The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-15
CERTAIN CORRECTIONS.

VEhlA AIN AV@'s's
We regret to have seemed to do injus-
tice to some OF our local Improvement so
cietles by spreading the impression, that
we had ourselves received, that they were
being utilized to further the ends OF
wari politics and ward politicians. We
are glad, however, II what we have said
has awakened those persons who have
natriotic and sincere interest to see these
societies devoted solely TO the work for
which they were organized to a sense OF
the danger that threatened to overcome
them and destroy their usefulness.
Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr..
THOMAS W. BIcKNELI, the dean OF the
improvement society's roll, has taken
as to, task for our error. Mr..
BIcKNELL, himself, however, has seen
the danger we alluded to, has pro-
tested against such misuse OF the improve
ment societies, and declares that the
mem bership thereof wants no part OF
politics in their proceedings. We think
the public generally will appreciate the
emphasis which Mr.. BIcKNELL brings to
bear on this point and will hope TO see
no more meetings OF our ward improve
ment societies played with fast and loose
by Journal indignationists, self-seekers
and cranks. We shall all sincerely trust
that the menace to the benehcent and
public-spirited operations OF our i'm
provement societies is now removed and
that they will all follow the lead Of the
Union for Practical Progress In tilling
other fields of public interest and not be-
come the tools of Journal indignation
lists, self-seekers and crsnks. At the re-
cent meeting OF the Blackstone Improve
ment Society, Mr.. BIcKNELL stoutly pro-
tested against the action OF the meeting
in going into ward politics and commend
ing and adopting a resolution ~ to the
nomination of political candidates. Al
though The Journal devoted two col
umns to reporting tina, meeting, Z took
pains to omit any reference to Mr. BIcK-
NELLs protest on behalf OF the improve
ment movement. As matter OF fact,
many OF those present refrained from
voting on the resolution, we believe. We
understand that NJ. AUGUSTINE JONES,
president OF the society, agreed with Mr..
BIcKNELL's remarks, which suggests te
US that maybe Mr.. JONES name ought II
all fairness, to be omitted from the list oi
| eight representative citizens whom Th'
Journal claims are hack OF its indignation
| movement.
In this connection, too, we may rcvis
our returns from the attendance at the re
cent meeting OF the Blackstone Improve
ment Society. We credited to that meet
ing 81 indignationists, but We have sine
learned that some OF those present wer'
not indignationists. Councilman WHIT
was three, to look on, undoubtedly. Ger
tainly he is not an indignationist. Coun
Gilman PARKHuRsr was there and /
would be the height o: folly TO accus
him OF being an indignationist. Mr.
DANIEL s. MAHoNEy was there and yo
might as well try to imagine clover bios
som conspiring to create an earthquake
as to ever dream that Mr.. MAHoNEY
indignant. We hasten to apologize t
these three gentlemen, as we do to Mr.
BicKNELL Tney ere evidently not il
the class. Mr.. BIcKNELL was there t
attend strictly to the business of i'm
provement ana the other three name,
were present out Of curiosity. That re
duces the number OF real and possible in
dignationists to ~, and we shouldn'
wonder IL a good many of these are no
indignant at all, bat only attended tn
meeting TO look At the indignationists an
watch them froth.
In this connecti on, too, we venture 4
make suggestion and that is that n
more meetings for the discussion OF ware
politics, whether they take advantage o
the name and good repute OF an improve
ment society or not, be held under tn
roof OF church chapel or in a Sunday
school vestry. We urge that meetings o
such a character in such places are in ba
taste, IL no worse. On Tuesday evening
last, the atmosphere OF the waylan
Chapel on South Angel street, was SUI
charged with fetid politics at the NEE,
ing OF the Blackstone Improvement So
ciety. The meeting OF the Beacon Hill I'm
4