The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-14
k.SSII5EEwS
Improvement Societies and Political
Clubs.

SluOo.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS;
SIR-In your editorial columns OF Oct.ll
you speak as follows OF improvement
societies in general, criticising their pur-
poses, etc., and close with these words:
"They (the mem bers) assemble to dis
cuss trees and such primitive things, ana
remain TO listen TO harangues on corpo-
ratioEs. They gather TO consider how
many new electric lights are wanted Ia
the district, and pause sghast at the deliy-
cry of q stump speech on things poiiticai,
They are evidently a delusion and a
snare, so far as improvement goes, but
they are blooming garden spots OF poli-
tics, and We warn all persons VINO nope
for q political future TO join some I'M
provement society, and get chance at ne
rostrum, or start an improvement society
Of their own, that shall speak out boldly
against the existing improvement society
trust
We take 1t that all these district i'm
povement societies look 10 the famous
Society for the Consideration OF Other
Folks Troubles as the central organiza-
tion."
AS member OF several improvement
societies during the last 20 years In
Rhode Island and Massachusetts,, 1 wish
to enter my protest against your sweeping
criticism. and will state that, so Tar as
my experience and knowledge extend,
used in any practical or imaginary man
ner as polictical clubs, but on me other
hand, have been devoted 20 the praise
worthy purpose for which they have been
constituted. Speaking OF the Beacon HIN
Improvement Society, OF which am
mem ber and an officer, wish, in Justice,
to say that at the last meeting on Mon
day evening l took occasion 10 state In
the presence of fully 20 members, that
this association was instituted for the
local improvement and development OF the
sewers, streets, electric transportation
and lighting, parks and public grounds,
schools, etc., etc, in this section OF the
city, but il was not IN the field as poll
,ical agent either to nominate or discuss
men for official positions. ! stated also
that 1t seemed TO me proper junction OF
the association TO discuss measures and
principles in municipal matters. III
should never be a substitute for the eau
Gus, but rather an educator toward II.
| III you will consult the notes OF your re-
porter, you will find that, as presiding
officer, endeavored to place the associa-
tion squarely on non-politicai platform,
| and the approval of the meeting was
| man ifest at the close of my remarks.
| At the meeting OF the Blackstone I'M
| provement Association, to which our as
| sociation was invited, i was called on to
speak for the Beacon Hill Society, and.
| in the course OF my remarks, said sub
ethutldlly the sarne tnluS IN EcSdu "
the true objects of such associations,
emphasizing the points that measures
and principles OF municipal reform should
| be in the main the work OF such associa-
tions and then devoted the main portion
of my brief speech TO the value and
methods OF the Australian system OF
conducting caucuses. stated that one OF
| the great evils OF our caucus system is
the packing of caucuses by ward heelers
| and offensive partisan workers and that
| the caucus would not be made respecta-
ble till we were rid of this sort of political
| vermin.
hope, Mr.. Editor, you can and vii!
| endorse my position in this matter and
in future in your criticism OF the method
OF improvement societies please exempt
the Beacon Hill Association from partici
patton, in any offensive sense, in ward ol
city politics Inside the association W.
shall work hard for the beat measures
outside we shall work, with all our might
for the best and cleanest men.
THOMAS w. BICKNELL,
Pres. Il. III. !. A.
Beacon Hill, Providence.