New-York tribune., 1890-06-17
PREPARING FOR THE FRA Y.
THE CITIZENS, MOVEMENT STARTED.
AN EARNEST EFFORT TO DRIVE CORRUPTION
FROM LOCAL poG.MICs-OPINIoNs RE
GAED1NG ITS IMPORTANCE.


Whatever else may be said of the citizens move
mont which was formally announced yesterday, uns
NAV with truth be said-that up to the present uie
AZ least IL is absolutely devoid Of politics. Nethef
Republican nor Democratic leaders have had any ,is
! to do with its inception. None OF them even "ere
consulted about il, and, while some OF tie sihaie n'
nre,end to have known something about 1t before
hand az n matter Of fact they were all taken py
sururise by its announcement, and most Oh tnchi
frankly said So II ever there was genuine ehor'
for municipal reform non partisan lines IL Is o'i'
one that the Rev. DR.. Newton has inspired
The Doctor is really the author OF it. AS Is gen
orally known, he has been preaching Vi ldtc 9oine
strong sermons on political corruption. lhese as
courses have made a deep impression upon great
many Of those who heard and read them 30 strongly
did they impress some Of Dr. Ne"tons pcople 'lat
y whitney and other members Of All Souls Church
hogan TO ask the pastor II 1t was not possible TO 40
something practcal toward rcmedyns this great evil
~ the dav The Doctor. after carcfdl consideration,
tbou rht Il was and forthwith started WORK among
his friends and acQuantances that has resulted IN call
for conference at the Windsor Hotel on the evening
of June "a This, briefly, is the whole story OF the
movement up to date. 1t is hardly necessary to say
a when the politicians learned these facts yesterday,
and onnd out that for at least no shrewd wire
miller had been work under the guse OF respec'aoc
ctizcnshp they were for the most part disposed 10
dismiss the whole matter as something of al
enhen,eral nature which would be forgotten before
tho local campaign really opened. There were FEW
careful Observers however, who dissented rom tus
view and while they willing to admit That the
mocement was stlll nothing but great po'sointy'
they we're equally emphatic In declaring thal lIs
snontanety the total absence Of politics and careful
prearra ngement might after all prove its 5avauoh
and lead 70 the greatest success Here for eAahPe'
is Ale way in which Of the most thoughtful clti-
zens and one Of the most experienced political ieah-
ers discussed the subject:
~wben first read about the undertaking this
morning. | throw down the paper with hngh al
whot considered another bit of political folly 1t
scomed TO me ll-tlmed, premature, and doomed u"
,afurc. But the more have thought about this
matter today the more | am convinced that 1t may
no success, after all. It, origin Is certainly above
reproach. The In charge OF 1t are worthy III
every sense n cannot be said that Tanmany han
* manpulating them. neither does the County De
mocracy appear and certainly one can charge Mt.
Plat with having anything 10 do with II, since ue
most active Republican the committee Mr. "mt
ncv has heen always oppos,d 70 Mr. Plat. being one
possible predict What mag happen anu M M "1I r
capture the moyement but Il cefIy Sosr'S S,t va" a
genuine citizens movement can su,c'd III &c" -
Sork now A. soon a. the politicians come mo
control. il Is gone , ..
Woyor Giant declined To- discuss the movement
Commiss., ner Gyoy laughed at II. and 80 lh met
Of TahImany crowd. lac OoT"'y .S6gci,
leaders did not seem TO tllnk mu' d oi II, "'s' ~
ev senator Daly had a word OF commentator. Tn
senator Platt aid the whole altar w.s he"5 ~ " %
and while he did not care 70 discus INC 'upt't', t
inference was drw,. that he looked Ipon the uncr
taking as hasty and begun without Due cor i9lueltoll
ono thing h. certain. the movement VII DC "a'.ne'
mos, carcfully by the politicians OF All phPttN' par
tcuary II il shows any gno Of proving 'nfses,, nsSo
Tho call for the conference was si2ned by FlShop
p,,,"r The Rev Father Duccy. TreGenck y. Tappen.
Je.se Sclignan. Gustav II. >chWab, J'hn 1Elln
A. II. whitney. Henry y. Rogers ana Lo"l' = """o'''