The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-19
By the Union for Practical
Progress.
Division Of Opinion Regarding Local
Politics and Government.
Spencer Thinks Initiatives Of the
Referendum Would BE Good.

The municipal government section of
the Union for Practical Progress met in
response TO q call from Secretary III. A.
Blake in one OF the Y. M. &. A. class
rooms last evening and informally and
formally discussed the province OF the
section as regards politics The principal
topic discussed was that OF good govern
lnent clubs and ii was decided that the
section might safely study them. even to
the extent of having good government
club movement in Providence spring out
of their deliberations. There was some
difference of opinion as 10 the soundness
OF the ruling of President Tomkins at
the meeting of the Union for Practical
Progress last Monday evening that the
organization . purpose was purely educa-
tional and should in no way SAVIOR OF pol
itics, but the majority of those present
seemed to think the municipal section at
liberty, and that il was its duty to thor
oughly sift everything which has to do
with the management OF our fair city.
President Wilson was absent last even
ing and Mr.. Robert Grieve was chosen
chairman. The secretary read the min
utes of the last meeting and announced
a slight deficit due for p ostal cards and II
was decided to wait until more of last
years members were present, or could be
seen before any action was taken toward
making up the sum needed.
Mrs. Ellen NJ. Bolles moved that here
after a small collection be taken each
meeting night to defray current expenses,
and IL was so voted.
Secretary Blake then explained that in
calling the meeting 1t was announced at
the request of DIR. Garvin that the good
Lgovernment clubs OF New York might
FVbe discussed. He explained his posit on
as understanding the purpose of these
| clubs to be not to enter the caucusses,
but TO use their influence to see that suit.
| Iah t,,ap ad for nffirp. also
| TO teach the people that Nationl politics
| have nothing to do with city politics.
| The question is, he said, do We want
| such a club here? President Tomkins OF
| the Union had said that the Union had
nothing to do with politics and the Sec
| tion could do nothing without refer
| ence to the Union and the Union would
| probably vote IL down. 1t might be good
| thing to study these things and then the
members could individually do as they
| like.
| Mrs. Bolles did not remempe that the
| Union had taken any vote on Mr. Tom
kins' expression OF opinion and said that
4 that was the opinion of but one person.
| Mr.. Black said that if the second voted
| that Providence needs a good governmnt
| club il would be practically saying thai
the city is not properly represented in the
| City Council and that would be whole
some condemnation. He believes the ma
| jority of the mem bers of the City Coun
| Gil are all right. He should prefer, ii
such an organization is started, that il
should not be under the control OF the
| Union for Practical Progress.
1 Mrs. Bolles agreed hat perhaps good
| government club should not be formed
by the section, but she did not see tha
such a formation or a statement in III
favor would be a wholesome condemna
| tion OF the City Council. She thought tn,
idea would be TO educate the people in th'
matter of good government. 1t did no
! seem that there are great many wrong
things In our city government, but
thought wherever wrongs existed the
people were primarily to blame.
Ex-Secretary Sherman told about th
division of the Union into sections, ant
why. lie thought the only thing the mu
nicipal governmen section can do thi
winter Is to continue as last year ant
have al each meeting some prominent o
well-informed man TO address the section
He said that good government clubs ar
good things to study and IT would b
we'll to have some one explain them, ant
then, il there appears a need for sucl
here, II would spring up spontaneously
Mr.. Blake explained that where but j
mem bers out OF 53 attend the meetings OF
an average he could not see much cbanc
for spontaneity. He thought the hes
thing would be to find out whether the
wished to continue as a section or not.
Mr.. Sam III. Bullock found the work o
the section last year OF great benefit {
himself and thought the attendance aver
aged what they could expect. III
thought all would be glad TO learn sbou
the New York good government clubs an
TO discuss the government OF other cities
too.
On motion OF Mr.. Sherman a vote wa
Continued on Page 3.
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