St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-22
The EAGLE SCREAMS.
The Committee Of Fifty-Five
Issues a Triumphant
Declaration.
a Characteristic Document
From the Men Who Did
1t All.
The Gang Is Cleaned Out and
the Millennium Will
Dawn.
What May Be Expected From
the RefcPmerS Now in
Power.


suited from the meeting of independ-
entS in April last, has issued formal
address TO the people of st. Paul on
the results of the municipal election.
The document was given birth at
meeting held on Friday evening, and is
reproduced without comment:
Let the Eagle Scream.
To the People Of ST. Paul: The Citizens
committee of ffty-fve extends most hearty
congratulations to all the people of this city
upon the happy termination of the most mo-
meutOuS political contest ever known IN the
history Of the municipality. By concerted
effort of good citizenship the people of St
Paul have rescued themselves from the dom
ination of q corrupt political clique, have in
Rugurated new era in the marvellous de-
velOpmeut Of this metropolis, and have set
an example OF patriotic independence, which
has drawn the attention and inspired the en-
thusiaSm of lovers OF freedom throughout
the entire republic.
Now that sufficient time has elapsed since
the election to admit of q diSpaSsonate re-
view of the causes of the revolution and
calm statement of its significance, the mem
bers of this committee desire to ask the con-
sideration by their fellow citizens of few
pertinent facts.
During long period of years the money of
the people has been eXtravagantly ana dis
honestly expended by many of the city
boards The valuation of real estate for the
purpose of taxation has been so near its
rash value. and the tax levy on this valua-
lion so high, that the taxes necessary to meet
current expenses and pay interest on
bonds have become greater burden
In ST. Paul than in any other city IN
Minnesota. Assessments for improvements,
unnecessary at lifetime of making them, and
anticipating by several years the public de-
mand, have swelled the sum of other taxes
ill the burden has become too grievous to be
borne. Ali this has been done under series
Of administrations nomlnally Democratic.
but really controlled only by principles of
Rlfsh gain.
Republicans No Better.
Turning now to the other great political
organization. the record of those who have
assumed to control the Republican party for
many years past presents very little TO COM
mend 1t to the better element OF that party,
who desire clean and honest city govern
ment. That party bias been often defeated at
The polls, because it has for the most
part nominated for Office men who had
not the confidence of a majority of
The voters. and whose defeat was justly de-
Ferved. With a few notable and honorable
exceptions those of that party who have
been elected to office in the interest of re-
form have proved recreant to their duties
and have gone over to the party in power,
aiding them in their eXtravagant and cor
rupt schemes.
Closely related to this Official extravaganza
and dishonesty, and even more dangerous to
the peace and prosperity of the city. another
class of abuses has grown to great proper
tons Partly from their own personal pref
erences. and partly from the base necessities
of their political schemes, the ruling classes
have formed a practical alliance with almost
every form of vice against which civilized So
cieiy is compelled to guard. Enjoying not
only protection from the penalties of the
law, but in some cases the patronage of pub
lie officials, the evils of gambling, immoral
ity and Sunday lawlessness have grown, to
the detriment of property and legitimate
business, and, still worse, 10 the serious
Damage of Public Morals.
Gambling houses and saloons in which
public officials are popularity believed to have
an interest. have been and are conducted i'll
open violation of law. So far as the business
of liquor selling is concerned, it is no eXag-
geration to say that, apart from the payment
of license fees, it Is carried on as though the
law prescribed no limitations whatever.
Liquors are sold openly at all hours of the
day and night and on Sunday. They are
freely sold TO intoxicated persons and to
children scarcely out of their mothers arms.
Saloons are allowed to run for months with
out license. and in sections of the city where
ali liquor selling IS prohibited by the law.
The condition of things thus briefly sum-
married led TO the organization OF the Cltl-
Zens' party. which was composed OF indie
pendent citizens of all the political parties,
and which cast at least 5000 votes on May 3
Tor MayOr-elect right Win The exception
of the Pioneer Press and the st. Paul Dis
patch, the Republican papers generally
throughout Minnesota claim the late election
as a distinctive Republican victory. Moth
ing can be further from the facts. The citi-
zens' committee made its nominations six
days before the meeting of the Republican
convention. The delegates TO the Repub-
Iiean convention were wise enough to for
see that their party could have no
hope of electng ticket which
did not include nearly all the
nominees Of the Citizens ticket; and for the
first time in many years they cut loose from
old party customs, and with more than their
usual sagacity selected as the candidates Of
their party the mayor and nearly all the NOM
inees upon the Citizens ticket which en-
braced Democrats Republicans labor men
and prOhibitiOniSts. For this ticket as a
whole the citizens vote, numbering not less
than 1900 was cast OF this vote il is safe to
say that One-half were the votes of Democrats
who two years ago voted for Robert A. Smith.
and who assured the Citizens committee of
fifty-fve that they would not support a Re
publican ticket but would vote an indepen-
dent citizens ticket, which they did. Some
of the most efficient service Of the campaign
was rendered by these