nation was made Bowen sent for the speaker
and catechized him about, as follows Bo gen.-
hOu opposed my domination" kelsey-'-I
q me other man. Bowen.-''I am sorry for il,
but 90 you intend To support me?' kelsey
Certainly 4 always support the nominee"
From that time Bowen became his (helsev,s1
bitter enemy personally. notwithstanding me TX.
did oil IN his power tn elect him (Bowen.l This
was his chaTacter-he levels all who do not
swear by hi,n 1t was his nature to be tyrsni-
cal. Republicans do not believe in falling
Town 10 worship that image Of brass any longer.
There are thousands of Republicans in ms
city who will not support 5. j.. and they will
stih be Republicans although Bowens standard
OF measurement Is loy atty 70 ). =.
MI John ODonOvan was called for and said
the campaign had commenced. Reformation
was needed at this time, as great abuses had
crept into the Republican party. NJ city in
the United states had so much corruption as
ours in its municipal management. BY a
species OF ledgeTdemain our present MayOr who
had come into power with a bankrupt treasury
10 Is true would leave his office with a bankrupt
treasury. A half million OF city bonds had been
created, which were worth about one half the
face of them Streets had been graded on the
outskirts OF the city, when the pavements in
the business portion were not lit to walk upon.
1hese subuf Dan improvements had been made
10 benent few individuals, and now the debt
OF cur city was 10 be increased by putting thou
sands OF Idle men to work until tie June eIec-
Oen, fer the purpose OF continuing this
state OF things by re-electing Bowen to
Once The people OF this city had drawn
up bill to present to Congress, the OBJ
>: j. Old not approve OF il, and was now lending
his official position 10 have it defeated. rhe
ring at the City Hall Is the only organized op-
position to it, and he hoped Congress would be
well informed OF this fact. His Sancho Panza
YIN. A Cook, was just man after BOwen's
own neaIt, who could be moulded to meet his
views. These men of putty were the kind of
men ; j. got about him. Before his election he
could see no law against selling or drinking lager
beer on Sunday. His man Cook had taught him
since that there " a. a Sunday law, and our Ger
man friends had to shut up shop on the sabbath
day How Is tLis man TO be defeated 4? Simply
sy every one, who knows the facts, taking pains
10 explain TO his tax-paying nelghbor that the
ring of the City Hall are To6bing their pockets
and the city getting more and more bankrupt
every cay. Ii IL stated that the ColiectoTshiD
OF this city is worth Sls,DO0. Cooks salaries.
boswe : fat pickings, and >. j. Bowen's alto
gether formed strong cohesive power at the
City Hall In conclusion, the sneaker promised
10 work diligently for reform until election
Mr.. PLilbrOOk. OF the Fourth Ward, followed.
and sand To accomplish a reform in Our CITY af-
IAiIs required work. Fine speeches were all
very wei. but something more was needed.
Something should be done To make a chang. in
our registration OH GERS. To Keep men there
who are Interested in the result of our elections
Is great abuse. ". A. Cook should not be suf-
fered TO remain there any longer. IApplausel
The appointment Of our receivers OF votes
should also be locked TO, or Cook would control
thought his chances were slim. The masses
were tired OF him, and outside the City Hall
ring there was not n hundred men who desired
DIS reelection n class OF policemen about the
City Hall would no doubt work for him. 4 sys-
ematlc plan should be devised by which all can
work together IN accomplishing reform in this
city, and he hoped it would be done at once
He did not believe Bowen vas legally elected
before, but In the Affairs Of the cIty had been
ngntiy managed no one would have said much
10 act.
Edward Ambush That's not so.,,-
Voices" Put him Outl'' IF he does not
like TO hear the truth let him GO out,'
The speaker said he was not disturbed, let him
stay, an effort should be made ct once To unite
our forces Let US make our nominations at
once, and get good men. He dhi not believe in
putting on the nominations too late. Let our
men be undoubted Republicans and there can
be no doubt ofour success. But let US nominate
men Who are in favor of a Territorial form Of
government, as by this means only can We break
mp the system Of plumber now practiced by the
DR.. A. Tucker addressed the meeting In favor
of reform; but said mere change Of men should
not be of paramount Importance. The interests
OF the laboring men should be of more import
ance- Contracts should be done away with, and
Abe laboring men should have the benefits OF
Mr.. Lewis Clephane was called for and re-
viewed the history Of the Republican party in
this city, noting ITS early struggles and who had
been identified with it, and of the modern con-
yerts who were receiving the benefits of
their efforts. He was pleased to see 50 many
Republicans OF the Second Ward present. In
union there Is strength, but they a. Republicans
must not countenancc fraud and corruption; il
they did, the hftof the party was at an end.
Corruption must be topped off, or the party will
70 down The motto OF 5. j. Bowenis "C nited
We stand, but divided s. j. Bower falls"
ILaughter.l He could speak freely upon these
matters, because he had been q Republican
party about the City Hall. Had Mr. Bowen
surrounded himself with the proper men the
speaker would have stood by him. Look at his
advisers and bosom friends! Are there any OF
them who were the friends of the poor negro
when he was IN slavery Iyoices.-f.No. non
Had any of them labored To break the chslns OF
bondage for the poor slave? His bosom friend,
were men selected for their qualities of being ma
pipulated to suit his own purposes, and the frue
friends OF the colored man had been cast aside
Bowen sasn not q good judge of human nasare
He had allowed himself n be caught in kis6~n
trap, AMI by his choice Of surroundings had
killed himself. Those who bowed down TO hin
n TO . God are the men he loved best. He hoped
the reform party here would be careful whe
they selected for their candidates.. They should
get q man who was the friend to the iaboring
man, and net mere pretender. The laboring
man should be provided for, and left indepen-
DENT in his Political cboice-not q mere voting
Dachine. (FoSeesNThats SOL As the case nov
stands the laIorer ON Corpor alton work Is
crushed down With starvation until the day ap-
proaches when his vote Is needed and his work
briebtens up and he Is paid well for q few weeks
until the. election Is secure, then down he goes
AGAIN. Unforfunn<ely the colored man was not
educated to see these things a. they truly exist,
but they we're gettisg on well, and the children
q the mkt generation would be better posted
on these things Edkcation should be encour-
aged, and in proportion to It's advancement q
: esttef state Of things sould be brought about.
NJ; w. ,; Brown. Of Pa, next addressed the
mefuhg, Adv,ang all to work for Q reform IL
nT expSetep 70 aecomphsh It.
MI A. watson next spoke on thu evils m ths
contract system, depicting the abuses OF the