New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-23
ABLY" GRUBER'S CRUSADE.
HE AND HIS FRIENDS GET TOGETHER AND
SCOFF AT THE CIVIL SERVICE
PEFORMERS

There a large crowd at Cooper Union last
night to witness the performance OF Abraham
Gruber in his and surprising role OF Civil Ser
vice reformer The crowd was composed almost
exclusively OF citizens who are Just good Civil
Service reformers Mr. Gruber is. Among the
shining examples of the new Civil Service reform
movement who the platform TO keep Mr..
Gruber in countenance Jacob NJ Patterson.
Cornelius Van Colt. Lucas L. Van Allen, James
Stewart the Inspector OF Gas Meters and ex Police
Captain Ira s. Garland. The meeting had been ad-
vertised In advance mass-meeting OF the Pro-
gressve Civil Service Reform Association At the
meeting of the Republican County Committee on
Thursday evening. all the members OF the committee
earnestly requested to go to Cooper Union
last night, and send many Of their friends as
possible, : to make an imposing demonstration,
and the boys in force.
As the head cnire' of the associa ton. Abraham
Gruber was introduced by Mr. Van Allen tina
chairman of the meeting and ne proceeded talk
Gym ssryce r"orm IN way -e aat made s
copies Of a speech but under the influence OF
liminary jokes evoked from the audience. ne KEEP
as far away as possible from tnai speech ana con
entitled the offices. ne declared. With
mimcry that showed what a good low comedian
ticlan. ne des, ribed how hard 1t was to make "th"
boys get out and hustle in an election" while the
organizations that nominated Mayor Strong In
1894 by way OF illustration
There were the Goo-Goos the o Brienites. the
Stecklerites, the Graceites. the Hitttes, he said
'and there came. also those from the Chamber OF
Horrors U'proarious laughter which
doubled when he pretended to correct himself By
screaming the Chamber of Commerce.) And
when II said that the Republicans might have
the Mayor and the other organizations must have
all the other Olfices-you know they were buffing
us with the idea that were getting Republican
Mayor more shouts of laughter)-I asked. II the
Republicans were going TO furnish most OF the
votes for office, what was the Chamber of Com
merce going to do? And then His Nobs swells out
his chest (Mr. Grubcr swelled himself. pretending
to initiate a member of the Chamber. and evoked
howls Of laughter). and he says, The Cham
Der of Commerce will furnish the purse. And, my
friends ,here Mr. Gruber made lightning changel
when the Chamber of Commerce opens its purse Il
expects to get back every penny, with interest"
more hows)
Mr. Gruber had a great deal more to say and
then General Henry e. Tremain made a speech. ex-
planning how he came to draft the first Civil Ser
vice Reform law of the State. There had been scat
cent Civil Service examinations in this city, and
before the meeting adjourned the boys were
asked to pass set Of resolutions. with eight long
whereases. declaring that the questions were alb
surd, that the examinations debarred masses Of
citizens from the Offices and that I'VE OPP
posed to the present Civil Service system existing
in this State and the several political divisions
thereof. and we demand its instant abolition"
There also a declaration that the Progressive
Civil Service Association ought to extend It's
ganization to every part of the State. After the
resolutions had been passed with whoop the meets
Ing adjourned