The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-09
AT BELL STREET CHAPEL
An Evening Spent in the Discussion
of Good Government Clubs.

There were about so persons in the
Bell Street Chapel last evening. attracted
by the announcement that "Good Gov
eminent Clubs" would be discussed un-
der the auspices of the Municipal Govern
ment Section Of the Union for Practical
Progress. 1t was an exceedingly interest
ngly meeting, marked by almost unani-
nifty of opinion that good government
clubs, as in vogue In New York City and
elsewhere, are most desirable. The prin-
cipal speaker was Joseph A. Miller OF
the executive committee of the National
Municipal League, who told in a general
IA functions OF these clubs, and also
suggested some things in our city man
agement which might BIO improved by
them, besides Incorporating in his re-
marks a portion of al address setting
forth the aims n work of tine Nntionat
Municipal League. His address was sar-
castle in places and, withal, very well
received.
Chairman wilson OF the section presid-
ed and announced that mex Friday even
ing, the place to be announced, Hon.
Warfield Story of Boston will address the
section on municipal Reform i'm Boston,
what II has lone and what 1t Is proposed
to do.n
Secretary A. j.. Williams OF the Union
for Practical Progress briefly described
the City Club OF New York and its auxil-
larry bodies. He told about its being
chartered In 1892, being organized by rep
resentative citizens, and said that while
many present might object to many
things they did, none could deny that
they have done excellent work. 1t is
stipulated that 10 one of the 20 executive
members of the club shall hold public
office during bis four years service, nor
during the succeeding year, this being
done TO prevent personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The club Is divided into five committees
TO deal with the important questions OF
Legislature, municipal government, cor
porations ana affiliated clubs, etc, and
there. are about forty auxiliary clubs in
the various wards and districts. Mr..
Williams also drew attention to the aid
given by the City Club mem bers to the
Lexow committee.
REV. w. III. Spencer followed with a
lively paper in which he told of the pur-
pose OF good government clubs in New
York and dwelt pon the necessity of
separating municipal from state and ma
tional affairs. He believes in appoint
ments for fitness and the continuance in
Office OF those who are worthy. The
social featues OF the New York clubs are
extremely excellent, he stated, some hav-
ing club houses, reading rooms, billiard
and pool tablcs and libraries. They are
doing an ex>@ lent politicai-educational
work and IL they did not win during the
recent election the fault is remediable.
III the city governments OF the United
States are, as has been said, the worst in
Christendom, II is because they are not
duly organized.
Americans are ready enough to fight
John Bull to defend the Monroe doctrine.
-hntaan-nct give twn hnnrs- TO attend a
caucus or go 10 vote on election day.
The reason IL the people nre oil absorbed
in the pursuit of wealth.
Theodore Roosevelt Is q splendid repre-
sentative OF 1.-THE partiots" we need. Mr..
Spencer also wants city fathers who will
see that we have gas that will illuminate.
Mr.. Miller here spoke in favor of the
law obtaining in Massachusetts, and
other states whereby a caucus is practi.
cally made an election and each voter
was 10 register, so he Gao not attend
the caucus of the opposing party and
vote there, too.
DIR. Luoius r. Gavin thought the thing
TO be arrived at is the quality OF public
men. IL the City Council is composed OF
strictly business men, and run on strictly
business principles, corporations could
come and deal with u in n business.like
manner. lie was not sure that the Massa-
chusetts plan was satisfactory and
favored proportional representation, say.
ing that IL one-tenth OF the citizens
would be solved.
Ex.Secretary Sherman OF the Union
saw three elements involved, principles,
methods and men. He thought too much
streso had been laid on the men, and
hoped much from dissemination OF ideas
and Improvement in methods.
Mr.. Louis KraDZ has been in America
40 years and il struck him that the
g business men had been In control rigt
along.'
Secretary Herbert ID. Blake Of the Sec
thought the paramount thing had
been that II was slomst impossible TO get
the citizens attention on these questions.
Mr.. sam II. Bullock stated that the
gentlemen nominated with him i'm the
FIRST Ward were working on the same
lines as the good government clubs OF