St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-12
STILL MYSTERIOUS,
The Peoples Reform Club
Boldly Declares Its Prin-
ciples.
1t Holds "an Enthusiastic
Meeting in the Rochester
Block,
And Declares That the Pres
ent Administration Is
Corrupt.
The Promoters Of the Scheme
Don't Want Their Names
Mentioned.

n hiOCIius Vi UuS IioW pOliticdl pHrty,
which is known as the Peoples Reform
club, to the number of thirteen, met in
Aid. John E. Vandewaker's law office
in the Rochester block last night, and
not only roasted the present city gov
ernment from soda to hook, but adopted
a declaration of principles and arranged
for a ''mass meeting" of citizens
or some time in the near
future when every voter in the city will
be requested to subscribe to the princi-
pies as laid down by the reformerS. AL
though the meeting was held in Aid,
Vandewaker's Office, the eloquent Van
wasn't present. LII fact it is admitted
that he didn't know anything about the
meeting or he would have been there
and driven the men who were making
his gas bill assume plethora proper
tons out into the street with base ball
bat.
The meeting was presided over by
Sam T. johnson, who has received more
or less notoriety as the man who wrote
the ''anti-adminiStration" letters IN the
Free Lance, and furnished Editor
Maben with the alleged af6davlts, the
publication of which resulted in his
conviction for libel. Mr.. Johnson, how
ever, is reformer with big r, and
while he admitted that he
presided "a chairman of the
Joint committee" he positively
refused to give the names of any others
who were present at the meeting, but
he made many mysterious illusions to
1.-THE executive committee of prominent
citizens" who were alleged to have
charge of the movement, but when
asked for the name of any member of
the committee he said he wasn't allowed
to divulge it. The platform adopted by
the meeting was as follows:
Whereas, 1t often occurs that per-
sons in efficient positions lose sight of
the fact that they are servants of the
public, that the trusts received from the
people are public trusts and not their
own personally. and feeling thus, they
fail to fulfill their duties in the line that
is most conducive to the public welfare;
and, whereas. it Is our belief that the
municipal affairs of the city of Mime
apolis are conducted in manner that is
not according to the wishes of a large
body of our citizens nor for their best
interests and in the most economical
manner; and whereas, we believe the
laws, if properly enforced, are sufficient
for the suppression of much of the de-
bauchery and crime prevailing in our
midst; and whereas, there seems to be
sufficient evidence to prove that the
present administration, like many have
preceded it, lacks disposition and desire
for the execution of the laws as they
stand; and whereas, retrenchment and
reform has been for many years the bat
tie cry with no apparent result; be it
therefore
Resolved, That we declare ourselves
in favor of large and substantial re-
ductiOn in salaries of municipal and
county officers and retrenchmen in all
possible ways commensurate with the
necessities of our school, street, fire,
police and park systems, and because
of the recent developments regarding
the enormous increase from the fees of
the officers of our city and county, and
the efforts made among our So
called rulers to perpetuate the same;
that we declare ourselves unutter-
ably in favor of men, who being
competent to fill the offices shall declare
themselves in favor of all fees going
into the treasury, and receiving fixed
salaries according to the duties and re-
SponsibilitieS of the Office. Therefore,
we call upon all good citizens, without
respect to nationality, political party
affiliations, church relations, or any
other dividing lines. to rally to the
standard that is raised in favor of puTi-
fed and economical city government.
The present condition of affairs is
largely due to the Indifference of the
people on vital questions that come be-
fore them, and we call upon all well
meaning men of our municipality to
use their best efforts against party cor
ruption of all kinds and in favor of the
strict enforcement of existing laws.
This may be accomplished in one of two
wa ys-either by supporting the existing
parties, provided they will put upon
their tickets for election the names of
the men pledged in the strongest man.
ner to the support of the principles here
announced, Or else for this movement
to put into the field an independent
ticket composed of men whom we know
by experience have back bone enough
to stand for unquestiOned support and
enforcement of the laws as they read,
and for just and economical administra-
ton for the good of society at large and
not merely for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and
financial welfare Of few office hold
erS.
To accomplish our object we want
men who have the courage of their con-
vlctlons. We know in advance what to
expect, the air will be full of mud flying
from all who fatten on the power and
resources of the barnacles. We want
men who will stand shoulder to
shoulder, not thinking of self, but
pushing brayely on to the purifying of
local politics and the enforcement of the
laws
The next move of the club will be to
call public meeting for the purpose of
Tatifying the platform.