The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-28
HE SPOKE OUT PLAINLY.
ONE CITIZEN WHO DIDN'T ATTEND
THE MEETING, AND WHY.
The City Ofncials Reprimanded for En-
couraging the Public to "Beat About
in the Clouds" Instead of Taking
Tangible Stand-The Cincinnati Plan.

An APPEAL reporter, calling at prom
inent legal gentlemans office, yesterday
afternoon, while the meeting at the Mer-
chants Exchange was in progress, was
surprised to find the occupant in.
Another surprise was experienced when
the legal gentleman, on the contrary from
inquiring OF thereporter after the meeting,
manifested little concern about it when
II was brought to his attention by the in
quiry: "Why are You not at the meeting
TO raise your voice for or against bonds
and street improvement, as your judgment
may dictator"
Without stopping hispromenade up and
down the office floor, or taking vacation
on his luncheon OF grapes, the lawyer
slowly said:
al can't sec what there is to be accom-
plshed at the meeting. In this whole
matter we have simply been fighting in
the clouds. Every man has an opinion OF
his own in the premises, all OF which is
commendable in its way, but the question
is, an opinion about what2 The faction
Clamoring for bonds are not agreed among
- themselves. One man may be willing for
of the details and amount comes up he
and his friendly neighbors may differ as
widely rs the polls. The trouble is just as
some one remarked in The APPEAL the
other day, there is too much OF this In
dian powwaw business in Memphis. That
is one OF the weaknesses OF our govern
ment, and mistaken by our own peo-
pie and those away from here for
representative government. The effect OF
throwing all important motions which
may come up into the Exchanges, or any
other citizens meeting, must be bad. Poo
pie abroad cannot understand or admire a
government that permits il, and Mr.. Had
den has suffered no little in the confidence
and respect Of the public Just because OF
his being willingly led into this shifting OF
responsibility more than once"
"What, then, in your opinion, should he
and his fellow officials have done TO keer
the question in its present shape out OF d
mass meetingP'
Gust what they are In office for, and what
the people have right to expect Of them
President MADDEN, Capt. Lee and Mr.
Petit should have come together, drew NJ
n clear, full statement OF what were the
cty's resources, what was necessary and
desirable to be done in the line OF i'm
IrONcnlenI, what blTeclh huoulu DC lNNtu
the number Of square yards. cost per yard
and in the aggregate, the materials io
each, Ia fact every detail connected will
the subject After this was drawn up
then let Il be published in the dali,
papers, 30 that people would have som,
limits within which 10 conline their dis
cussion, some definite subject 10 discuss
with all the necessary information bcior
them. So far as any practical results ar
concerned, what will the rambling contro
versy--carricd on Ia the main by gentle
men who know nothing more about
than that they have an idea on paving ant
----rrc for or against bonds-avuil? Thes
gentlemen in private life are not suppose
90 know very much about inside matter
Of the government, while the Fire an
Police Commissioners aud Board OF Publ
Works are No, sir; this whole affair
ridiculously premature. You gcnileme
OF the press should have discouraged
taking any definite shape until the official
had given out something 10 discuss an
act upon. Let us get rid Of the Indian pow
WOW feature OF our municipal government
II the gentlemen now holding Office has
not the courage and judgment TO tab
hold OF great questions OF government an
provide material iOr public discussion,
the same time retaining a strong gri
upon the authority vested In them I
their constituency, then | say let ihcl
slide out Tor those good men and true WI
bavo -