The Washington times., 1894-12-12
CHAMPIONS OF SUFFRAGE
Mass Meeting of Citizens Who De-
mand the Right to Vote.
HELD UNDER LABOR'S AUSPICES
Master Workman Simmons, of District As
sembly, K. of L., Presided and Made a
Vigorous speech-Dr. Reyburn sketched
the Various Forms of District Government.

mass-meeting of the citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia who favor local suffrage
was held last night at Hayden Hall under the
auspices OF the Federation of Labor and Dis
trict Assembly, No. sc, K. of L.
In the absence OF President Spohn, who was
detained by sickness in his family, the con-
duct of the meeting devolved upon Master
Workman W. H. z. Simmons, of the District
Assembly. The attendance was not large. 1t
had been expected that Congressman Nc
Guire, of California, and Wellington, of Mary
land, would address the meeting. Mr.. Sim
mons, however, read a letter from Mr.. Nc
Guire TO DR. Reyburn, stating that he could
not attend until 8 o'clock. No information
was given 10 the meeting explaining the at-
sence OF Mr.. Wellington.
In opening the meeting Chairman Simmons
noted the fact that while there four or five
thousand people who had signed the suffrage
petitions. there were but comparatively few
people at the meeting. He then introduced
Dr. Reyburn as one of the war horses OF the
District in the suffrage agitation.
DIR. Reyburn spoke for about n alfhour, in
which time he gave an int, resting sketch OF
the different forms OF government of the Dis
trict up TO the present. H. then recited the
reasons which. in his opinion, demanded
change, his remarks being very largely in sub
stance as heretofore reported in The TIMEs.
After DIR. Reyburn, there were several
speakers VINO made five minute speeches
each.
Mr.. Orlando Montz said that in due time
the newspapers now opposing the movement
would iall into line. In giving his reason for
a change he said that = he wanted Commis
sIoners who would not advertise for pointers
at - a day or less
Mr.. Charles Wells spoke for home rule, but
thought that those now favoring suffrage
here should fix upon the form OF government
wanted
Mr.. l. NJ. Smith was next heard. He op-
posed the discussion OF the form of govern
ment at this time. He then mentioned some
of the instances in which he said the public
money was expended unequally or to the
future benefit and gave other reasons for
change of government. Mr.. Smith went over
pretty much the same ground he covered in
previous speeches.
Mr.. Gustave Augustin made the next speech.
He was il favor OF woman suffrage as well as
man suffrage. He produced Il good deal of
enthusiasm by waving the national flag and
asking the meeting what that flag meant if
not to vote.
Mr.. George o. Cook addressed himself to
the need of reform in the license and tax
laws. He wanted the corporations to be
made to pay their taxes just as other citizens
do.
The chairman was called upon and spoke
of the resolution passed at New Orleans ask
ing the delegates to request members of Con-
gress to favor the proposition of free suffrage
for this District. He thought the idea would
be indorsed also at Denver. He was glad
that the West End was moving In cooperation
with the K. OF l.. There was plenty to talk
about; in fact, it would take all night to tell
of all tho ills of the District. Applause
The people here did what they could for
the rest of the Union, but the Union did not
want to help US. Congressman want indors-
ments from the District Assembly, but thev
don't want 10 do anything for the people
here. If we had suffrage here we wouldn't
have a pesthouse under the caves of a school
house. Applause The matter Of suffrage
had been placed in the hands of a committee
of the K. of L. at New Orleans, and it
was indorsed. This is not what you want;
you want an amendment to the Constitu-
ton" He corrected this by telling the COM
mittee that we had no elections, and inform
ing them that We even had a recorder OF
deeds from the State of Kansas. The indors-
ment was changed.
What we want. he said, is suffrage. because
we are intelligent people, because it is right,
because we are Taxpayers and the govern
ment was founded on the principle that taxa
tion without representation is impossible.
People who pay rents pay taxes. He favored
organization by districts. There were about
5000 who signed the petitions, and yet the
hall was not full tonight. There is. however.
now a committee at work who will be soon at
the doors OF Congress.
Mr.. NJ. NJ. Holland favored suffrage. even
with an educational or property qualification.
He said that judge who would send poor
woman with a young child TO the farm be-
cause she was too poor to comply with a GER
tain law as was done here in Washington
would not be on the bench long any place
else. He also spoke about the proposed hos
pital and said that if it were built where the
people didn't want it, it would be pulled
down. [Applause.l
Mr.. Mcclure did not appear at the meeting,
and about 10 o'clock it adjourned.