The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-02

said men, ne meant men that cannot be
bought; no sore heads. no hot heads, no
weak -kneed men, no one that has become
dissatisfied with his party. but men with
"A backbone such men n Charles Brown,
who has shown that he has backbone.
These are the sort OF men wanted. This
town is notorious throughout New Eng
land. but it would not be so IL 100 men
with back bone and sand came TO the
front. The four men who are openly
known did not want TO do the work but
the speaker has n son growing up and so
have others, so some one had to make
the start and put an end 70 the evil that
exists in the town.
Anthony Corcoran, who ran for tho po-
sition of town sergeant, was the next
speaker.
He wanted some one TO make an open
charge that the Town Council and tho
town sergeant were not doing their whole
duty Unless these charges were made
openly he thought the meeting was an
insult TO the town officials He said the
league had taken the matterfrom the Town
Council and police, and that he, If there
was anything wrong. wanted TO take
the bull by the horns" If the Town
Council and police had not done their
duty, n specific charge should be made.
Mr.. Calder informed Mr. Corcoran that
| n petition of more than 200 names had
bee n presented To the council. requesting
that body to instruct the town sergeant
TO close the gambling places, aud said
he, "You know what became of IL.
Mr. Corcoran asked Mr.. Calder what he
knew of the gambling places that he could
swear to-
Mr.. Calder told what he knew and then
Sir. Corcoran told Mr. Calder that he was
with him. Mr.. Calder said the town
sergeant could close every place in town
in "a hours II he chose TO.
Albert Knott remarked that the COM
mittes should not pay all OF their atten-
tion TO the snmt lers, but should take in
the Sunday nquor sellers as well.
Mr. George w. AmisoD, one of the four
men who took an active part in the work,
said ne was not ashamed of the work done
by the committee and that IL all good
citizens would 10 the same, the town
would not be- the dumping ground for all
that was low. evil, meen and vile. He
said the town was governed by the lawless
for tho lawless, and with the lawless. and
that the committee should have the hearty
support of all good citizens.
Bradford Bennett declared there should
be n vigilance committee, for, said he, IL
is a well known fact that the officers of
the town are backed up by the gamblers.
MIR. Bennett modified his statement by
saying that some Of the officers were so
backed up He said that the Town Coun-
Gil was TO blame for the state of affairs
that existed, and If he was a councilman
would blush TO come into the hall.
Charles wilkins believed that too much
time and energy were spent by the COM
mittee and that a lecturer or a minister
should be engaged to show gambling up
I'm nlI of its forms. His son, the speaker
said, is given n card at "A store for the
purpose of making him come again, for
the simple reason that he Is going To get
something for nothing. Mr.. wilkins
wanted the mind of the people changed.
Paris W. Mathewson opened his re
marks by saying that he thought some
one was trying TO steal march on him
and hold financial town meeting. He
then said the chief of police did not do
his duty, and some friend OF the chief in
terposed the remark that the chief did not
quickly replied that tho chiefs salary was
in keeping with his services. lie then
said that Farrell's place would never
have been broken up had IL not been for
the Providence police. He said that
since Mr.. Holbrook had been chief of po-
lice murder and crime had run riot, and
nons of the evil doors had escr been
apprehended. lie asserted that for any
one wearing trousers, holbrook was the
smallest man he knew of. The speaker told
the committee they could get nothing
done AS long as Holbrook was chief of
police.
Mr.. Calder then presented resolu-
tion, tho sense OF which has 10 have the
gathering endorse the work done by the
league, and that the same De brought 10
tho attention of the town council. with
the request that that body take steps To
close all Of the gambling and other illegal
resorts.
II. H. Woods said h q vas positive there
were some OF the town officials who guar
anteed the gamblers and others protec-
tion ana alluded TO the many crimes
committed since Mr.. lIoltrook las been
chief of police, the perpetrators OF which
had never been brought To Justice.
lie also referred to Farrell's place. and
said that after his license had been ~.
voked that he closed his front door, and
opened the back. lie informed the gather
ing that Mr. Holbrook could he requested
to do his duty ana n ho aid not comply,
he could he fined 500
R \ koach said there was not a liquor
! dealer in town who did not violate the
| law Mt keach was Interrupted by q
young man who stood In the rear OF the
| hall. who asked N a certain nqaOr ioaler
did not conduct his business ia legal
manner.
Mr. Reach answered that b. did not, for
| the license read to sell pure liquor ne
| also said that MT. Holbfook refused