The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-15

The ministers of St. Paul are going
to make an effort to enlist influential
business men, both Protestant and
Catholic, in a movement looking to the
enforcement of law and the civil SER
vice in the municipal administration,
and yesterday they took the initial
steps toward the organization of a
Municipal Reform league.
1t is their intention to participate
actively in the coming campain and to
do their utmost to accomplish the cleo
ton of candidates pledged to the prin-
ciples which they advocate.
At the same time the ministers do not
want to be placed at the front of the
movement which they suggest. They
prefer to have the members of the
churches lead in 1t, but they will stand
behind it and give it all the assistance
they can. They do not want 1t to APP
pear that they are actively engaged in
a political movement.
This was the decision of the minis
tiers yesterday at their weekly meet
ing, which was held in the Central
Presbyterian church. The gathering
was not as large as usual, but every
denomination in the city was repre-
scented. The Rev. Alexander ]. D.
Haupt, of the Evangelical English
Lutheran church, presided, and the
Rev. Milton G. Shuman, of Grace NJ. E.
CUuTCN, OIlCldIeu dS secretary.
The discussion was started by the
Rev. David Morgan, who called atten-
ton to the distribution of the report of
the Christian Citizenship league on the
deplOrable condition of the city, con-
Sidered from a moral standpoint. He
said it was time for the ministers to
act. Even politicians attacked in the
report were unable to point to single
statement and refute it.
The Rev Carl w SpOUal Of tho
House Of Hope, said the issue was good
government or bad. The ministers
should arouse a public interest in the
question. II was useless to expect re-
form from politicians of either of the
ruling parties.
The Rev. Mr.. Haupt said it was ridic-
ulouS for Mayor Doran to go about
among the places complained of by the
ministers and expect to see anything
Objectionable. No dive keeper would
let the mayor witness anything that
he would object to.
Some of my young men," said Mr.
Haupt, visited the Palm garden and
other places exposed in the ministers
report, and they said the report was
not bad enough. They saw things in
those places that disguised Them
There is feeling that we are hope
lessly in the hands of both parties"
said the Rev. David Morgan 1T is
IhOught that 1t II too late for us to
rally our people at the primaries The
sentiment is that we should be ready
TO go ahead Immediately and organize
municipal reform league, to call a
mass convention and put good men
In nomination for every city office.
Men have come to me and said they
would support men standing on a plat
form for reform. They want the laws
enforced and the civil service observed.
If we have league in this city we will
have tangible backing We have
1000 to 5000 pledged to the Citizens
league principles. If we discover Kie-
fer and Erwin on the leading tickets
this spring, we must be prepared to
act"
There is a general feeling among
business men," said the Rev. Peter
Clare, that they want to register their
votes against the prevailing condition
OF affairs. Our people have no heart
to go in on political lines to secure re-
form. The saloon men know we can
beat them if we go at it, We must
get out of our secluded pastoral lives
If we would accomplish something"
On motion of Mr.. Morgan it was re-
solved to organize a municipal reform
league and to invite representative
business men to meet the ministers and
discuss ways and means to give the
movement effect.
The meeting adjourned for two
weeks.