The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-08
JOHNSTON
CITIZENS
AROUSED
they Hold a Nesting at MAJ.
ton and Will Put an Ild)pen-
dent Ticket in the Field. \


ton. r. l., aroused 10 the fact that cor
ruption rules in their town that despite
the unfavorable weather that prevailed
last evening the town hall al Manton was
packed 20 oyeriowing with citizens anx-
ious 10 discuss ways and means for secur-
Ing reform.
The people who assembled were called
together by a small poster, which told or
the purpose OF the meeting and enumeI
ated the forms which vice took In their
midst. When the chairman, Mr. Corco-
ran, opened the meeting he explained the
purpose of the meeting more thoroughly.
He deplored the criminal conditions ex-
listing I'm the town. and stated that there
were several specific charges TO be
brought against the town and its oHi-
cials. In substance these were as FOL
! lows: Gamblers use that place as rem
devious, the officials of the town were
auescent in the matter. the saloons were
all opened through Sunday and the keep
ers did not hesitate to sell liquors 10
minors and 10 women: the taxes had In
creased enormously the town was deeper
I'm debt, and the highways were In de-
plorable condition.
MIR. Corcoran stated that since all at
tempts to have one or the other OF the
parties having machine politics IN me
town arrest these wastes and put an enc
TO the vicious practices had failed IL was
time for the citizens themselves TO rise
in their independence and since the mat
ter had TO be performed through pon,
tics put a ticket In the Held that Woulu
not he tied down TO any party or ma
chine. lie said also that some of the
citizens and publications OF Johnston ana
Providence were disposed To consider I.e
meeting one of sore heads and dis
gruntled individuals who had bolted from
the regular machine.
This was not so. but IL was body OF
independent citizens determined TO be
freed from any machine so long as that
machine was In league with vice ana COT
ruption. The citizens had banded 20,
gether for the sole purpose or reforming
/ the town and making II instead OF tne
ridcule OF every other town and city IN
1 the state the model by which all others
/ cluding remarks he introduced the hrst
speaker of the evening, Hon. Ra,hoone
/ Gardner.
Mr.. Gardner opened his remarks by
definition of the word independence and
its relation 10 party politics lie salu
also 'lf Independence meant 70 pe Iee
/ from the party lash when that iasn ., was vas
then IL was the duty OF every Wen meali- M
| ing citizen TO be independent. lf IL was
simply a desire to have ones own WAY hs
/ majority. then II was calamity 10 pe
"If the circular that was sent out bore
| anything of truth in IL then the people OF
! Johnston had a right 10 rise and assert
] their independence for they were not hav-
! ing their rights respected. 1t was true
| that the place had become notorious for
/ license and crime. 1t were far better TO
ioin with one OF the two known parties
| In affecting a change if that were possi-
| BILE but since 1t had been proven 10 be
! futile TO attempt such a thing then 1t
/ was time to put independent strong moral
! men into the positions where the reform
/ was desired.
ITO do such n thing meant work. indi-
/ vidual effort and the backing or public
/ opinion The impetus OF the movement
started tonight must be carried from
/ election TO election. Politicians were at
\ work at all times for the accomplish
\ ment Of their purpose and II the inde-
/ pendent voter is TO keep control Of af-
! fairs he must work incessantly
The conditions prevailing In Johnston
! were not existing because the people OF
that town were more depraved than those
| OF other towns and cities OF the state and
/ country hut because the people there
were Indifferent"
I In concluding he said that the citizens
\ OF Johnston must build their political sys-
tenn upon a solid foundation. elevate the
! politics OF both town and state. effect a
/ change I'm the constitution. perform the
| duties that come to them and use COM
mon sense. and above all work TO put de-
( cent town officials in office.
! When he had concluded Hon. Adm r.
Capron addressed the assembly In a
neighborly style talking in the same
strain OF the previous speaker. He chided
the townsmen for their negligence OF their
/ plain duties and told them that there was
really nothing To fear so long as the peo-
pie attended TO their duties and saw to II
/ that officials did their duty. His advice
was 10 keep the political family as pure
as we did our own private family.
Governor Garvin had arrived by this