Sunday Washington globe., 1902-06-29

In response to large number of invita-
tions recently sent out requesting the
friends of A. M. Raymond, to attend an
outing, about three hundred persons, in
cluding gentlemen and ladies', met on the
22d instant in the woods in the vicinity of
the Zoo, where reasons for calling the meet
ing were explained by Mr.. William Dow
ney, who was chosen temporary chairman
Whenever in the course of his remarks Mr.
Raymond's name was mentioned, it seemed
to electrify the hearts of all present.
There was an attempt made at cheering
and whistling, but Mr.. Raymond at once
interrupted the speaker to say, that he had
no doubt but that there were times and
places when and where it was proper for
men to cheer aud for boys to whistle but
that was not the time or place and he sim
cerely hoped all would bear in mind that il
was the Sabbath day and that they we're
gathered as a home mission not to pray,
but to work 'peaceably and in order" while
others do the praying to prevent forced
heathenism at home among 6remen, police
men, and street railway employees, by long
weary hours of labor that not only reflect
discredit upon church influence, but are
a shame and a disgrace to the authorities or
any Christian community. These few words
seemed to have a magical effect, as hand
clapping and waving of handkerchiefs was
the only demonstration Of applause resorted
to fro that time on, except misses when
ever Inspector Ashford's name or that of
the major was mentioned Mr.. Downey's
remarks were as follows
'FTieJldS and FellO7Os Members Of hhe DIS
fySct Tract Society.
I'VE have gathered here not as an organi-
zation, but as friends of the oppresse
whose hands are tied, as it were, against
doing anything to ameliorate their condi.
ton. We have gathered here also for
another purpose and that is to endors
every line that A. NJ Raymond has written,
every word he has spoken to show up the
twin nests of cowardly back. biters in the
District Building and at Police Head.
quarters, who have not the courage Of
honest men to refute charges pressed home
to them, that the system of trials by which
policemen were being deprived of their
hard earnings is demoralizing the force as
we'll as to the effect that they were not only
encouraging a poor ignorant dupe to en-
danger the homes and ieopardize the lives
of hundred or more poor families in the
face of the fire marshals report verifying
the alarming conditions but that the Com.
missioners were winking at an apparent
conspiracy to down the man who has dared
to insist upon a redress of those poor peo-
ple's grievances as we'll as show up delin-
quency and shameless abuse of power by
men who are evidently unfit to fill public
Offices
we have gathered here too as friends to
the rescue, so to speak. of one who might
we'll be called the Napoleon of the District
Since the days of seven years ago, when
after being FIVE years an invalid, we took
him from his bed, as it WERE to take up the
fight he won Of exonerating a fireman who
was thrice found guilty and dismissed from
the Fire Department as a perjurer, Mr..
Raymond has went on to conquer, like one
who knew not the meaning of defeat And
in his battles for the right against odds that
would have overwhelmed and dismayed
nine hundred and niuety-nine in a thousand,
he has gained victory after victory over
those who opposed him as though he were
a giant in combat with so many dwafs
we have seen a superintendent of chari-
ties and three Commissioners fall before the
logic of his pen as by the touch of wand
in the hands Of one having the mysterious
power Of one favored with supernatural
gift And as an expression of our conf
dence in his integrity and honesty Of pur-
pose we have gathered here from nearly all
the walks of life to give him our support
by electing him president of a Reform
League which, as its name implies will be
to bring about reforms In the interests of
taxpayers and the masses and to correct
abuses that stalk giant-like through the
District as though the poor had no rights
which the authorities were in the least in
clined to respect.
Our aim in calling a Citizens Reform
League into existence is not to take the
place of any other organization, but to en-
roll as members persons of every profess
sion business, trade, or occupation what
soever who favor reasonable hours of
service and a fair days pay for policemen,
hremen, street railway employees, and others
whose hours of labor can be consistently
shortened, that their conditions may be inn
proved and the surplus labor absorbed
Past efforts in the interests of minor or
CARNATIONS have so often proven futile for
the want of that public sentiment and sup
port so necessary to success we aim to form
grand auxiliary association that we may ac-
complish by united effort something more
than, could be hoped for by working, as it
were single handed. We might in fact call
the organization about to be started the
helping-hand Reform League, for while
supporting all members in demands that
are reasonable and just with regard to ordi-
nary working hours and a fair days pay,
they in turn will form grand unit to carry
out its prime object
Here it may be fitting to explain that our
prime object is to solve the street railway
strike problem, and to prove the feasibility
Of operating all street railways within the
District Of Columbia at ten tickets for
twenty-five cents. This we propose doing
by creating a fund OF membership fees
which in time at 81 per annum, will be
sufficient to put on necessary number Of
electrical carettes to carry out our project.
I'm this connection wish to quote Mr.
A. NJ Raymouds ARTICLE on cheaper car
fare that has gone the rounds Of the globe
and found ITS way into print Of at least a
dozen languages since it appeared in the
Eve ObeNer three years ago. IL was i'm