Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-16
John Pope Hodnett.s Meeting.

John Pope HOdnett's Meeting.
THE CIVIL SERVICE Law DENOUNCED BY 1.-THE
PEoPLE"-A COMMITTEE TO WAIT UPON THE
PRESIDENT.
A STAR reporter followed sound up a high
flight Of stairs last night and found himself in
the presence OF 1.-The people" who had assem-
bled TO dehounce the civil service reform law
as q humbug. The meeting was called "by
order OF the executive committee of the United
Labor League of America" to meet at 14O6
Pennsylvania avenue. Twelve colored men
sat in dull silence with the backs of their chairs
against the wall. while John Pope Hodnett ad-
dressed the meeting, denouncing the civil SER
vice reform law with spirited eloquence. Be-
sides this there were two or three newspaper
men, who had not come to take any part in the
meeting. Mr.. Hodnett told of the wrongs done
the laborfng men and farmers by the law re-
curing examinations for public service He
said that the ofice-holding classes were superior
to the President; that they formed an aris-
built up by. spending money to secure
the passage Of the civil service law. and that
their object was to break up the institutions of
on the American throne. Then he squatted in
an awful attitude of tyranny to show how he
how the workingmen had conquered the world:
how they had helped Napoleon First to break
all the crowns In Europe, and called upon them
dent, Grover Cleveland" TO crush out the many
headed serpent of civil service law. AS he
spoke he grew in enthusiasm ana addressed his
dozen nodding auditors as If they were an
army. Towards the conclusion OF his address
he called for the reading of the resolutions
which had been adopted a little earlier in the
proceedings. as two men had entered the room
since their adoption. Thereupon the secretary
read the resolutions. which declared that "true
reform OF the civil service is to remove the in
competent and dishonest men" whose corrupt
ing practices had rendered the law necessary.
as mooog 8 Eyaoad of Then rs ff It bad
nOunced the law and its founders; in
dorsed the present administration and declared
never had an opportunity to steal from the gov
so doing, appeal to the President and the cabi.
net to set aside the law that excludes them
from the public Offices" The speaker then
announced that this set of resolutions had
assembly-he began-then, stopped, and, look
ing at his twelve colored supporters, added,
parenthetically, 'there are not SO many here
lob hall, where am sure there are q thousand
men. So these resolutions are the unanimous
oocs 81 the t5 people NST some
After painful silence of . few moments An
old colored man got up and said: 81 moves you,
M mis-. Ghssrman, that dis meenn' DO adjourn
Two other colored men got up and seconded
oson and the Before
President: John Mclaughlin, George Elliott,
meeting. Peter " iiiams and Frederick Frazier:
A nesting was also held at Shiloh Hall, on L
street, between 18th and 18th streets, which
was largely attended by cOlOred people, and at
which similar resolutions to those mentioned
above were passed.
THE COMMITTEE WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT.
D. g. Townsend. John Mclaughlin and Peter
Williams, committee appointed by the labor
league, waited upon the President to-day and
presented him with Q copy Of the resolutions
passed at the meeting last evening, antagonis-
tic e. civil service rufes. MI. Townsend in pre-
&v~Er>
q tneir character. The President in reply told
ING committee that he was always glad TO hear
nom the people, and that the resolutions should
Pc feaQ 6y him this afternoon. The committee
were Wen pleased with their reception.