Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-23
Mass Meeting of Forty Ex.Office
Holders.
THEIR SHOUT FOR SUFFRAGE.


THEIR SHOUT FOR SUFFRAGE.
mass meeting of the Republican Club was
held last evening at Cosmopolitan Hail. corner
of Sth and Streets and as at the former meet
ngs there was large number of ex-officeholderS
present. Among these were X-alderman, X
school trustee, X-superintendent of police Rich
ards president OF the club; X-councilman, Y
street commissioner, X-water register Crane,
secretary; &-postmaSter, X-mayor etc, Bowen:
X-ward commissioner Atkinson, X-contractor
W. Fl. Groot, X-councilman and ward commits
sioner r. j. Beall, X-chaplain c. W. DeDisop
X-councilman f. d. Gaines, X-alderrnan Cross
man, Y member Of levy court Rowland; w. B.
Partsen, Joseph Reynolds, Andrew Gleason, H.
Timber and Joseph Flynn, contractors; X-jus-
alderman S. S. Baker, X-treasurer john Thomas
johnson, Inward commissioner Henry Lyles, X
alderman A 7. Clark, X-speaker Chas L. Hulse;
Isaac Cohen, the labor ag1tator. and about
twenty Others.
AT eight O'Clock President Richards called the
meeting to order, and from the executive COM
mittee reported, on the subject OF maSS-meet-
ing, that it was both expedient and proper to
call such meeting at an early day, and that it
should be non-partisan Mr.. Bowen had been
requested to confer with eX-Mayor Berret and
ask that he should act as chairman, and Mr..
Bowen had performed that duty, Mr.. Berret
conSenting to act If the meeting should be en-
tirely non-partisan, and the call should meet
with his approval.
Ion. Thomas J. Duraut was introduced to ex-
plain the bill he had drafted for the government
Oh lue DlStT1ct, introduced In Lle House on De-
cember 10th by Mr.. Gillette, of Iowa. He said
the bill propounds certain leading principles Of
government, and remarked that for 20 years the
people enjoyed local self-government in digni-
fed but rather Slow manner, and then came the
territorial government, which was fast one
most too fast-lasting but three years, and en-
failing on us debt not yet known. An audit
was ordered, and when SIS 000, 600 was reached
Congress said stop. This debt is said to be in
all about 1928 0O0. 00o and is larger than that OF
any other community of the same size in the
land. Congress became alarmed and changed
this form OF government-abolishing all polfti-
cal privileges Of the people OF the District. 1t Is
singular that no part OF the evils III evils they
were) emanating from this government came
from the elective principle and he then referred
to that government having but one elective
branch-the governor; the upper branch of the
legislature and the board of public works (Which
had supreme controD being appointive. 1t was in
no sense republican form OF government This
government was followed by one Of three COM
missoners in 1874, and in 1878 permanent
form" was eStabliShed-three commissioners,
one military man, and the others civilians,
and it had been said that one of the latter was
rather uncivil He pictured the District in the
presence of representatives OF all nations of the
earth, devoid of the right OF self-government
we boast of, and he asked if the 100000 people
here were less intelligent, less honest, or less
frage. Voices" No."l Mr.. Durant then
spoke of the prejudice against colorcd voters
and referred to the two best offices in the Dis
trict being filled by colored men (AIarshal Doug
and colored men had proved to be good jurors
IT is all delusion and chimera that they will
make it question OF race. for they are in the
minority. 1t is urged, too, that the rich are
opposed to suffrage. and he asked what would
become of the weaIty if the poor moved away
Everything dictates that there should be here
government of equal rights and privileges. He
then explained the provisions of the bill, refer
ing especially to new mode of voting which he
claimed would be a complete check ON fraud
lie, however,was not welded to the details, and
70 in
leaving the details for the future
Rev. Charles w. DeniSon endorsed the re-
marks OF Mr.. Durant, and said the District
should be a model in self-government as wen as
in other respects. He had no doubt but that
this or similar bill would pass and we will live
to see the day .'when with our banner floating
in the wind, we will march up to the ballot-boX
and thank God we are citiZenS'
DR.. C. b. Purvis seconded all that had been
said, and referring to a complimentary remark
of Senator as to the improvements made in
the last few years, he said that suffrage had
succeeded in taking the city out of the mud and
making it what it is to-day. He urged that all
classes should unite and ask what he believed
was the right Of every American citizen-suf-
frage. He beived that If we were in the enjoy
ment of suffrage, that many colored people
would be found voting for those who had here
tofore opposed them, and he believed that when
the colored men of the country can vote for
men without regard to party, we will have
peace. He did not believe that there were many
congressman who would put themselves on
record against bill granting us the right OF
local Self-government.
Mr.. Isaac Cohen urged that suffrage was
right, and to deprive us of it was to Violate act
iv, sec. 2 of the Constitution.
MI. j. II. Crane offered vote Of thanks to
The STAR for its very truthful and f1attering
report OF the meeting on the 18th instant. He
the very best motives, as it always does. When
6 Office holders ask for suffrage 1t speaks well
for the cause. Why, the editor of THE STAR
was an X-alderman and X-member of the water
w. X mi n hn
Georgetown council, an X-feather-duster and
president OF the fire board When the editor Of
the Republican, an X-offfce-holder, demands
suffrage, THE STARS KS have the right to OPP
pose it. By the way, The STAR had been libelled,
for parties had reported that the editors use
carriages belonging to the government 10 ride
Chief Engineer drives to the front of The STAR
Office daily, and the editors get In it is true but
they are On businesS-they inspect the
they Should be commended. Tor they do this this
work for nothing. Occasionally when THE
STARS corps are in the wagon an alarm of fire
takes place, and then THE STAR is shaken up
on one occasion when they were inspecting
plugs in the northwestern part Of the city an
alarm sounded from the neighborhood of the
Eastern branch, and, the horse knowing his
tide, in which they lost their hats and they We're
obliged to get back home IL street cars to cold
dinners. MI, Crane proceeded to relate nun.oer
% amusing apocryphal yarns about members OF
THE STAR corps riding In fire wagons In Whlte
pants, and getting thrown on the green grass
while going at the rate Of thirty miles an hour,
thereby losing their dinners; all of which stories
were brought forward as conclusive arguments
why the glorious right Of suffrage should
be restored to the people Of the District.
Mt Crane said his friend, the editor of THE
STAR, is very witty, but yet few know it. He
never allows himself to laugh at his own jokes
in public, but If you should walk in the office
just after he has fixed up some Of the funny
points, you would enjoy it; you would imagine
that the roof was coming off the house. He
would state, too, that The STAR reporters often
get the blame for the manner in which the re-
ports appear. They only furnish the material
for the editorial hopper, and the funny points
emanate from the editor. Mr.. Crane then re-
ferred to this being the anniversary of the Land
ing of the Pilgrims, and said it was surprising
to him that 259 years after this landing they
were in the capital of nation, which processes
10 be founded on the principles for which these
pilgrims emigrated asking the same boon.
Mr. II. Taylor moved that the president of
the club transmit the BILL without the details,
TO Congress as the sentiment OF the club:
agreed to. Adjourned,
AMuSements, &c.