The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-10

Iuc lIocducro tDeellnR Oi tue uuuicl-
pal League last evening was q success
from several points OF view. The attend :
ance was good, ana the speeches were all
bright, interesting and brief. In fact,
Mr.. Woodruff OF Philadelphia, might
have talked on for another hour and no
Que would have objected.
The company itself was a mixed one,
mixed as TO politics, and everything else,
not excepting their motives for being
there. OF the l75 gentlemen who sat at
the tables, there were good many whose
sincerity and earnestness OF purpose are
unauestioned, good Repuplicansand good
Democrats VINO. believe in good city. gov
eminent, but who are not fooled into
thinking tney have got 1t by the result OF
last fal's municipal folly, for instance.
But unfortunately there wero also q
good many present TO whom the Munich
pal League is an organization, which
should have for its coat Of arms crossed
axes, rampant over a grind stone. A
large proportion OF the party was made
up of disgruntled people, who never dis
covered corruption, so long as they
bad preferment, and there were several
more who hope no.doubt that something
is about to happen under the guise of re-
form, that will transform them from po-
litical nobodies into political somebodies.
Mr.. Arnold Green presided, and on
either side OF him at the guest table were
a mum Der of very well-known inca, and
there were several absentees whicn at
tracted attention.
MIR. Alderman Burbank was nos there.
A year ago IL such gathering hao been
held, he would have been the most ag-
gressive personality present, but 1t is evil
dent that be is no longer q welcome COM
er to.the councils..of reform. Some of the
new league gladly call him failure.
Councilman Rathbone Gardner was not
there, and some OF the league call him a
disappointment.
Mr.. W Illam Il. Weeoen was there, not as
the president of the Board OF Trade. but
as a citizen, and in a brief address he
said that the city of Prov idence had not
been open TO criticism to any great ex-
tent because of corruption, and he called
ii unfair to denounce officials who had
served the city well In the past.
Mr.. Henry G.. Clark was there tagging
after the long tails OF President
Green's dress coat during the pre-
liminaries but when the time came to eat
Mr.. Clark was seven covers removed from
counsel.
Among the others at the head tabls
were Mr.. John M. Rounds, who wants TO
get into the Council from Ward Two;
Rev. w. j. Simmons, who Is participat-
ing in the Tenth Ward fight as Demo-
cratic candidate for school committee;
Mayor George w. Green of Woonsocket,
who is putting up very stiff partizan
fight for re:ection; Mr.. Woodruff and
Mayor McGuinness the prin pal guests
of the evening"; Mr.. Samuel Ames, chair
man OF the late Committee OF Fifty; MIR.
A. Z. Bsrstow mem Der Of the late Com
mittee OF Five; Mr.. James A. Williams,
chairman of a Forgotten Mass meeting
who appointed the late Committee OF Five;
MIR. William 4. knight, who has de-
nounced party ever since he was dropped
on in party fight, twelve months ago;
Rev. Floyd W. Tompkins, who has re-
Gently shown disposition to avoid the
great risks of becoming tiresome that
he formerly courted by advocating too
many things at one time; Mr.. William
Blunden, Hon. Henry X. Parker, Mr..
John w. Vernon, Mr.. Joseph A. Millar,
Mr.. Alfred Stone. Mr.. Thomas w. Bick-
nell, secretary of the league; Mr.. ID. NJ.
Thompson.
The mem bers OF the million dollar re-
form council OF tax raisers present were
Alderman Nichols and Messrs. Bullock,
Kelleher, Sisson and Trueman.