Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-28
SAUNDERS HALL Was PACKED
Rousing Citizens League Meeting in the
Eighth Ward.
PEOPLE UNITED FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT
Addresses of Judge Donnc and Mr.
richardson warmly AppInuded
and One Names Are
Ode to the Roll.

pANu " NlNNA VI NHt 'Nh ~
Saunders hall at Twenty-fourth and Cunning
streets for the purpose Of forming a club
advocating the principles of the Citizens re-
form movement. As many chairs as could
possibly be contained within the four walls
were occupied and about them hung a fringe
of listeners. The audience was composed of
men who paid earnest attention to the speak
ers and judging from the frequent and re-
sounding applause that interrupted the
speeches they were thoroughly in sympathy
with the cause that summoned them there.
A few minutes after s o'clock the meeting
was called to order by Il. w. Simeral, who
was elected temporary chairman, James Dot-
nelley being beside him in the capacity of
temporary secretary. Mr.. Simeral described
in brief the principles and the purposes of the
Citizens movement. He said that the move
ment was simply a response to the out
spoken opinion Of citizens that there was an
imperative necessity of rising and stamping
out the corrupt and incompetent men
who have misru1ed the city. The question of
politics was made entirely secondary in the
league, whose only criterion for candidates
was their honesty without regard to their
religion or politics. The chairman then in
troduced II. w, Richardson, who made a
ringing address.
Mr.. Richardson began with the remark that
the subject matter of his address was a mat
ter Of vital interest to every citizen who
felt the responsibility that his citizenship put
upon him. During the past three years the
citizens of Omaha had passed through an
experience which bid them pause and con-
slider whether they had done their full duty
as citizens. At the present time especially
did this consideration come up, and the
question was squarely put whether in the
present campaign they were ready to re-
spond to the call of duty, which as citizens
they were bound to respond to.
This Citizens reform movement" con-
tinued Mr.. Richardson, lis a movement to
get down to the principles of municipal gov
eminent and from them to build the super
structure Of municipal government. The
tests of office in the past, which have called
men to Office chiefly on account of their politi-
cal pull, or which have selected men by ask
ing whether they were democrats or repub-
licans, and at the present time by asking
whether they were Catholics or Protestants,
have been inadequate. We do not apply such
tests in business. We ask for a mans ref
e%rences, his experience, how equipped for
work, and pay him in accordance and expect
results in accordance. When we turn to
public affairs, in the proper management of
which every man, woman and child of the
city is interested, we apparently have not
gone on this principle. We have not looked
for the best men, men of strict fidelity and
honesty. Until we demand that the city
shall be run on strict business principles
will we be deprived of it, and therefore an
appeal is made to you through the reform
movement to apply the same method to public
affairs that you apply to your private ones"
FOLLOWING OTHER CITIES.
The speaker said that the idea was not a
new one, but that the citizens Of many of
the larger cities of the United States, New
York, Brooklyn, Baltimore and Chicago, mad
arisen for reform and the same was the case
in the cities of the old world. They obtained
almost everything that they had demanded
and it was time for Omaha to follow in their
footsteps. Citizens should no longer go hur-
raining up and down the streets for some
ward politician, forgetting themselves and
their interests. The time was opportune to
disregard the party whip and lay aside party
prejudice.
"a sad commentary on the city's condi-
tion," continued the speaker, "is that a
large class of citizens are ostraciZed and
denied the rights of citizenship in the face
of the constitution written in the blood of
our countrymen. The constitution declares that
all men are born free and equal. This means
that there shall be no religious test for Of
fee. The constitution of Nebraska goes still
farther and declares that no man shall be
denied the right of worshipping according
to the dictates of his own conscience. Shall
we by our silence countenance a secret or
ganization directly opposed to these prin-
ciples, the members of which meet at mid
night in black and yellow robes and con-
coct SANDER against some of the best of
our citizens and deny them their blood
bought rights? By a solemn oath they swear
vigilant and merciless war upon all Cath
OllCS ana all 1rOleStdutS VINO III any way al
fliate with them, regarding not their hon
esty nor what they have done for the city.
While life and breath lasted l would decry
such a thing"
Some of the greatest men Of the republican
party, Mr.. Richardson said, were opposed to
the principle upon which A. p. Aism is
founded. Stephen b. Elkins, always a strong
republican, a member Of the Christian church,
had entertained Cardinal Gibbons and per-
mitted his daughter to marry a Catholic and
become a believer in the same faith. The
mother of James G. Blaine was a Catholic.
Abraham Lincoln could not become a believer
in knownothingism, which was an equivalent
Of A.. p. Aism, because then he could not
believe that all men were equal, but that all
men except negroes, Catholics and aliens were
equal, and if that should come to pass he
said that he preferred to go to some country
which made no ~pretense to liberty, to Russia,
a despotism pure and simple.
Since the signing of the constitution
beacon lights of liberty have been lighted
on every coast and men from every cline
have been invited to this country to worship
at any shrine they chose. Let me ask that
on the rising tide of prosperity Omaha be
not behind. During the great week that has
passed no one asked concerning any one who
helped the fair whether he was a Catholic
or a Protestant. Without renrrd to re.
ligion, every one helped and Omaha showed
what she could do by united effort. If Cath.
olics are wrong, hotheaded, bigoted, will II
do to attack them under the dark, secret
cover OF night? The atmosphere of this
country is on the hilltops, is the broad light
of day and men should come out squarely II
it with their complaints. II they do other.
wise they should not sit down like stupit
asses, but rise up with our remonstrance
Any man that allows it is as bad as the
members of the A. p. A. who in their darl
cells SANDER their fellow citizens"
After the applause that Mr.. Richardson
had aroused by his closing remarks had sub.
sided, Chairman Simeral introduced Judge
George w. Doane as the next speaker,
FIGHTING THE CONSTITUTION.
at has been some time" began Judge
Doane, "since l have appeared on a platform
pending an election. / do 1t now because
wish to denounce the most fragrant abuse:
which have appeared in our government. A
p. A.ism has been compared to knownothing
ism, but the two are not much alike. The
latter was bad enough, but the other is in,
fnitely worse, Knownothingism made a dis
~tinction between native and foreign born citi,
zens. While that was unpatriotic, II was not
unconstitutional, but the A. p. A. is in the
very teeth of the constitution OF the United
States and of Nebraska, and is against every
feature of our past and every hope Of ouI
future. The constitution says that there shall
be no religious tests for office. That organi,
cation makes that very test, and its members
make oath that they will make that test and
enforce II. If elected they are required under
oath to support the constitution. 1t can vel
be asked which oath they will obey, for, In
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