The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-31
Fellowship of Democrats
is for Municipal League.
No Room for Anybody Else in
That Organization.
Mr.. Henry S. Taft Resigns, and
Tells Mr.. Bicknell Why.
trrom Tn. News o. October 10. 1895. }

(From The News 81 October 10 1867
sdr. Henry Q. Tsfit, who was one Of chs
~ membsrs who came near rescuinR the
Municipal League from.sn endorsement OF
Mayor McGoinness at 10 meeting sstur.
day has withdrawn from that orsspixa.
tion and In the following letter id.
dressed to Secretary Bioknell hs tells
why;
THOMAS W. BIoxEELL, ESQ, Secretary
Municipal League,
DEAR srR-I became member CT the
organization KIN own as the Municipal
League OF Pro vidence, fully endorsing its
code OF principles, and its purposes of re-
form upon non part isan lines, a. sst forth
In it, printed ''Declarstion of Princi.
piss," with the sole and patriotic desire
to promote IT. success In every wise and
1udicious course In furthersnce OF those
principles. ! fnd that its methods arc
widely at variance with its code of ethics
and do not accord with my personal CON.
vietions upon the lines OF non partisan
reform In municipal affairs. Its pYofes.
sions OF uon-partisan action appear TO me
to be deceptive, Elusive and misleading.
Its action upon many OF the important
questions brought before 1t has In nv
opinion been inspired and supported by
the Democratic party and its pronounced
adherents, and its fundamental purpose
has appeared to be to secure for tnat
party complete and decided control. and
4 n unra m he
OF the city. Previously to the last NUM-
cipsl election the adherents OF the Demo.
cratic party held no less than six of the
highest offices in the gift OF the city.
namely, the city treasury, city msssen.
ger, Judge OF probate, deputy chief of DO.
lice, ovsrsssr Of the poor and har.
Dor master, together with sub,rdi.
nate or1cish of like political
faith, too numerous TO mention.
and at that election, throug the indiner-
ence OF many otherwise good citizens re-
gsrding municipal affairs, and the efforts
Of the so-cslled reiornsrs, supersnnust.
I'd sore heads and disappoin ted perennial
office seekers, 1t succeeded in siectinR
mother Democrat to undertake the task
Of filling the MsyorsIty chair OF this
great metropolis. 1t has, in my jadg. |
ment, proven IN infantile and feeble
Effort. do not believe that the time has
yet arrived when it is incum bent upon 4
the citizens of the city to establish Q
school in the city ball to
instruct its officials in the primary funJ-
Ions pertaining to their Offices, but at
he pace we are going 1t is rapidly sp-
The gentleman thus elected
las made many promises OF reform upon
arious lines, and has achieved remark
ole success in their non-fulfiIIment.
Jnder his adm inistrstion the isaes have
nwisely and without good reason been
materially increased, and the municipal
ty has been burden ed with Q much
arger debt than ever before, with the
respect of a still greater increase in the
ear future. Under his administration
nd by the advice ana cooperation OF
ther officials Of tho city, supported, I re-
ret to say, by the Municipal League,
ur citizens sre today deprived OF their
ghtful privilege of free transfer tickets
yer the electric railways within our
orders, and this hardship falls espec-
lily upon that class who toll with their
anus for thoir daily bread. Under his
iministration II has been decided be-
ond question or legal inter vention that
le conract or frauchise between said
oetrie railway company and the city of
rovidence Is absolutely legal and bind
e during the term # % years from and
ter its enactment. am not ready to
'lieve that the honest, nom partisan cit
eus OF this city will again sup I
'rt man for fits Mayor who nss
lsmentably failed to carry out ]
8 promises OF reform, and whose ad-
inisration has proved so barren and {
uitless In benefioient results, neither do Z
believe that they will maintain in a
'sition OF such great responsibility and Z
huence, one who apparently has
ither the desire nor the courage to
eply and csndidIy declare his conyic-
'ns poi the important national Quss-
'ns when today are sgitating the pc,
D OF this republic throughout it's board
;, and which present O crisis in y
tional affairs unequslled since the "
rilous days OF 1861. tt
In view OF the situation presented. ii
d the policy OF the Municipal League NJ
yarding the methods employed and to oi
employed In promoting nun icipsl re-. L
a -