Evening star., 1897-01-08
Willard Hall Meeting Proved Sue
cess.
Many Earnest Protests Against the
COmmissiOncrs' Recent Order
Speeches by Women.

February l. Resolutions to this effect were
adopted, and copies of the same will be
laid before the Commissioners.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
Simon Wolf, who was. on motion of Mrs.
Clara Belle Brown. seconded by Mrs. Mary
s. Lockwood, chosen chairman. Others on
the platform were Mrs. Olive Logan, Mrs.
E. s. Leonard, Mrs. NJ. D. Lincoln of
Washington, and Miss Susan Briggs OF
Colorado.
On taking the chair, Mr. Wolf said he
was exceedingly pleased to be called upon
to preside over a meeting whose object
was to protest against the abridgment of
any right the boys of the city are entitled
to, and to assist in any movement which
Will help the newsboys of Washington to
make living on any day of the week. He
urged the boys to do nothing to offend
church people in the matter. and to re-
member that the ladies and gentlemen who
had come to their support in the effort to
get the Objectionable order revoked were
not engaged in any onslaught on any de-
nomination. In concluding. Mr.. Wolf fur
ther advised the boys to be good. loyal
American citizens, and stated that he felt
sure If they did they would secure the
victory they were striving for.
Mrs. Lognn's Talk.
Mrs. Olive Logan said, in part: I'VE are
here to defend the Sunday newspapers. We
are women of the press. The press has
opened up wonderful avenue of employ
ment to women. Twenty years ago there
was hardly single woman who made her
living by newspaper work; today there are
10000 in this country alone. The news
papers. principal of which in respect to
providing women with work are those is
sued on Sunday, have been the means of
disseminating knowledge in a way never
before known, and most of the work of
dissemination has been done by the little
newsboys."
Mrs. Logan denied that the Sunday pa-
pers were calculated to make people who
read them worse, and said that many pa
pers were printed on Sunday in the inter-
est OF religion. Continuing, Mrs. Logan
said: The Sunday newspaper is the great
est educator ever issued for the price. Pea
pie like to have the Sunday newspaper
brought to their houses"
Mrs. Logan warned the bows that there
would soon be an extension to their ranks
in the newsgirl-and advised them to give
her cordial welcome.
The Boys Standpoint,
George Turner, a newsboy who was
called upon by Mr.. Wolf to speak on the
subject from the standpoint of the boys,
said there was no other way for many of
the boys to make living than by selling
newspapers, and he thought the order of
the Commissioners referred to a very un-
just one.
Mrs. NJ. D. Lincoln said in part: IT know
these boys are not going to be suppressed
They have proven that by the enthusiasm
they have manifested here tonight. 1t is
a perfect luxury to government clerk to
nave the paper brought to him or her on
Sunday morning, and / don't believe we
could get along without it. God bless the
newsboys. They don't annoy me half as
much as do the church bells with their
changing every Sunday morning from & to
9:3O o'clock.
Il am not antagonizing anything that
God made holy, but there are rights, and
i believe the newsboys have a perfect
right to cry their papers on Sunday. God
speed the newsboy. l will help you all 1
can"
Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood said: 'I am a
friend to the newsboys. There will be a
great deal more grace in the households
of this city If the Commissioners will re-
woke the order in reference to the sale of
on Sunday than II the head of
the home has to go down on the street on
Sunday morning and wait half a day for a
newsboy to come along to get a paper
from him.
Il am not opposed to churches, but 1
want to say that the greatest annoyance
with which l have to contend is the noise
made at church in the neighborhood in
which 1 live. I have several times been
asked to sign a petition to the District
Commissioners asking them to abate the
nuisance. but l have always refused and
said: If they want to worship God in that
way. they have right to do So But so
have the newsboys right to cry their
papers or Sunday
Addressing herself directly to the toys.
she said: DO what is right and the Com
missioners will not offend you. Public
opinion in the District of Columbia is GO
ing to take care of you"
poem, THE Newsboy.'' by Mrs. Clara
Belle Brown, which that lady read, brought
down the house.
DR.. kent's Remarks.
De-. nr
favor of the rights and liberties of the
newsboys. l hope the boys will not annoy
the church people unnecessarily; 1 do
not know that they do. cannot imagine
why the cry of the newsboy should annoy
people any more than do the cars or some
of the score of nuisances that might be
named.
1T is a mystery to me why church bells
should be rung on Sunday. There was
es came into such general use as they
have, but there can be no real value in
the custom at this late day. II noise Is to
be stopped why not stop the ringing of
the bells?
II feel that the ministers who asked the
Commissioners to issue the Objectionable
order ought not to have done so. 1 would
be awfully glad If the ministers of this
city were as anxious to open avenues OF
employment to boys by which they could
make living by working on the other six
days Of the week as they are to prevent
them from doing what they can to make
living on Sunday.
1T Is true that there is but a small liv-
ing in selling newspapers, 1t is, however,
an honest one and it is far better for boys
to do that than to have them becoming
occupants of our jails and penitentiaries.
Il am afraid that back of this move
ment against the newsboys there lies the
desire to do away with the Sunday news
paper, and 1 know that some of the men
who are in the movement would use their
power to the utmost to accomplish this
If they could see any chance Of success
Speaking directly to the boys, DR.. Kent
urged them in selling their papers not to
go near a church and assured them that
those who had enlisted in their cause would
assist them in defending their rights.
Other Talks.
Mr.. James Selden Cowden denounced the
order In reference to Sunday newspapers
as a crime.
Miss Susan Briggs Of Colorado said no
one had right to keep a newsboy from
making a living either on Sunday or Mon
day. She concluded by urging the boys
to behave like men and stand up for their
rights