St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-14
ON MUNICIPAL REFORM.
Address at the First Baptist Church
Mass Meeting.

A small audience gathered at the
First Baptist church on East Ninth
street last night and listened to a
number of addresses upon the ques-
ton of municipal reform. The meet
ing was held under the auspices Of
the Christian Citizenship league. w.
L. Wilson, president Of that organiZa-
ton, presided. The programme as
originally planned was not carried out
owing to the fact that the majority
of those put down for speeches failed
to appear.
After an invocation by Rev. W. B.
Willard, President Wilson called upon
Rev. j. W. Conley, of the First Bap-
fist church. He called attention to
the fact that municipal government
was the greatest question Of the day.
In America such large proportion
Of the people are located in the cities
that the results of municipal elections
are indicative of the outcome in ma
tional elections. The veal or woe Of
America, therefore, rests with the
cities, and itsis deplorable fact that
they are all so poorly conducted. We
have the worst governed cities in the
world. The reason is that we have
grown SO rapidly that all our energy
has been expended in building up in
stead Of reforming. The speaker then
turned his attention to local reform.
He said he was thankful that the
authorities had closed the fremont
exchange and Brunswick, but he be-
lieved there was still gambling going
on here. He knew of saloons that were
selling lottery tickets.
John O'Brien said he wanted to be
one of those in favor Of municipal re-
form. He did not take a gloomy view
of st. PauPs condition. It's career has
been a successful one. It is one of the
few cities that has not passed through
an epoch Of boodleism; the debts it
has have been made honestly and
through no criminality of the authori-
ties. While he considered it above the
average morally, he knew that many
must not lay all blame to the authori-
ties; you are not yourselves blameless
What one Of you, if you were to step
into the position Of the chief of police
Or mayor, would inaugurate immediate
reform 2"
The speaker then called attention to
the fact that a public officer must be
governed by what the people dictate.
I'VE must not expect them to institute
immediate REFORM said he. 1.-TWO
mayors have tried to revoIutionize
things here. Fifteen years ago Mayor
O'Brien, a Democrat, tried 1t, and he
made himself unpopular Then you all
know the history Of Mayor Wright
administration. He tried to make an
immediate reform; he did just what he
was elected to do, but even his own
party failed to renominate him. I am
as jealous in the cause of municipal re-
form as any man living, but I deplore
radicalism. We must get at the cause
of government by reforming the people.
We must carry on an educational
campaign and remember that there are
respectable citizens who honestly and
conscientiously believe that a city can
not be run successfully without these
evils. They believe a reformed city
will be a dead city. Thus it holds that
all these things must be considered in
Judging the course of the actions and
policies Of municipal authorities"
Rev. Mr.. Willard said he wanted to
heartily indorse Mr.. O'Brien's remarks
He believed the duty of the Christian
people of st. Paul was to carry on an
educational campaign, teaching the
people that piety and sobriety will make
happy citizens. He then introduced
resolutions condemning all forms Of
evil that may exist in the city and ex-
pressing gratitude to the mayor and
chief of police for the recent closing of
gambling resorts. The resolutions
were adopted.