New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
BALDWIN TO THE CIVIC GLIB.
SAYS THE COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN Is
II REFORM BUSINESS TO STAY.

William IT. Baldwin H. president ~ The Long
Island Railroad and chairman Of the Committee OF
Fifteen. last night in A address before the Civic
Club gave brief outline Of the problems At pres
ent confronting those who striving TO make
conditions in this city better. While he made no
effort 10 conceal the leplorahle state Of affairs
which AZ present prevails. he expressed the hope
that ultimately. when the community has been
thoroughly aroused. the citizens will make such
a determined effort that will lead the COM
plete redemption Of New-York
Incidentally. Mr.. Baldwin solemnly assured his
audience that the Committee Of Fifteen was in
the business stay. that il would attempt moth
ing but sensible reforms. that nothing would
sWerye it from its course. and that there was no
politics behind the movement
The large assembly hall of the club crowded.
dence were the Rev. Thomas r. Slicer and Cap
tain F. Norton Goddard. George 5. Walsh presi-
dent Of the club. occupied the chair. Mr. Baldwin
said in part;
arouse he Civic pride OF the Individual It is just
proving the city such hard one. I believe that
s cub 81 IN an Tha ha IS . t n ec Gf @
The spirit OF commercialism. the grasping after
slprenscy has tended 10 belitte the work Of such
lives - ~, 10 make me eitT better We hear ali
sorts Of criticisms But We must close our ears 10
through an psrsisenSy We can hope to accomplish
some ihns Sp@S5noste eiI.itS a. re59tG 90 a no
erally become worse than before the enoTt al re-
We have al been in the habit of questioning the
term reSormer. OF real refo-mers there are only
kinds One kind IS the you represent
who strive 10 change things, and the other the one
represented by churches. ethical societies, etc,
whose aim il is 10 change individuals.
II is the duty Of society 10 pave the way for our
womarhoo 10 live decent lives. The reason why
the Committee Of Fifteen came into existence was
that the community rose up in its anger az the
decent lives could not do so in this city
In approaching this matter we must think first
Of The nature OF the conditions We wish 10 chanse
eee1inely human II strive 10 reach the ideal
AT once we shall surely fail II we strive 10 attain
something reasonable there is no reason why We
should not succeed II We persist
In this. IN all large cities, the power OF evil
is strone and well intrenched. 10 not refer TO
at the bottom OF the social ladder who Feed on
heart blood Of the weak and helpless. We often
hear people say that il is not dicult for the one
individual or the other who has a good home and
lives surrounded with good influences 20 lead
decent life If this is II the city shall provide
ought 70 be a mighty help 70 them 10 lead clean
lives as We'll This seems 10 me 20 be the keynote
OF the situation.
II we look not only~at the East side but AT the
West Side and Harlem well. where vice Is con-
the city government itself. at least TO the party
which is strong enough 10 control II. our duty
government and the lawbreakers shall cease
Our work Is directed against vice itself. but
against the conditions that foster vice We served
warrants the other night in some gambling houses
We did thereby mean 10 stop Eambling-that
duty. But II IS duty that
individual combine shall profit through the
breaking OF the law To see that no combine shall
protect gambling so as 70 grow rich that is our
There is no other than honest motives behind
work Nothing will steer rs from the straight
pursuing. We Will not attempt any
Is slow DO not be discouraged. We Will make
progress Just as fast as real progress can be made