New-York tribune., 1900-03-09
OF THE GREAT MAJORITY.

Y.
ask you Is Intelligent men if the public
o6cer who stands firmly for the right o
the city not better friend of the work
,npuan fhnn the sworn officer would
,el the municipality body and to cor
norafions. The honest vvori1ingmcn of the
cftv will not permit 1T (buying water from
nrfyate corporHtionsb even if one-haIf of the
local administration does fall of plat
form ON which 1t was eIected.-CSome OF the ut
,srsnces Controller Coler the Woringmens Lincoln
dinner last night.
Controller Bird 5. Coler read himself out Of
the loca, Democratic organization at the Work
.ngmen's Lincoln dinner at Terrace Garden
last night, according to the six hundred peoDle
who heard him deliver smashing blows at his
corrupt official colleagues
He cheered to the echo by all but about
thirty members OF an eccentric engineers
union who sat at a table a little TO the right
and front Of him These men have had their
Claims against the city held UP by the Con-
treler. and they got their revenge by kissing
him vehemently as he was introduced
The dinner is likely To be historic one in
local politics, as there is little doubt among those
who heard the Controller last night noted his
extreme nervousness in opening his speech
heard the Kissing by the Tammany men who had
felt his official rebuke ana then saw the turnuIt-
uous encouragement accorded him by the rep
resentatives of the labor organizations present
him as a leader IN the fight of the people against
the corruption and rascality of Tammany Hall
Ernest II. Crosby, the presiding officer had
tust choked off Congressman Suzer. who had
exceeded the ten-Einute time limit for speeches.
and turned 10 introduce Mr.. Coer whose seat
was directly back of thick pillar which stood
in line with the long guest table.
"Mr Chairman and Fellow Workingmen -
began Mr.. Coler.
Three cheers fO, O11r ,,ev- ,-a1Ia7
enthusiastic man in the middle of the hall
Then the eccentric engineers set up q united
kissing For instant the audience sat stunned
and the applause died out in apparent wonder
ment
Throw 'em OUT That's Whalen's whistler
They're hung up ali right These and similar
short and angry exclamatfons cut through the
mingled din of cheers, hand clapping and hisses |
while the speaker usually cool and collected |
tried three times 10 begin. His face turned pale !
the typewriter copy of his remarks trembled
in his hand that he could scarcely read the |
lines. and all eyes were riveted on him. Edwin |
Markham, the poet. the side, leaned for |
ward and urged him on, Congressman Lentz and |
Ernest H. Crosby clapped hard and fast to brace |
him up, while John C Sheehan Congressman |
Sulzer and others craned their necks and scru-
tinized the Controller in the painful progress of
what TO him one OF the most trying moments |
in his life.
THE CONTROLLERS SPEECH.
Gradually the kissing ceased drowned in the
applause. Gradually the trembling sheets in
the speakers hand grew quiet, and then amid
almost absolute stiffness he said:
Gentleme1-you hiss me because you 90 not agree /
with me-because / oppose certain claims l wish /
10 say that no honest claim far ! know. has !
you come 10 understand the situation WHEN you |
viii agree with me. shall continue 10 be opposed I
] q
claims where know some lawyer is going to de- |
mand 80 per cent for their collection from the city.
Then there followed round after round of |
applause and cheering, and Mr. CoIer was him |
self again. He spoke as follows:
= soir Chairman and Fellow Workingmen: I may |
ts t ySG Soa feIIoT %orkingen hope because / am
than any other man in New-York. trying TO keep
tne city government from jumping of the platform |
0r.neTs;hip Of public utilities and franchises.
ermeBf Slca scfePeg nat p principle Of city GOV
sll. 81 ard am standing today squarey upon the
stana there as long as remain in office, if I have
ask you as intelligent men if the public officer
Ene stands firmly for the rights of all citizens
and own ana develop ali other public propeTty ltR
fian5 fsg S Il tf m aerage OF the people, is not better
Sno would sell the municipality, body and soul.
! know that the workingmen Of this city are
honsst ana Intelligent men, and that they are just
no. neeq 10 4ppeal TO your passions or your preju
of
government that is FOR the good of all the people |
rieh and poor alike. You have demanded munici- |
administrator was elected upon a platform that |
contained no vague promises Of carrying out that |
poicy at some future time but it did contain a |
far and square pledge make municipal owner |
milisr with the desperate attempt made a few |
months fasten upon this city for nearly half |
&C q cehtnry ay one OF the most outrageous contracts
..For century New-York owned and controlled
s ns sdteT SqpHy. ihe worst rascal that got INTO
e,gs elie9e n az tnat time was not bold enough to
OF and Changed its president and chief coun-
SCI SCI eVfI time the political complexion of the
mained for the officers of the city. who were not
thelr party and atte npt 70 sell the most important
Ikht M mat any municipality can own / ask you |
whether + IS safer for you to trust them than to
trust NE? tApplauseD
RAMAPO NOT DEAD.
And warn you tonight. gentlemen that the
asnapo company IS not dead. The proposed con /
fully guarded by persons who should be guarding
me rights Of the people instead. There are bills !
danger that @ ihreatsrs 10 the eifv of from
ieat cooperation and the influences that are back
VI H. Those bli.s are held up in committee. Why
Has any other officer of your municipal govern
If the Of these bills that VIII deliver the
Iwant the workingmen of New-Yorl1 City to join
WIN me in demand that the political parties and
ne @ parry Leaders go on record in this matter. The
pending bills in the interest OF all the people
~ ~ ms city They are intended 10 protect the city
b rs right 10 90 anywhere in the State that may
IT, n necessary 10 secure ali The water we may need
Ihsy are also intended ! protect the city in the
vt 10 70 retain me few franchises that have not
TIspsai@n sai@n into the grasp Of the corporation Ap-
~ oSentlemen, the people Of this city have right
s.know y Know VINO is opposing these bills. They have
bbany 10 check legislation that would protect and
We net M every inhahtant Of this city: When shall
ci;y iHe q %ster @ from private corporation? The
Of = he citz will