Daily Republican., 1882-04-29
REFORM M0VEM EN- T,
AN ENTHUISAsTIC MEETING
LAST EVENING,
AessrR. George III. Earl, NJ. j. Ryan
and Th"aas Walter OF Phfia.
d~lPlaia Make StiPrisg Al.
drossss-The Meefing AN
Encouraging Ono.

sons assem- bled in the lecture room O
the Masonic Temple, last evening. Mr.
Thomas McCorkle, Jr., I Chairman O
The working-men's reform Association
called the meeting to order and statsC
that heretofore the working mems re
form association had met in secret ses
sion, but now it became necessary tt
hold their meetings in public, and for
this reason they mad met together. The
chairman of the meeting then introduc
ed Mr.. George II. Earl, member of the
Committee Of One Hundred of Phila.
delphia, who arose and said that it gave
him pleasure to neet the citizens Of
Wimiogton, and congratulated those
having the matter in charge, for the in
teresJ manifested in this their first pub.
lie meeting.
The speaker then dwelt at length on
the reform movement in Philadel phia.
In speaking Of the DISASTROUS state OF az.
fairs in that city, he said, when the re-
form was first started, they would call
a meeting at certain place and upon
going there on the evening announced
for the meeting they would find no one
there, but they persevered, until they
accomplished their desire. He further
said tnat it required but one or two en-
ergetic men in this city to carry on the
good work, and he guaranteed il they
would push the matter, that in five
years the city Of Wilmington would
have the best government of any city In
the Union. He spoke of their untiring eff
forts in establishing the work of reform
in Philadelphia until finally their Of.
forts were crowned with success,
and they had at last reduced the tax
rate from $500 to Sl.7O and had elected
q Democratic Mayor, who had refused
to discharge honest Republican office
holders. He dwolt with considerable
vim on the extravagance of New York
City, where over 500, 1000, 900 were
spent in strong drink and
other evils, enough to buy up all the
real estate of Philadelphia.
You, gentlemen, said the speaker,
have begun wisely and if you go forth
resolutely you will conquer and if you
persevere you will surely be successful
When you say to the working men, "d0
you want an increase of taxation, that
will drive away the manufacturers, and
when you say to the manufacturers-do
you want an increase of taxation that
will yearly gain in gigantic proportions
until within few years they will be
TO close their works, if you
want to see this, then | advise you to
turn your back on this movement, but
on the other hand if you want to see
large and prosperous
city, then lend your support to this
He then cited instances of
corrupt city government, in various
cities, mentioning, as the most promi-
nent New York City, Hathaway and
Elizabeth and other places.
tie said the city government should
be true ole, and should be sustained
by all true citizens, anl in order to do
this these things must lie resisle cd in the
Happy would it have been, if Phila-
1elphia had begun as you have begun,
before the fl >ating debt of the city reach
I'D the enormous sum OF $4,000, 900.
They who profit by the experience of
,thers are happy; those who profit by
heir own experience are wise, but
hose who profit by none are fools. If
you have to vote for a Congressman,
hen you are privileged to vote your
1arty ticket, but when it comes to city
government, then it does not matter |
md lolitics should have no weight.
Your movement gentlemen, starts off |
lnder favorable auspices. If | saw rich
men exclusively in the audience, then
you might well cry out that it was !
capitalists movement, but the meeting
= made up of both wo-kinglnen and
zap talists. He then spose of the va.
'lous names adopted by the reform
novemen. in Philadelphia, until finally
hey adopted the name of'Committee of |
)ne Hundred, which had the desired
fleet, that of success. He then cited
he increase Of taxation in this city and
he alarming extent to which the float
ng debt is reaching. Spoke Uf the neces-
ity of an increase of education among
he children of The workingmen and
urther stated that the tax rate of this
ity was fast increasing, to an excess
t that which caused the wreck of
he tax rate would have on the capital.
SITS, causing them to stop building, and
hey will lock their money up in city
all ways, which pay large dividends.
he speaker said he was Republican
ut always voted for a good Democrat
} turn out bad Republican and vice
ersa. There are men at the present
me in your City Council, that you
'ould not employ in your own family
nd they are like political bandits; l.
,wd fellows of the baser sort, that you
'ould not trust as executors, admins.
'ators, or in any other way connected {
18th your affairs.
Who are they? asked the speaker. Is
"Both," cried man from the audi. {
ace.
l don't know, said the speaker,
either do care, but if you are going
} take and elect these political bandits,
Olish men, who have no education, If
ou are going to elect such men to
ortgago your property, ifyou are 60 ,
x to elect such party, then good bye s
} the government of Wilmington. The ,
'eaker then closed by advising them :
avoid all Independent tickets, but ,
Ike an honest man from either party,
I'd the speaker said that when they ,
d that in Philadelphia, /. 9. took q
'od Republican to defeat bad Demo-
at and vice versa we were successful
i'd the speaker retired amid applause,
ying Persevere persevere !.
Mr.. M. j. Ryan, young democrat,
AZ the next speaker introduced and
made the hall ring with his glowingI
oquence, that surprised the most san.
line expectations of the audiencel
ON one SO young. In addressing the
ldience the speaker said, it is true I
n democrat and young one, but
10 who has been called upon to lend
8 feeble voice in the cause Of reform,
G then traced the progress of munich
j affairs in Phila ielphia since the
tgrowth of the war, twenty years agol
It'll five years back when the reform
ovement was first inaugurated. He
en- spoke in glowing terms of the
inciples of the reform movement.
ying that party tiles should not bind
Q people in municipal affairs, but
ould Judge man by his honesty
i'd Canahilitv. He than anOka NJ thai