The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-29

REFORM REPUBLICANS THINK PURI-
FICATION is NEEDED.
Mass Meeting at Philadelphia Ad-
dressed by 'Teddy" Roosevelt,
the New York "TerrOr.''

PHILADELPHIA, Dec GA mass meet
ing of reform Republicans. called by promi-
nent citizens, for the purpose of stirring up
interest n the primaries of next month.
with the view of securing the election of
councilmen pledged to work for the public
interest was held in the Academy of Music
tonight. Hon. William Potter, formerly
minister to Italy, presided. Mr.. Potter In
his opening address. outlined the object OF
the gathering in these words: This meet
ing has been called by Philadelphians, who
are conscious of the existence of strong
public sentiment calling for more business
like management in civic affairs. This sem
timent, happily, is spreading throughout the
United States. AS our cities increase in
population the power of money in politics
has been proportionately increased by the
granting of valuable municipal franchises
and contracts, producing an evil, which, If
not speedily eradicated, will be most disas-
trous to our American institutions. The con-
sensus OF opinion is that great percentage
of the dangerous and unjust legislation
emanates from city politicians, whose chief
acts are to make politics financially profit
able to themselves and friends
Police Commissioner Roosevelt, of New
York. was the principal speaker. In OPEN
ing his address Mr.. Roosevelt said: "In any
contest for good government it is abso-
lutely essential that you shall have in your
public servants common honesty. See that
none but good men, none but honest men
are put up for office and do not allow your
selves on any plea TO support any man.
if you have good reasons TO believe from
his public actions that he has Offended
against the elementary principles or hon.
esty." Mr.. Roosevelt then dwelI at length
on the condition of the New York police
struck the city. He said that when the
commissioners came into office they
found that certain classes of criminals who
were especially dangerous TO property. were
kept under control of and aided by cer-
tain other criminals who were, fortunately
for themselves, protected by the
police. The green goods man would be
allowed TO work in such a district, but he
had to divy so i was y with are criminals lnd & OF
we went in by those who pretended to know
that We couldn't deal with the New York
criminal classes on any other basis; that
you had to have system or Diackmail and
extortion on the one hand and of conniv-
ance at certain kinds of crime on the other
if you wished TO protect life and property
We knew that every opponent OF decent
government would unite, not only in attack
ing where there was legitimate ground
for difference of opinion, but in attacking
us, especially when we did best and there
was nothing at which they would stop. We
knew that and we faced IL, and 1 think our
opponents know now that If they wish us
barked they have got to legislate us out of
Office, for otherwise they will certainly fail
For the last year | nave been enforcing
a blue law, blue law enacted by the Puri-
tans. Under that law-in New York in 1894
$3.50 arrests were made for violations of the
Sunday excise law an average of about 160
arrests "A Sunday. We have averaged about
sixty. They struck at the little men and
the men who couldn't pay for protection.
We struck at the biggest men. without re-
gard to party, without regard to political
influence, and we shut the saloons
Mr.. Roosevelt said never before in the his
tory of New York city had there been as
fair elections as under the present police
force. He spoke of the benefit reaped by
taking the police out of politics, saying that
hundreds of men had been appointed on the
police force without their politics being
known. The speaker, in conclusion said:
What i plead for is that each politician
shall be made TO apply in political life those
principles of common honesty for the lack
of which no other quality can possibly
atone"