New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-16
"TROLLEY DIRGE' PLAYED.
-rrrCTIvE FEATURE OF THE GREAT
BROOKLYN MAsS-MEETING.
ovr,R 5000 PEOPLE MEET TO DENorNCE THE
,,.ccrRNAUT-TIIE DOLEFUL GONG MUSIC
FOLLOWED BY CHORUS
or CHILDISH sHRIEKs.


or CHILDISH sHRIEKs.
r,sre was great outpouring Of people at the
,,,trolley mass meeting in the Clermont-ave.
,nk in Brooklyn last evening. called for the pur-
nose of creating a sentiment in favor of stricter
roe,laton Of the trolley roads by the people. II.
" Nonahan called the meeting to order. and said
that since the last meeting had been held in Pros
,oc, Hall few weeks ago the American Anti
rrust League had been formed and an enrolment
y, 100 COO people was the outcome. AS a result OF
last nights meeting. he said, he expected there
would he another l00,O 900 enrolled The league he
.out,nued. was going to take hold of the trusts in
q manner that they wouldn't relish. He criticised
axGovernor Flower for going 10 Brooklyn to help
, save a "broken-down corporation" and declared
that every schoolboy in Brooklyn knew that the
Long Island Traction machine could not be re-
naired any more surely than some other ma
chimes" He also denounced Brooklyn Aldermen
rho showed undue generosity in giving away the
city's franchises
The secretary then read resolutions. in which II
wes declared that inasmuch as the trolleys had
killed los people and manned over 800 more
States prison ~ the proper place for incorporated
as well as for Individual manslaycrs. The res0lu-
tions demanded prompt indictment Of the oiii-
elals Of the companies by the District-Attorney's
office and criticised the Distrct-At,orncy for his
inactivity Trained and licensed motormcn were
demanded.
Mayor schiercn. whose name was hisscd was
called upon to institute proceedings against the
companies TO compel them to observe laws framed
for the safeguard OF life and limb. The resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted.
General Horatio c. King was one of the hfst
sneakers He said the companies owed II to the
city TO provide their cars with suitable tenders
Rapid transit through the congesed parts OF the
city by the trocy-cars was impossible. and the
people who wanted rapid transit must patronize
the elevated road.
After Mr. King had finished speaking the Bap-
tist Boys Brigade 400 strong. entered the Duild-
ing They are all from eight to sixteen years
old and fairly well drilled. They were under
command Of Colonel Baylis.
Mrs Henry Ward Beecher. who was expected
70 be present at the meeting. sent letter or re-
gret which was read by Mrs. Bodine, saying
that she had been too Ill all the week to go out
She said that she was heart and soul in the
movement against the trolley companies for their
outrages The new time schedule, she con-
tnued (which causes the cars 10 sneak through
the streets at snaiIs pace, is nothhg put
ruse on the par, of the companies. ana 10 my
mind it is not question OF rapidity when the
saving of life is in the balance" Mrs Beecher
added that proper tenders were needed as the
froievs in New-Jersey demonstrated. She had
never ridden on a trolley-car in her life
Then a piece of music called The Trolley
Dirge" prepared especially for the association:
was played. Part of the selection was clang OF
trolley gang followed by chorus of childish
shrieks 1t was a horrible thing. and grated
upon the sensibiliiies
The Rev Mr. Hull. of the Greenwood Baptist
Church. followed with stirring address, saying
that the streets were never intended for rapid
transit He said that children were thoughtiess
but they couldn't be changed In character, ana
no one wanted forty-yedr-old heads on ten-year-
old shoulders. ~ ,
The Rev James Donahoe. rector Of st Thofnas
Aouinas's Church. followed Mr.. Hall He dwsli on
the aims Of the Antitrust League, ana ue-
nouncad the trolley companies lie said 'lie
trolley companies had demonstrated one thhe ID
a certaintv-and ii was that cheap labor was
often dear labor in the end. The companies hau
learned II their chagrin that cheap motorihe"
were exceedingly dear. , t,
Charles J. Patterson was introduced ana Saiu
that the streets of Brooklyn belonged 10 IN
neonle and no private interests couid occupy
those streets unless permission were gwen ny a
,,ronerlv constituted authority. Whch hah new,
hen done He made ar address, when WAS we'll
raceived and was followed by others
II was estimated that the audience nuihpei ~ -
over 900 Grand Master Workman S9vereisn
an1 Master Workman Connolly. or tne hl'.s @ s',.s
labor and Aldermen Walkley and conn were
among those present.