The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-19

citizens are identified he has sidetracked
himself and Is now simply the figurehead
for the absurd collection OF inconsequen-
tial citizenship that poses under the IL
tie of a Committee Of Fifty. No flowers.
Mr.. Lucian Sharpe, Jr., Is the secretary
of the conglomeration. Mr.. Sharpe Is
the son OF one OF The Journal stockbold-
ers who was formerly a large holder OF
Union Railroad stock and who, ever
since he sold out, has been kicking him
self and the enterprising men who have
invested their money TO give this town
the best trolley service in the United
States. Young Mr.. Sharpe, however,
doesn't bother himself about his fathers
grievances and informed our reporter
that ne accepted the position OF secre-
tary under protest, didn't know what was
expected of MIN, didn't give a continent
al. didn't know what the COMMITTEES was
on earth for anyway and didn't care.
Which indicates that the secretary Of the
Committee OF Fifty Is as honest and iu-
genuoas as he is bright and handsome.
John +. Lonsdale 10 a Democrat,
which explains sufficiently why he is anx-
city government.
4. j. Mccarthy is a Democrat. He is
so anxious to reform the city govern
ment that he Is running himself for Coun-
Gilman from the Sixth Ward.
Thomas McMurrough is a Democrat,
and OF course he would like TO bury the
present Republican city government.
Frederick Fielder is unknown to fame,
but grievances have been gnawing at his
vitalsSfor a long time and as told by him
self he demands reform in municipal af-
fairs for the following reasons:
1. Because there aren't lights enough
on Harris avenue.
2. Because contrary TO the city ordi-
nances steps have been built over the
railroad tracks at Shoefiy crossing.
3. Because his brother-in-law wasn't
elected ward clerk In his district.
4. Because Councilman Whitley ne
elected to get Mr.. Fielder himself a job
in the department.
Robert l.. Shawcross is in the same
ward, 9th, as Fielder, and is likewise quite
universally unknown. He IS against cor
ruption in eity affairs and as one OF the
Committee, of Fifty vociferously demands
reform because Councilman Sam Whitley
failed to get him a job as a motorman in
the trolley car service.
William r. Knight is simply Billy
knight. He is Undesirable His chosen
field Is the arena OF debate. His Republi-
can constituency in Ward z having mer-
cifully relieved the city government by
retiring Mr.. Knight 10 private life and
thereby leaving to him nothing but
universal space 10 talk at, the ~ex-Council-
man seeks a p~ouitice for. his grievances
viz ~ IAnN0 " aA' ~" VI
verbiage in the Committee Of Fifty.
Friends will kindly omit flowers.
William l. Whipple, an Olneyville bust
ness man, a Democrat and a good fellow
whom everybody likes, is n OF the
so-called Committee OF Fifty. How be
came to be there and what he is going to
do with ii may be best expressed in the
following interview had With him.
"Are you a memer Of the Committe OF
Fifty?"
81 am.u
"How came you to be a member"
81 don't know"
"When did you first know you were a
member?"
~ was out OF town on business md
when ] returned / found a notice stating
/ had been chosen as one of that commit
tee"
.'Have you met with them?"
81 nave"
"Have you any g~rieyanceG"
"Not a single one"
"You are a Democrat?'
81 am.n
Mr.. Wnipple has served as Councilman
from the Tenth Ward, elected on the
Democratic ticket, and as a member of
the Legislature, TO which position he was
elected as a Democrat. He has several
times failed OF an election on the Demo-
cratic ticket as Alderman from the Eighth
Ward, where he nov resides and where
he is now running as Councilman on q
fusion ticket.
- james A Williams from whose brain
was born the Committee OF Five, which
then begat the COMMITTEES of Fifty, with
The Journal officiating as midwife at both
interesting occasions. is probably the
only real "independent" in town, II not
on top of the earth. He is strictly
non-partisan. He is n man with
out a party-partly because he has di-
yorced himself from the only party he
ever belonged 10, the Prohibitionist, and
more because that party has repudiated
him. Unanimous as Mr.. Williams is for
himself, his influence in public affairs is
disproportionstely influential, when you
come to take into consideration the vot-
ing population OF the city OF Providence.
Pardon Me Stone is a Prohibitonist
Charles A. Phillips, Emanuel East
wood, JohnF. Huntsman and Edwin Bar
rows are supposed to DE Republicans.
They have never been prominently iden-
titled with public affairs and their only
warrant for a present participation therein
is the commission from the Committee of
Five actually representing four out OF
the 20, 900 voters OF the city OF Provi-
dence.
We omit reference 10 the Committee of
Five, actually four. who begat the Com
mittee OF Fifty, actually not over 20, al-
though this Committee OF Five have been
elected to ~"honorary membership in
the Committee OF Fifty and accordingly
representa- large percentage OF its infiu-
ence and strength.
VI.
This, then, is the COMMITTEE OF Fifty
as IL really is.
IL there are any other OF the 46 gentle
men "appointedp to membership In the
COMMITTEE OF Fifty who actually pro-
pose 10 assume the rights and privileges
OF such membership VIC shall be glad TO
look them up and give the. Committee
the. benefit OF such influence as their IN
dividual talents may contribute (, II.
Fearing, however. TO do injustice and
to subject to undcseryed ridicule any OF
our fellow citizens without due authority
and the declaration OF their intentions
we beg to close these observations at this
point.
IL Ia a tradition that the funniest thing
is a frog, but a superficial glance at the
composition OF the so-called Committee
OF Fifty. coupled with a careful consid-
GRAFTON OF the alleged objects OF its ex's-
tence, can but convince thst the really
funniest thing I'm the world Is the Com