The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
CITIZENS VOTING LEAGUE
ADDRESSES BY A. l.. MASON AND
DIR. GEORGE e. HUNT.
An Audience at the Y. NC. A. In
formed How Honest Government
May BE Brought About.

at the Y. NJ. c. A. yesterday afternoon.
The services were arranged TO excite inter-
est in Christian citizenship. Addresses were
delivered by Augustus Lynch Mason and
DR.. George E. Hunt, secretary of the Com
mercial Club. The Bible lesson, read by
Secretary Neighbors, of the Y. NJ. c. A,
was Elijah's retreat TO the cave from the
worshipers of Baal who sought his life. He
found not the voice of God in the wind, nor
the earthquake, nor the fire, but in the
still small voice that commanded him to
annoint Jehu. Mr.. Neighbors said this les
son taught that God accomplishes his re-
forms through more powerful agencies
than earthquakes and storms-through the
voice of conscience.
Among those who were drawn to the
meeting were Police Judge Stubs, Chair
man Newlin, of the Prohibition State COM
mittee, Lucius B. Swift and the Rev. Joshua
Stansfield.
The address Of Mr.. Mason was short but
Illuminating to the theory on which the
league will be constructed. City govern
ment he said, was the plague spot of Amer
lea. The exposures of the Tweed ring the
Lexow commission, the Philadelphia gas
ring, the Chicago boodlers and the st. Louis
corruptionists he cited to sustain the fact
that the larger municipalities get the more
temptation for corruption, the more offices
are sought by dishonest men. He had
gladly Joined with the spirit of Colonel
Lilly twelve years ago in supporting a de-
mand for new city charter in order to
make Indianapolis a better place to live
in. Then he thought proper laws would ac-
complish all reforms.
MAN BEHIND THE LAW
Now he says the phrase that was coined
during the Spanish-American war, 1.-THE
man behind the gum" could be made avail
able as an explanation of the purposes of
the Citizens League, of whose executive
committee he is member, by making it
read 1.-The man behind the law" That was
the key to the reform which the league
wished to establish The city charter had
only partly fulfilled the expectations of it's
authors; all had been accomplished by law
that could be accomplished; it was now a
question Of the man.
The city government had three important
functions that should be vigilantly pro-
tected-the collection of taxes and improve
ments assessments land their disbursement,
the enforcement of law and the making of
quasi-public contracts. In the performance
or the frSt-named discrimination after the
adoption of specifications for public works
would enrich contractors and officials at
public cost; in the second the granting of
franchises that operated to pay large divi-
dendS on oyercapitalized corporations; in
the third the lax enforcement of the police
powers due to weak official or powerful
personal or political considerations
Mr.. Mason said he was not opposed to
political machines per Sc, but when they
dld not put up good men they should be
opposed. There are many good men in the
machines. What he believed was practical
was to cast aside party affiliation in munic-
1pal elections and vote for the best men; to
encourage the machines to nominate good
men if in no other way than by defeating
their bad candidates. There was a large
independent element in Indianapolis that
league proposed so long as 1t was organized
in the interest of common honesty and
common decency.
LEAGUES PRACTICAL WORK.
DR.. Hunt, in his address. dealt with the
practical work of the Chicago Municipal
Voters League, which had been so success
full that the corrupt city legislature has
been overthrown and now two-thirds of the
seventy members are known to be honest
men. The league operates through an ex-
ecutive committee. maintains offices all the
year and receives advice from every pre-
cinct in each ward. So powerful has its
influence become that the parties of Chi
cago now consult it with reference to the
selection of candidates. we'll knowing that
its campaigns against unfit candidates are
likely TO be effective. The only known
members of the Citizens League here will
be the executive committee of seven men.
Others who affiliate will be known only to
this executive committee. The league will
investigate the records of all candidates
| and impartially report the facts for the
voters. If one party dominates a good man
and the other a bad one. then the good one
will receive the Endorsement of the league;
If both nominate bad men then the league
will support an independent candidate
known to be ht; but the league will not
have any candidates of its own under any
circumstances. In the concrete its prin-
ciples are:
To secure the nomination and election of
aggressively honest and capable men, ire
| spective of party affiliations. to all city,
| township and county offices.
To secure an efficient and thoroughly
businesslike administration of municipal
| township and county affairs.
To watch the conduct of public affairs by
officials with view to making a public re-
port on these matters.
After the services number signed men,
bership cards and gave them to Dr. Hunt