The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-05
ADDRESSED
HEBREW
YOUNG men
Several Prominent Democrats
Were Present at Gathering Of
Independent Political Club.


Political club held a meeting IN What
Cheer hall on North Main street last
night, which was attended by several
we'll known Democrats, including Gov.
l.. r. C. Garvin, Representative John +.
Fitzgerald and Executive Secretary
Robert GJeve.
The melting was for the purpose OF
getting general Information on the pres
ent situation, but the Republican speak
ers who were invited. did not put In an
appearance.
Leonard N. Zisman acted as chairman
and he introduced Mr.. Fitzgerald as the
nrst speaker. The speaker said In part:
This seems To be the year Of tndepend-
ence and this Is country OF independ-
ence, so 1 don't know but you have
very good name for your club. under
stand II is the intention Of your club to
prepare your people in this city TO be-
come citizens and I would like to ex-
plain the methods by which a foreign
born citizen may become an American"
He then briefly described the require
ments governing naturalization I'm order
that n man might become a registered
voter.
IF there L. any good coming out OF
government IL must come through the
people who take an interest in 1t. You
hear a great deal about bosses and the
way they manage things, but boss.
after ALL has only one vote, the same
as any of you. II anything Is wrong
in Providence, or in the state. or In the
United States, IL is the fault OF the
people For II the men in the power OF
the government do not do right. the
people should drive them out. Who
ever seeks your vote for office. you
should impress upon HIM the fact that
he goes there as your servant. He Is
put there to work in your interest ana
the public interest, not to work for him
self or to fatten his pocketbook. When
he does not work for your interest you
want to turn him out.
II understand that It is the purpose
OF your club 10 arouse the interest or
your people and see that they put them
selves in a position to exercise their
political privileges II we. as city, had
what was due us from the street railway
company, the gas, electric light and tele-
phone companies, for the use OF the city's
streets, you wouldn't have half the taxes
you have at present. And you wouldn
have the Circumstances you nave IN
Providence today. Why. you are under
a guardianship, practically no better of
than the people in the insane asylum.
You have nothing whatever TO say about
the control OF your police department.
Governor Garvin was the next speaker
and he saidi
II have been much interested in what
your chairman has said about the pur-
noses OF your organization. 1t Is or I'M
portance that every citizen take an ac-
tive interest In politics. 1t is not neces-
sary to have dirty politics; II all rests
with the people I might point out ways
in which the people have been deprived
OF their rights. / have known OF law
being passed that practically gave mill
lion dollars to several citizens In this
state. Now the people had to pay this
81. 900. COO I'm the money they paid TO the
monopolies, and there are number or
monopolies. in this state.
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM is WRONG
.'I have been nominated for governor
again. and I think that when the other
candidate In nominated, which will be
done in two days II would be well IL both
OF us could come here and speak before
you. have been speaker In company
with Mayor Fitzgerald many times and
we generally agree on most points. But
can't agree with him that the
fault Is with the system OF elections. II
is system that goes back several CEN
turtles The election in many cases prac-
tically takes place in the caucus. In fact,
our bad caucus system is all due to a bad
electoral system.
1T want to call your attention to one
stead OF having wards or localities repre-
sented, why not have opinions represent
ed7 Instead OF having 10 wards repre-
sented. why not have 10 opinions? How
could that be done7 BY having a general
ticket Instead OF having each ward elect
on alderman. have the candidates select
ed without regard TO their locality Each
voter would vote for one. and the 10 hav-
ing the most votes would be elected In
that way you might have Hebrew can
didate. and be represented In the city
government. This plan has been adopted
in Belgium and with great success.
"At all events there should be a change
In the electoral system These matters
should be talked over by you in open
meeting. and you should make every ef-
fort 10 have your voters registered, and
have them act as Independent men, ready
TO vote as they see best.
Secretary Grieve spoke next. saying
that generally In every state the people
can very easily manifest their will by
their vote, but In this state that power
has been very largely taken away. Here
the political managers. he said. had by
their internal skill" as IL might be
called. got things in their own hands. ir-
respective Of how the people might vote
Henry Shaw OF the Third ward was the
last speaker. and made n 1o-minute ad-
e..