The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
"PLEAsE sIaS," oRr THE c1rs.
A neutrality-suspicious. In Busties In Vain II
q Brooklyn Crowd.

A Fuller In Husties in Vain In
q Brooklyn Crowd.
At tho conclusion OF the Low meeting in tho
Academy of Music in Brooklyn last night, all
the voters present were invited to step into the
small room adjoining tho lobby and there
sign the petitions for the Citizens Union
nominations for Councilmen and county
officers. In tho middle of the room
there stood a large square table profusely
spread with blank petitions. around which sat
a score o. notaries ready to swear to tho sigma
lures OF the faithful. But there was no great
demand for their services.
Out OF the crowd of men who passed tho
faring sign on tho door begging them to come
In and help along the good cause by adding their
names to tho petitions, less than 100 needed tho
invitation, and there was a frost in the signature
market.
Across the street in front OF the headquarters
OF the Cts was erected another sign. 1t was u
triangular affair of white cloth. stretched on
slender supports of wood. and upon It WIS
printed a pathetic appeal for names.
A tall young man with n tawny mustache and
q pair OF brass lungs supplemented the appeal
of the sign by shouting londly for siEners to tho
petitions. He had all the eloquence of an auc-
tioneer. and he worked like q steam engine to
induce unwilling voters to step up and sign.
Come right in!" he rosred. Don't be
afraid. gentlemen. We are not going to hurt
you. All we ask is your name. Don't miss this
glorious opportunity to enroll yourselves upon
our petitions. We need 1000 signatures, and
we must have them. Como In before 1t is too
late"
A crowd. attracted by tho sound OF his voice,
rushed across the street. Many OF them evil
IDENTIFY believed that some sort OF a sides how to
the Low meeting WAS in progress in the Cts
headquarters. and they surged about the doors.
When they found that the man with the brass
lungs was only shouting for signatures most OF
Those who yielded TO his request to step in
and sign" found another square table. also
decorated with blank petitions and surrounded
by IA squad of nOtaries.
Business soon began to get dull. and the young
OF his eloquencc the notaries had sworn to less
than 200 signatures, and the prospect for get
ting 1000 names, or even onc-half OF that num-
Der. was anything but bright.
A hasty conference was held. and IL was do
tsrmined to present o 10 n syeT To siRne WS a pos Str
became noised abroad another rush was made
for the signature foundry.
ing hand, and thvse who distributed them maGe
no effort to learn whether or not those who re-
fs'ea matter Of fact more sa' than one:
half Of them did not, a circumstance
which did not escape the lo9d,voieed young
a poster was leaving the building the orator
grabbed him by the lapel Of the coat:
III you SlSu Ut pclltiouNi Ac dShcu.
Nit" replied the man tersely.
Dom 90 away without embracing the op..
have 1000 names. Won't you come back and
write down your name =
II will, | don't think" answered tho man. and
he bolted into the street.
But this rebuff did not dampen the ardor or
still the voice OF The brass-lungeG Cit: He threw
himself into the thick OF the fast disappearing
crowd and continues to eNhort them To return
and give up their signatures. He begged and
pleaded. but his efforts were in vain.
As the last man with n poster tore himself
from his grasp the orator heaved a sigh and
sank exhausted in a chair. The net result of his
labor was about 2i0 signatures.