New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-11
Mr.. ROOT INSTALLED.
SPEECH OF THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE
UNION LEAGUE-PRIMARY AND
pENSION REFORM.

PENSION REFORM
The FIRST meeting Of the Union League Club since
tho election Of Fnhu Root as president TOOK piaoe
last night. and Mr. Root was formally ins'aheo
in that office. There large ATTENDANCE an"
in taking the chair Mr. Root. after expressing ms
thanks for his election and touching upon seVera'
phases Of tho clubs history. said In part;
when the cause Of liberty. of law. of honest gov
eminent. demands that upon great ana VIZ, iar he
public opinion be formed or puos w}th ali tho
force association and our history as rtu ~
duty OF citizenship. And let ust take no action N
unless we are IN earnest ana are prepare"
Occasion for action is not wanting. The enor-
and continued growth OF the pension roW W.
has been accompanied by widespread and repeated
charges OF wholesale fraud until the ron and and
the annual payments. which should be MADE ires,y
and S psr % 2 en9 %d S5nd Sd Ame
cans The honor OF the Army and Navy OF me
that Il the disgraceful imputation be not true; u
should be refuted and set at rest forever; ana y
that the rolls should he purged. and the lists Of
honor be freed from the companionship Of fraud;
mission Of the club remains unfuhled
The same obstacles to the free and effective ex.
r,nTnSant rore sim eyist tndav AZ The primaries
our present method Of securing fair elections re-
quires that the citizen who really has opportunity
to express his will should have voice in deter
mining what names should be printed on the bal
lots. The exercise of this right Of nomination has
row no adequate protection against fraud ana cor
ruption. Fraud and corruption have. in fact. he-
prived the people OF their voice In the selection OF
widespread public demand for the same kind Of
reform in the law regarding nominations ihat we
The problem Is the same the methods to he pur-
sued are. iu general. the same; the necessity Is
consequence that the legislative remedy be swift.
just. practicable and effective to really secure
fun free opportunity for every citizen In his own
party. TO have his voice I'm the nomination or can
cdans whose names shall be placed upon the ON
cial ballot. No government founded upon popular
Will can possibly live while the people are denied
the opportunity TO express that will ,r,, ,,o,
our National honor and credit, which was repeIled
by The election of 1896, has been renewed the
President Of the United States by nature prudent
and sagacious. In method careful ard considerate.
seeking always the course Of peaGefui b narsr
speaks too soon. but is always ready when the
National honor and faith The House OF Repre-,
sentatives the peoples house" has responded 70
his call but the Senate Of the United States has
answered by sulen declaration OF adherence 10
the policy OF repudiation and dishonor This very
their Judgment upon the issues and by the cleo
ton of new Congress and Of many Senator'S. to
House. or with Teller and Murphy IN The Senate
Surely. upon this issue the duty OF this club Is
ance of that duty. here and everywhere. by us and
by those who think With us is nov Inn mmena ton
mencing the successive steps necessary to marshal
the at nr p2 pary IN IN h State is divided
It is dvid ID by local questions by personal ques-
tcd by bv 6nr ax and incacert prnary laws
viii not be SURRENDERED. which. as I think ought
not 10 be surrendered and which. speaking for
myself. ] shall not surrender under any circum-
Rnf the Hon is not upon tho great and
wheminz issue formed between the National
parties 1t is not upon any great issue Of Re2uo.
ican faith. Upon every question TO be decided at
the pext election there is common principle q
needs but the working out OF a fair and practical
opportunity for common acton upon inas that
union Of effort which will inspire confidence add
strength to courage. substitute hope LOT desponu-
acted by the present Legislature. II 1t be really
just really pSSGa and for re ap0 M s basis w
every citizen of the State who STANDS ny NC,
faith FOR Individual freedom and personal rights
for the principles of the American Revolutlon
aga,nI haze e his equal voice in selecting the candi
dates for whom ne will vote and the party officers
need be- in the framing of such law to insist that
It's provisions shall he suitable adequate ana
rnrpt is the immediate ard pressing duty OF the
hour
Mr. Roots address warmly received. and. act
ing along tn. lines he suggested. two resolutions
were adopted unanimously They are as follows:
Resolved That a committee OF five. OF which tho
nresidnnt of the club shall be ex officio mem
Der with power to add to its numbers be appoint
ton "a as may be necessary toward the framing OF ,s
primary election law which shall be adequste ana
aNect{ve 10 remedy existing evils, and anord 70
ererv el.ctor an opportunity for an equal voice In
the Nomination of the candidates and the election
az the officers of the political party with WHICH ne
s allied and to urge upon the Legislature OF this
Statn the prompt enactment Of such law
Resolved That the Committee on POLITICAL Re
form no requested to inquire into and report 10 TINS
club upon the nature OF the charges OF fraud IN the
nension rolls OF the United States, the means when
NAV he practicable TO ascertain the truth or lals-
~ of the charges. the methods available Tor rem
edvng the evil. II it exists and whether. and in
what way this club may contribute toward these
ends.
Several new members were elected