The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-02

blessing to every inhabltant. from the sick
child in the. garret to the merchant prince
in his counting ROOM
CHARLES MONROEs TOAST.
Conservatism VS.. Consistency was the
sentiment to which Charles Monroe, Of Mil
wauxee, responded. Mr. Monroe said that
perhaps the programme of municipal reform
laid before the conference did not go as far
as it might, but, while criticism IS easily
enough made, there is encouragement in the
fact that it goes as far as it does. Things
are sometimes more far-reaching than they
seem. England, a monarchy in name, ap-
proaches a republic in practice, while the
third republic. France, is so dominated by
militarism that the honor Of the army has
crushed out every other sort Of honor.
While holding high ideals, said he. I'VE
must welcome every effort, no matter how
far beneath our ideal 1t may come. Cham
pions of reform often hinder the advance
ment of their ideals by the methods they
pursue to accomplish them" The place of
such an organization as the league, he said.
was to mediate between extremes, to me-
diate between the opposing interests.
Clinton Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia,
discussed obstacles of Reform" The re-
former, he said, is sometimes hampered by
truth and facts, while the politician ignores
both or gets around them. He asked to be
excused for speaking Of things in his own
had in mind the election of his candidate
Tor Governor. and his own reelection TO the
Senate, carried the State In spite Of public
sentiment Democrats and Republicans,
said the speaker. stood together when it
came TO question. of the politician or the
will OF the people gaining supremacy. There
was one precinct alone where the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans found there had been
much scratching What vote do you gen
orally get? asked the Republican election
officers. Three hundred, - was the answer.
VERY well. you take that many and we
We're thirty thousand votes in Philadelphia
fraudulently counted or not counled, making
difference of sixty thousand.
politicians know what they want and
how to get it." continued the speaker,
while reformers generally think they know
what they want without knowing how to
get 1t. Quay began his campaign a year
before the election, while the reformers only
began last spring. Quay elected his Gov
eTnor and unless he is convicted in the
Criminal Court in two weeks, he will prob
ably succeed himself in the United States
Senate. We must organize, we must pre-
pare for a battle of reformers against the
must stand together. When men like Roose-
welt are nominated they must be backed
up, even If 1t happens that they are not
dominated just we would like TO have
had Them
James Whitcomb Riley was given an ova-
tion, hearty and prolonged, as he arose in
Mr.. Riley recited one of his most charac-
terlstlc poems, describing the visit of an
Of, old veteran to Washington. He begged to
be excused from responding to an encore.
THE CITY FATHER.
William Dudley Foulke, Of Richmond, dis
cussed "The City Father in his character
istic humorous vein. "It is said in the good
book" asserted the speaker. that the
Father chasteneth His children whom He
loveth. L think that is true of the city
father, who has chastened us by the tax
duplicate" Speaking of taxation, he said
America might learn something from Span
ish methods as practiced In the Philippines,
where simplicity Itself rules the methods.
The theory is that all taxpayers should live
in cities, so as to make the work of the tax
gatherer easier. Hence, with small suite,
the tax gatherer goes out and sets fire to the
natives house. When it is burned to the
ground, he is informed he can get a new
site Tor his home in the city. This first step
hrlngS him where he may be reached for
the purpose of taxation. Then on taxpaying
day he comes around and If the man cannot
pay he Is beaten with many stripes. On an
other day he is cast into prison, and If his
friends do not raise the money he Is taken
out and beaten again. And yet it is hoped
by some" said Mr.. Foulke, that these
islands shall be again assigned to a govern
ment with such a system" Paraphrasing
Cato, who always ended his speeches, Car
thage must be destroyed" Mr.. Foulke de-
clared he always felt like rounding up with
the expression, "Annex the Philippines"
After Horace E. Deming, of New York,
had responded to the toast: Municipal Re-
form and Democracy" so powerful was the
impression he made on the assemblage that
John A. Butler, of Milwaukee, arose to move
that he be rendered a vote Of thanks for
having enunciated the doctrine of a new
America. The motion carried with enthu-
siasm. IN beginning his response to the
toast Mr.. Demtng defined democracy, as he
would have 1t, as a government by the peo-
pie, for the people, responsible to the peo-
pie The founders of the Constitution, he
said, had no such idea. 1.-THE last thing
QOy
the people. for the people, responsible to the
people. 1t was to be government OF the
elite, of the best thought, the prop OF the
country, the taxpayer to be participated in
by gentlemen. The President was not to be
chosen by the people, but by the best gen
to be elected by the people. There was not
universal suffrage. The legislatures were to
be chosen by the educated men, those Of
were to advise the President Here was
an imitation of the privy council of Eng
land. The representatives, coming nearest
the people, were to serve short terms and
were to be restricted in their powers. We
started with that. For 125 years the people
have been trying to get a responsible gov
ernment, a government by the people, for
the people, answerable to the people. The
States followed the example set down in the
federal organization. The democratic tide
has swelled and is still striving for gov
ernment responsible to the people. Mr..
Deming went on to say that the struggle is
bearing fruit pointing to the fact that the
Electoral College is almost a thing of the
past, that the cry for the election OF United
States senator's by popular vote is growing,
and has already reached such stage that
in some instances conventions have nom
mated their senators. What does II all
mean?' he asked TT means that in time
the people will come to their own. When
have we been able to hold the Republican
party or the Democratic party responsible
for affirmative legislation? We have been
forced to vote party ticket and be de-
prived of a responsible government, in the
sense mean. People have come to under
stand the vice of the system and are not to
be fooled into voting for the party on the
supposition that it is to be responsible" !"
Tt was in order to get a responsible head
that the power of the executive had been so
vastly enlarged. "They are not afraid OF