The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-29
TALK OF
REFORM.
Democrats Are Active in
the Movement and
Will Hold Week.
Iy Meetings.

John S. RoSsell addressed a reform
meeting held at the rooms of tine
. Eleventh Ward Democratic Legion,
last night.
| He spoke of the Legislature taking
home rule from the citizens of vii.
mlngt"n, and placing city affairs 10
the hands OF commissions. 1t was
now incumbent on The citizers Of the
various wards, he said, to send men
to the next General Assembly who
vii! cause home ruic to be restored
and commissions abulShed: TO place
men IN the city Offices who can be re-
moved from office every two yea.s il
their conduct IS not satisfactory; to
cave them There If their work Is in
the interest Of the welfare of the ciLi-
zens.
Mir Rose dwcIt at length on need.
cd reform. and said that in the next
SIX months the laborlug class would
be shown where their taxes are GO
ling.
The Rev. j. L. Nichols spoke on
social reform and also touched on 20.
iitical reform. He said that when he
came in charge Of the church where
he now is lie was led to believe that
all the wrong doing was on the part
of the residents of that section, but
he had since found out that IL was
not the case. and that men from other
sections were TO blame for it all.
He referred to "crap shooting" on
Sundays in the woods nearby and the
playing Of foot bali and other sports
on vacant lots on Sunday.
David Lemon was the last speaker,
and in strong terms he denounced the
Street and Sewer department. lie
spoke of the mysterious ways in
which things were done.
To the delight of the audience he
told how the tools of the department
had been taken to other cities and
there used until they were in need of
repair, then returned to this city to
be mended, and once more taken back
to the cities Of other states TO finish
the work there.
The club means to be in the front
ranks Of the reform movement and
proposes to hold meetings regularly
every week, when some reform work.
ers Will be present to speak.
Howell S. England. secretary of the
committee of fifty, will be the leading
Speaker next week
The following resolutions were
adopted before adjournment
'We, the citizens Of the city Of
Wilmington recognizing the truth Of
the maxim that all civil government
receive their authority and obtain
their power. from the people; and
"Whercas, We believe under the
present antiquated Instruments OF
authority the people are deprived OF
the right of local se'f.government;
and,
Whereas, Under this system dis
honest and irresponsible men attain
high Official positions; the people are
taxed to oppression: public moneys
are Squandercd; enterprise and bust.
ness are retarded; public servants be.
come arrogant and oppressive, while
the people have no redress; political
trickstels aspire TO and obtain high
official positions that they may re-
plenish their own pockets at the ex.
pense of the taxpayers; and,
Whereas. Because of these OF.
fences against public morals ana
municipal prosperity the name of
our beloved city being prostitute"
and her people oppressed; hereloF+
be it
"Reso'ved--First, That munich
pal reform Is positive demand auf
an lmper ative duty;
"Secohd That the citizens her.
assembled are in full sympath'
and accord with The Citizens Re
form League in lts efforts to secure
TO the people anhoncst government
Third That Eleventh ward
citizens tender to the Citizens Rec
form League their hearty co.oper-
alton In its Efforts for reform; an<
be it further
"Resolved, That We, the citizen..,
assc mbied here. will refuse to sup
port any Candidate for The General
Assembly who refuses to pledge
hImsct TO work and 10 vote, where
oe ecasion is presented tor municipal
reform aud for the adoption OF Z
new city charter that vii! guaran.
tee to the people Of Wilmington To-
cal el:-governmcnt; and be it fur
lher
"Resolved, That we have assem-.
bed TO solicit and request the co.
operation OF all loy al citizens, ire
spcc,lve OF party creed, who are
interested in municipal reform, to
the end that dishonesty. debauch.
cry and usulpatlon may be driven
from high places and government
by the people and for the people
secured in lieu Of the one.mau
power that row dominates our city By.