New-York tribune., 1904-10-20
Il DISMAL FAILURE.
Tariff Reform Mass Meeting" a
Solemn affair.

The widely heralded Tariff Reform Mass Meet
ing OF the Reform Club at Cooper Union last
night was a solemn affair. There were empty
seats on every hand when John De Witt Warner.
the presiding officer. opened the meeting The only
persons standing were the squad OF policemen IN
der Captain McDermOtt, who had been detailed
because somebody anticipated that the meeting
would mark rush to the Parker and Herrick
standard This rush did not materialize. and the
disappointment OF the Reform Club managers must
have been great. for committee ever laboreJ
more jealousy to make meeting a mass in re-
ality well as In
1t developed early that it would b cosey meet
ing, with individuals in the audience talking back
to the speakers and all that. There was just one
trouble with 1.-THE meeting would not stay met
Each speaker sent larger delegation to the doors.
and when Henry George the son OF the single tax
advocate. who was the last speaker, arose he
had few hearers. Considering that the Reform
Club has been giving Judge Herrick handshaking
parties its Ffth-ave.. clubhouse there was little
reference TO the State campaign. The speakers
seemed to think that bolstering Judge Parker was
enough OF task for one evening
Senator Augustus o. Bacon. Of Georgia was the
first speaker. His principal objection to President
Roosevelt was that he was ALI aglow with a spirit
Of war He told some good stories and drew some
pretty word pictures including Of the Presi-
dent studying a map OF AIanchuria. marked with
colored pins to represent the Japanese and Rus
sian armies and another OF him. suspending pub
lie business to talk with Lord Roberts. The
audience amused. but the applause did not
show that they preferred Chief Magistrate bend
ing backward as the Senator assured them Judge
Parker would do if elected.
Then came James H. Eckels. Controller OF the
Currency under President Cleveland. The presiding
officer inconsiderate enough TO recall the fnan-
cial terror and hard times of the last Democratic
administration. 1t gave him an opportunity to
laud Mr.. Eckels official who never fateret
when everything tottering under Democratic
mismanagemeut but the most ardent Democrat
could hardly grow enthusiastic the remem-
brance. The Chicago inanc er had considerable diff
fculty in getting hold OF his audience He lost
favor by saying:
found myself in the two preceding Presidential
campaigns unable TO agree with the then an
poTtant issue Fortunaielv for tbe Democratic
party. the money issue no longer remains TO stir
up sectional strife and divide the Democratic
Just what the meeting expected from Edward
NJ. Shepard Is hard 10 tell They received him
with cheers, and the band played I'VE Won't
Go Home Till Morning" Evidently tho band
master had a sense OF humOr for as Mr..
Shepard got to Juggling with tariff figures the
audience departed in column OF fours almost.
He was down for the real tariff speech OF the
evening" but it was disguised under the Interesting
Wealth with the Government or the United
States" There was a prologue OF yeiled attack
on Chairman Cortelyou for gathering campaign
funds. Mr. shepard tried 70 snow that his sue
paign was due the corporation secrets he had
old guard OF the Reform Club. fully a hundred
strong applauded this OptuiCn vigorously.
The rest of the speech consisted largely OF sta
tlstics Billions and millions were tossed around
as neUsboys toss pennies. Eventually they got
ON mo hqndmastcr's nerves. Mr.. Shepard paused
ana the band burst forth with the blars that had
closed the previous speeches
i hope" cried Mr. shepard that that is the
trumpet of Judgment on protection
The band was hushed, and Mr.. Shepard con-
tinued his speech. -, 49,, -, -.
eo homo vhen MIR. shepard closed moved 20 the
Vacant seats in front and the meeting became
more of "a love feast than ever.
The RoforuI club has, planned another mass mass
have 6eeH semi among the faithful for careful
IiistTibition The gathering may take the form
~ a ,ss -,eetlug " il does not rain and the Re-
publieang don't have counter attraction