Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-22
THE .NOrs In CoxCLAyE.
Strictly Secret and CONFIDENTIAL
OUR EVERLASTING, UNLOCKED, THrN-EDGED |
REPORTER on HAND.


WASHINGTON, September 10, IS7I.-Dear Sir
You respectfully informed that meeting of
Taxpayers and citizens will be held ut the Board Of
m to consider the best means and the collection 81
money, 20 conduct the coming campaign in oppcsi-
n.n to the present extravagant and corrupt new
You are respectfully requested to be present and
with the object of this meeting BY order Of Execu-
tive Committee Citizens Association.
THOMAS j. DURANT, Chairman.
We at once felt the necessity of being present
at tbs remarkable meeting. This was to be a
real turnout of the Taxpayers and Citizens
opposed to the present eXtravagant and cor
Tupt, ETC., etc, &C., &c, new District govern
ment." No half a bakers dozen OF the Cranes,
StephensOns, Seyersons, and Robinsons, but an
undoubted, overwhelming, and impressive rally
they and ''all their friends" One must 90 early
TO squeeze his way through the crowd so we sum-
difficulty of his returning through the crowded
moned our special, everlasting, unlocked, thin
edged reporter, and started him OFF II the Board
OF Trade Tooms. He hasn't been on duty much
since the days OF the old Dem. Jack. Ass-ocia-
ton, and is rather above his working weight ;
but We concluded he would pass. On entering
he was accosted by Mr.. j. III. Crane. (ex-water
regstrar,) who seemed so he bossng things, and
was informed that the meeting was to be
STRICTLY PRIVATE,
and reporters could not be admitted on any ac-
count Our report II, who always does as he is
told, and is OF a retiring disposition ANYHOW re-
tired, but Immediately returned, and presenting
liis SicCtai ttll eUSc ID the u0Of-keeper, passed
in unchallenged and unobserved. He looked
around tor the expected crowd, but it wasn't
there. About twenty persons were present,
namely: j. n. Crane, y. Watson, b. Severson,
Riggs, {. ingle, n. Sargent, j. a. Cushing, DIR.
j. h. Blake, l.. Frederick, +. Coyle, j. b. Viii
son, Gen Green. VIM. Il. Webb, W. Y. FendaIl
Fred. Coombs, w. IL. Tenney, and IL. Polkin-
horn.
MIR. T. j. Durant called the meeting to order.
and by way OF an apology for the paucity of
Nots (non-improyement men) present, stated
that the executive committee had issued c;rcu-
lars to the number of about two hundred and
hfty-these circulars stated the object of the
association, and the parties into whose hands
they were given for circulation were in
shucted to be careful that only those who
were friendly to the cause should have them.
AT the close OF his remarks he begged
leave to introduce Mr.. Geo. w. Riggs,
took the chair, intimating that he hadn't much
time TO remain with the convention, and that he
would like to have things polished off as rapidly
as possible. MIR. Durant then proceeded to ex-
plain the object of the meeting; i. e. to raise
funds Tor the coming election contest against the
District government, and, before taking his seat,
dropped small bomb-shell amongst the group
by telling them that it would need $4,000 10
carry on the campaign. IA deep groan from Mr..
WiHon.l The solemn gyoup of Nots glanced at
each other, evider y trying to solve the diff cult
arIthmetlcal problem how many times
70 WOULD GO INTO 20.
Having produced a pleasant sensation Mr.
Durant sat down, and was followed by Mr. j. III.
Crane, who stated, much to the relief of the
impecunioUs prOperty-holders, that it was pro-
posed to raise the desired fund by initiating the
example OF their opponents and taxing the
friends of the cause. The executive committee
had already commenced their work, and he
(Crane) and another member of the committee
had raised thirteen hundred dollars-that is that
amount had been placed upon the subscription
books, and OF course was as good as collected.
DIR. Blake suggested that a committee be an
pointed TO solicit subscriptions, and that the
executive committee be empowered to select
such committee, and to report at the next meet
ing;
he didn't think anything could be accomplished
by subscription books being carried around He
had on many occasion been called upon to COL
ieet SUBSCRIPTIONS for various objects, and he
found that il didn't pay.
He was followed by George W. Hatton. (col-
ored,) who was greeted warmly as a man and
brother by various democratic Nots nres,ut
Mr.. Hatton warmly urged the feasibility of the
plan of collection, and encouraged the dcspon,l-
ent NOts by stating that he had the NEGRO vote
under his control. He didn't like to hear his old
friend Mohun discourage the collection business
From this small gathering there would spring
larger meetings, until in the mighty campaign
the huge army of the opposition would sudden
ly be hurled against the weak impr0vemcntists
and i'll one mighty overwhelming vote grind
them into powder. (Clapping OF hands and
smiles OF approval from the encouraged Nots
| yoice.T"That SOL ton,thus encouraged,
pull him down by the coat tail. [Just here two
or three Nots managed to
SLIP OUT
quietly, and II was noticeable ct that when
ever the door OF the chamber was opened il was
invariably from the inside.l
Mr.. Nathan Sargent was glad to hear such
young dusky friend. Now he (Sargent) was
ready to fight in his feeble way-ready to fall
into the ranks and do what he could. lie con-
tinued at length to recite his experience, AMI to
hot had
cooperate with them; comparing These dcgen-
crate times with the good old chiyalrc days of
yore. when instead OF twenty persons as many
thousands would have risen to defend their
rights.
MI Tenney, of Georgetown, suggested that a
return to the discussion of finances would be in
Order.] Here there was another movement to-
wards the dOor.l In order, he said, to collect by
books OF subscription, large amounts at the head
OF the list would do more to insure similar
number OF numerals down the page, and he
would beg TO suggest that those moneyed men
present (there being three) should head the list
with their thousands, and then allow others like
himself, who could not afford large sums 10
come in on the last end; in this way none
would be inyeigled into donating small amounts.
The president Mr. Riggs didn't seem 70 hear
this suggestion, but proposed that AIR. VIM. b.
Webb's idea be carried out, viz: that those pres
ent have an opportunity Of putting down their
names IN the book Mr.. Crane had ON his desk
Mr.. Crane then slowly walked through the au-
dience with pen, ink and book; but mos of the
ink used was spilled by parties iostling Cranes
elbow in their efforts to
MAKE THEIR WAY To THE DOOR.
While Mr. Crane was pursuing his melancholy
March
M r. A. Cushing proceeded to read a resolu-
ton, which recommended the establishing OF
CAMPAIGN PAPER,
whose object should he the exposition of the
frauds practised by the new government. Mr..
G. eulUgiZed the Patriot at length for the able
manner in which it had shown up the ring
movement, but he had been informed that Mr..
Harvey declined doing any more than a small
local notice occasionally, setting forth as an ex-
cuse that his paper being a national sheet mat
tiers of such local insigniicence would be dead
matter TO them. What they wanted was a good
afternoon paper which would reach everybody.
MIR. Sargent didn't seem to think that in SO
short time paper could gain mach circula-
ton. He for one would subscribe, as he wanted
To read paper that came up to his views on
this subject of ''taxation." He would not take
any OF the morning papers as they were not of
the right class and character.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE STAR.
He took The STAR because he had TO in order
10 get the local news. but would take this cam
paign paper.
Mr.. Polkinhorn, an old printer, fully under
standing the expenses of such an enterprise,
dampened the ardor of the wouid-be "newspa-
per men" and suggested the idea of circulars
10 be thrown into every door. This project
didn't take very well, IL being insinuated that
all other similar advertisements of patent medi-
cines. &c, were brushed out by ''onprincipled
servant piris-v