New-York tribune., 1900-09-08
ROMAN WARNS THE BOWERY
ASKS HIS HEARERS IF THEY WANT TO
RETURN TO THE DEMOCRATIC
SOUP HOUSE DAYS.

SOUP HOUSE DAYS.
THANK God 1t is longer a crime to be a
Republican on the Boweryi I remember the day
when 1t meant six months the Island to speak
q Republican word in this district. That times
gone an gone for good, an Republican Bowery
is not far away"
So spoke Tom Roman. "the Depew of the Bow
ery' at an enthusiastic mass meeting held at the
Republican headquarters No 1872 Bowery, last
evening The crowd of workngmen which filled
the room and stood up around the walls howled
approval and cried that Roman spoke the truth
do you want TO know why I'm Republican,?
continued Roman. 1--WE got four sons whom pow
erty compels work. I would be criminal to
vote for Bryan an cause another panic which
would throw en- out of work"
"'Twould throw out, too" said one or the
crowd.
'I know what a Democratic panic is. for
starved through one said Roman. when was
carryin' the banner round the Bowery after losn
me good job, I used to so up to Fourteenth-st' 10
the park an try to sleep. Along would come big
$500 Tammany cop and wake me up. DO you
know why 1 call him $500 copper? Because ne
paid three hundred for his job
Now, If don't look out. Tammany is goin to
stay In power another round They're goin' to buy
a lot of us poor fellers down here for a dollar TO
vote for Bryan. I don't blame the vote sellers
They need the money. But why sell out so cheap?
Make em pay $40 for it If you can't give your vote
to the Republicans. Make 'em pay for 1t. an then
Park
Amy what's got ounce OF sense, bit OF
brain, can tell that there won't be dollar movin
about when Bryan's elected. Now, would be sat
ished to be broke If my neighbors had a million
dollars. Then I could borrow. But II no one OF us
has any money. what you goin' to do? StarVe
an carry the banner Besides, what's the use OF
1t all? Life is short to try Bryan experiments
Let's hold good thing.
Hasn't Tammany got pretty ooss-Dlck NrO-
ker that spends all his money Twin in Europe and
only comes here to run elections am the
son OF a good. liberty loving Irish woman an l
swear that I'd rather have the Prince OF wares
dictate to me what I should do than have DICK
do it, He ought to spend his money with the boys
on the Bowery an then he could talk to us. ,,,
AS parting warning Roman cautioned tne 1ts aeuIr AZ
times, as he said they had always oohe boan
Colonel Charles d. DensSSn sIn ampaigns and is
very popular with Bowery voters. was the mex heal
tion and the silver and expansion questions he told
the sad story of the Democratic starVation Herous
in which many of his hearers had acted the hardest
parts. ...,,.. :, r,,o,.-
East Side before his Administration was over. You
elected him and the soup houses came WITHIN a
often visited the places where we fed the voters
who had brought poverty upon f % e s some he
up with his soup plate in his hand ana
hungry look in his eye what ticket he had voted in
4 voted the Democratic ticket he answered.
but. God helping me, II never 40 IL AGAIN
I'VE all lived through that period and when the
first chance the voters turned round ike a
flock of sheep. They were good sheep this time.
though and voted for the prosperity that has been
with since Mckinley took up the reins of gov
ernment. II remains to see If you will remember.
Think of the refrain in Kipling's song, Lest
forget, lest forget Keep the days OF the
soup houses in mind, and have no fear how you
will vote.
Il rejoice at the change OF political feeling which
has the East Side This hope
lessy Democratic part of town when first began
to work among you. When l asked for funds to
buy few tin horns and hire wagon for carttail
campaign in this district the Republican managers
laughed at They said that II folly to think
of coming down here. They said you would throw
rotten eggs and spoiled apples at Those were
soup house days, and I told them there was
danger. for you were eating all your eggs and
apples. At the end Of that campaign we were able
to report that there was no more promising field
for Republican progress in the State than this very
Bowery."
Colonel L. H. Mildenburg and Morris Hyman fol-
lowed with short and pointed campaign speeches.
which were heartily applauded DR.. z. ]. Palmer
presided and Judge Bartlett, of Omaha, and Colo
mel a. S. Gear were on the platform.
The fame of the MONDAY and evening meetings
at the Republican headquarters has gone to the
furthest bounds of the Bowery district and more
interest is being shown in Republican doctrine than
ever before. Alfred F. Ommen presided at the
meeting yesterday noon and speeches were made
by Colonel John H. Littlefeld and NJ. J. Harring-
ton The principal speaker to-day will be A I. NJ
E2,,lln