The New York herald., 1877-10-23
A Meeting OF the Friends and Advocates Of the
Constitutional Amendments.
STElNWAY HALL In AN UPROAR
The Speakers Interrupted and the
Interrupters Elected.
SPEECHES AND RESOLUTIONS.

earnestly invited 10 De present. was Inc language Oh
the published call for the meeting OF citizens at Stein
way Hall last night to agitate the submission OF the
constitutional amendments to tho electors OF the
State The invitation not carefully read, tor q
very largo number OF persons who were by no
means In sympathy with the movement were in
attendance when the doors thrown open
and by interrupting the speakers with ordinations
and deris,vc hlsses did all they could to make the
meeting END In Captain Clinchy, OF the
Eighteenth police precinct present with two
scrgeanss and q squad of twenty-five men, and =
dozen or more Of the more demonstratve opponents
Of the amendments promptly hauled OUT OF their
seats and locked up In the station house. The police
anticipated trouble for before the meeting called to
order about two hundred Germans, in the garb Of
workingmen and talking excitedly IN their own Ian
guags, entered tho hall and scattered themselves
among the audience The two front rows Of seats had
already been occupied by q similar looking party,
among whom sat- side by side, John Swinton, Justus
Schwab (who figured In the ridiculous Commun'stic
demonstration In Tompkins square some time since)
and Leander Thompson, of the same ,lK All these
men, II appears, were members OF German associ-
alton known the s'Socal Democrats" and had come
Tor the purpose Of opposing the objects OF the meet
ing About eight O'Clock the doors at the back Of the
platform were thrown open, and some fifty Of the
leading citizens who signed the call for the meeting
from these people. When Royal Phelps called the
meeting TO order and proposed Mr.. 3. d. Babcock
for Chairman. the same parties raised q storm Of
hisses and uproariousy voted "No." Mr. Babcock,
however, took the chair despite their opposition,
succeeded In maintaining order throughout tho pro-
ceedinga. Most of tho intruders contented them
selves with merely shaking their heads vigorously
and exchanging derce looks when the sentiments OF
the speakers did not please them. Mr.. Swinton Kept
his eyes fixed upon the chairman and alternately
raised and lowered his bushy brows In protest A
circular signed by him and denouncng the object
Of the meeting had been circulated the sidewalk
made to circulate 1t In the hail. When vote was
called for upon the resolutions the Chairman re-
quested all those opposed to them rise. Schwab,
who, wearing his broad, osentatious hat and holding
stick In his hand, rose and in hollow voice called
tbeatrically. "Up, msnl" Mr.. Swinton and about
shirty Of the opposition stood up amid tho de-
fisive laughter OF she audience. At FIRST
the police merely notified those who shouted
At the speakers to be quiet, but finding they grew
bolder and interrupted more frequently, the officers
began to make arrests and the obnoxious howers
came fewer. At tho conclusion Of Mr. Robnson's re.
marks the police were about TO obstrcper-
.'local democrat In compliance with the
"Put him out" Of the audience, which was
becoming excited and angry. when the compan-
Ions OF tho roared '.No, no." In belligerent
tones and stood up waving their hats The police.
man, however, was obstinate enough 10 60 right
ahead and despite the long and loud "Nos' the man
was ugged out without resistance being offered
hr. Babcock appealed to the maconents to inter-
fcre in the proceedings, they manifestly in
The minority, and according to their own
claims the majority should govern under all
circumstances He ended by assuring them
MT vi ho
TO prevent further Interruptions The Socialists
evidently lost heart and when at the close OF Mr.
Dut, the whole gang followed On the sidewalk they
grew bosterous tnronged about the DOORS blocked he
gutteral German upon the effect they had
produced IN the meeting Cheers given
Tor somebody or something and II seemed that a
couple OF tall policemen politely requested the
blage to move on, and the party moved of in tho
direction of the Bowery. The meeting was attended
by nearly all OF the several hundred prominent gen.
tlemen whose names were appended to the call
As the signers of the call marched from the side OF
the stage u the platform they were greeted with
storm OF min slea Kisses and applause that boded
each OF the four aisles OF the house began put
business-liko appearance Mr. Royal Phelps, after the
and spoke as follows
SPEECH OF ROYAL PHELPS
FELLOW CITzENs-l am requested by the COM
mitee Ut twelve who have charge OF this meotng to
call you to order (Hissesl l do SO by nominating
bADcOCk,
Commerce, for president OF this meeting All those
In favor OF that please say aye.
The friends OF the proposed amendments scattered
throughout the hall evidently did not suspect the
trouble brewing, for the call for The yeas met
VIII with but ou. q a., fam! response. Contrary no.
with CRIES Of ..NO noIh taken up all over the room
and prolonged for some minutes. Mr.. Phelps
gralnmo had been selected which this little episode
DID not seem TO progress "Put II againl" shouted
- II. fnp pvoa
will please rise" About one-third or the audience
rose TO their feet The yeas appear TO have It, said
.NoI no 70 interrupted him. 1.-The yeas havo It, .
continued Mr.. Phelps.
voice from the audience-"Put the contrary,D
BY this time Mr.. BabcocK had taken the chair and
began to speak but the hisses shouts and cries Of
.Put him oul!" drowned his Ono OF the audience
cried out 81 nominate Leandcr Thompson chair
man OF this meeting" Cries OF "put the contrary''
then repeated. ut is rather too late to put
contrary perhaps, now,' said Mr.. Babcobk
One Of the audience then said, ~ Will
alternate discussion All that aud my friends desire
Is that We will have q hearing" Dir. Babcock then
said. sAliow to say this meeting is called TO
devise plan for the government OF the CITY OF New
York. and those who do not favor that plan were not
invited here tonight. tHsses) Thereaaro lew to-
night here VINO opposed to the call OF the
neeting they certainly have 10 rights here whatever
J. as chairman Of this meeting, VIII allow no man TO
him outl" "Put him out!' will have TO call you TO
order or we cart "a police officer here touched
Win cluo ono OF gentlemen VINO was
his lungs aud the latter subsided.) Mr. Bubcock then
continued rs follows amid great DISORDER
THE CHAiRMAS's SPEECH
FELLOW CTizENs-Wo tom ight not in the In
terest Of any particular party the any
class, but IN the intcresls of tho whole community.
(tiisses and applause.) Why here except to
make an earnest ana honest for tn city In
which we liveY (Avoice-"ro mouopolizc every thing
you can.'p The taxes were only about three and
y quarter million, but they have been Increased
tcniod, and not SO only for single year,
but for several years IN succession have they
od q CQadS llQ r., tlta ulf
ten years the debt OF the city has Increased nearly
$i00,0O0o0O We have collected the assessments OF
the city. "a voice-"From the workingmeD." APP
plausc) But there rs debt of uncoliected taxes OF
than $l5. 100000 Now, II this meeting had been
called to-night on account OF private corporation
the first movement would have been put the
into bankruptcy; but fellow citizens, believe
that there Is salvation Tor this city. We only con-.
mcnd change from government under which the
grossest frauds have been perpetrated. We believe
that the plan recommended by Governor III
den two years ago viii accomplish that change
Ceres OF "Nover, never" anu nisseA) Gentlemen
order, II you please. Now we say this
that have right TO ast tho Legislature at Albany
xxol..