The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-14

In Mozart hall last evening a thou
| sand Democrats cheered themselves
hoarse in venting their approval of the
| local DemocracyS appeal for an ex-
| preston of a vote Of confidence on May
3, and vOciferously applauded the an
| swer of the Democratic orators to the
| Republican charges of extravaganza
and maladministration.
1t was by far the most enthusiastic
and also the best attended of the po-
| litical gatherings thus far in the cam
| paign, those present realizing before
they came that they might expect the
Democrats to strike the keynote of the
campaign now at fever heat.
There were present people from all
walks of life. Every seat was taken
and fully three hundred late Corners
| were compelled to stand in the rear of
the hall. But good nature prevailed
| throughout and there was not a fea-
| ture of an unpleasant nature to mar
| the occasion.
Mayor r. A. Smith arrived at about
| o'clock and was half way down the
aisle on the way to the box before he
was recognized by the crowd. Then fol-
| lowed a scene that is seldom witnessed
| at political gathering. Gray bearded
younger and stronger enthusiasts in
! showing their love for the venerable
mayor of the city. Cheer succeeded
cheer, and when this exercise grew
wearisome those present took their
| seats and for another five minutes
made tremendous uproar by clapping
| their hands and stamping their feet.
| The mayor bowed to his friends and
! hIIf
newal of the enthusiastic reception that
| had been accorded him.
| Louis Betz, the candidate for comp
troller; Otto Bremen, the candidate for
| treasurer, and a group of candidates
for the city council were in turn given
a cordial reception. While this was
| going on inside there was a Wild
( scramble at the entrance to the hall for
| admission, it being estimated that at
| least 500 people were turned away for
| the reason that it was impossible to
| pack another person into the hall.
Republicans in Crowd.
! A number of leading Republicans
were in attendance, including DR.. Haas,
| the vice chairman of the Republican
| committee; Frank Haskell, secretary of
| the committee; Oar F. Reese, a leading
| speaker for the Republican ticket, and
| several others. They watched with
much interest the enthusiasm of the
great throng and did not appear to
be greatly pleased with the fact that
| it was necessary to turn hundreds away
| for lack Of room.
The assemblage was called to order
| by F. A. Pike, vice chairman Of the
| Democratic campaign committee, who
presided in the absence of G. A. F1em-
| ing, the chairman. Thomas Daggett
was introduced and read the platform
that had been agreed upon by the COM
| mittees and candidates, moving it's
| adoption. The declaration was received
with loud cheers and approved without
a dissenting vote.
| The sensation of the evening was the
address of the first speaker, Edward
| Peterson, of the First ward. deputy
| county assessor, who had prepared
| for the occasion document complete
| ly refuting the tax claims of the Re-
publlcans and really seems to put
| them on the defensive. In slow
! measured terms, without oratoricaI eff
| fort, the speaker presented the facts
/ and figures that show that outside Of
/ the increased amount allowed the
| schools, which he contended was nee
| eSsary, the city government for 1903
| cost less than it did in 1894 when Col
! Wright was mayor. He said:
Answers With Facts and FIGURES.
The Republicans have seen fit to make
| taxes the issue. On this point we are
| ready to meet them and say to the voters
| that all we ask is that they look at their
| tax receipts. We have expected that the
| Republicans would present other features
! than mere candidates, but we find before
| the people the same old cries, the same
! old issues, the same old charges. Their
| tax issue is complex and too great to be
| treated in light and scornful manner,
| such as is being done by our Republican
| friends will trace one or two points.
| The basis Of the per cent tax rate is
| based upon the assessed valuation The
! assessed valuation of the city has been
| reduced $50. 000,0 00 since Col Wright was
mayor of the city. The Republican tax
experts go on the theory that the mill tax
rate is the measure of actual taxation,
| when the only correct measure is the
money paid on a given piece of property.
| This proves the fallacy of figuring alto
| gether on the mill rate in the payment of
! taxes. For the benefit Of the schools there
| Is now levied about 7-mill tax, whereas
| in Col. Wrights time as mayor there was
| a 2-mill rate.
| Col. Wright's Taxes Are Less.
AS complete answer to the campaign
| claims of the Republicans | will read you
| correct statement of the tax situation,
| and show by it that many of the leading
| Republican candidates for office are today
Ire-et