Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-01
A SIDE SHOW.
The Citizens Reform Meeting
Ends Its LabOrS.
THE PLEDGE THAT WAS TAKEN
The Republican Ticket Endorsed
By the Anti-Liberal Move
ment.

The Republican sideshow, which has
been for some time trying to pass itsel
off as an independent affair, under the
high sounding title of "Citizen's Reform
Movement" opened its doors to the pub.
lie last night, by the nomination of q
ticket for the coming municipal election.
1t will be remembered that this move.
ment started out with the professed in.
tention of nominating a non -partizan
ticket. A manifesto, published a few
days ago, contains the following which
will now be contemplated with a good
deal Of amusement.
To the carrying out of these ends THAT
is the reforming of everythipgl it has re
solved:
First To put into the field at the coming
municipal election to represent this citizens
movement.
Second But f.either of the existing parties
will nominate men who will stand upon the
basis represented by this movement. and who
will agree to the appended declaration, it pre-
fers to place such nominees upon its own
ticket, instead Of making rival nominations q;
Third To enable it to do this, party tickets
will have to be in the field five days before the
date of election, as its own ticket must be be-
fore the public, whose scrutiny it seeks, al
least that long before the date of votil 6.
DECLARATION.
agree, if elected, to use every lawful means
within my power to in every possible way re-
saloon, the gambling house, the opium den end
the brothel. and in every way to further the
ends of good, clean, efficient government.
Since the nominations the men who
constituted the Executive Committee oil
the movement were seen trotting about
the streets like so many old ladies at a
church tea, hunting up the candidates
and asking what they were going to dc
about the "pledge." The Democrats
uniformly returned the same answer
The platform of the party was good
enough for them. What the Republicans
said was to be made known later, and it
came at the "mass'' meeting last night
in the shape of the nomination of almost
the whole Republican ticket as "Citi-
zens' Reform" ticket.
The meeting was called for half.past 7
o'clock, but it was before DR.. Widney
stepped to the front of the stage and
called it to order. About five hundred
people, men, women and children, were
present, and before the meeting opened
they signified their impatience from time
to time by vigorous stamping of feet.
DIR. Fay opened the meeting with
prayer, asking thatth Lord should bless
the great work which they were about tc
undertake in behalf of morality, intelli.
gence and religion.
ut is not necessary" said DR.. Widney,
when the prayer ended, "to announce
the object of this meeting tonight. 1t is
especially aimed at four great evils: The
saloon evil, tie great corrupting element
in our politics. Another evil is the
gambling house; another the opium den
and the last the house of prostitution.
This movement was taken without
any consideration of the various party
lines. We have preferred not to organ
ize new party. We have 10 aspira-
tions in the way of office. We simply
try to find men to fill these offices who
will battle with evil. We asked the po-
litical parties to stay out OF the field.
They refused. Then we said if you will
accept declaration which We will draw
up we will not put up separate ticket.
Such declaration was drawn up and
with it We went to the parties. The ticke t
which we will offer you tonight will be
made up of members Of both tickets. In
some cases we offer no name, but have
simply blank as both are good men. Ia
some cases we could not put the name
of either nominee on our ticket and we
have substituted new one.
Rev. w. B. Stradley was then intro.
duced and said: "The question which
comes before us now in this contest is OF
more importance to each one of us than
the question of who shall become Presi-
dent of the United States. There is not
quite as much enthusiasm shown here
to might as | should like to see, nor such
numbers. The saloon-keepers interfere
with the peace and dignity and good
order of the community. From both the
tickets we should select good Council
men. We can see to it that they are
elected"
w. E. Spencer said that he was very
heartily in sympathy with the aims Of
the meeting. "There ought to be some.
thing done to tone up the moral senti-
ment of the community. AS good men
we need to lay aside our preferences and
our case and do something to improve
the morals of this community. We must
be ON our guard. l am Republican bu,
l will support this movement"
DR.. Cantine said: "We are here to
learn what the Executive Committee has
done and to stand by the nominees oi
this organization. We are making a
great deal of effort to have good head
to our ticket. / want to say that 1 am
a Republican, l have been one from
away back. and shall vote that ticket
as long as can, but shall not vote fol
corruption in any FORM"
DR.. Fay said; "The chief battle will
be next Monday, and it may be supposed
that those Tho are staying away tonight
are preparing for the battle. 1 am
amazed that it is necessary to make this
issue, that there can be two sides to this
question. Is there a man who will dare
say that the saloon is good institution ?
Why is it necessary to call this meeting
here tonight? Because many men, other.
wise good, entertain hostile ideas toward
this movement for political reasons.
It has been said that we are 100 exacting
that we ought to be contented with the
good reputation of a candidate. But VIC
want it in black and white. Applause.
We want to have men in our employ wht
will do what we want done. Now W.
mean business. We are going on will
this work. If we fail this ear, we will
be none the less ready for work next
| We want to make this city that W.
need not blush for. Now we can't carry
on this campaign without money. w,
need it for legitimate expenses. W.
| mr1at raise enough here to- niOht fO carry