The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-04
CITIZENS UNIONS
R0USING RALLY
Band Concert EnIivened Meet.
Ing at Unitarian Church.
AGAINST REP. AMENDMENT
Speakers Designated Amendment Proposed
This Time as a Sop, and Urged Voters
10 Reject Convention Wanted.

There was a rousing rally OF the Citi-
zens Union in the old Unitarian church
edihce on Mathewson street last night,
at which Hon. Rathbone Gardner, Prof.
William Macdonald OF Brown university
and Judge James Pirce were the speakers.
Letters OF regret were sent by Bishop
William McVckar and Matthew Harkins
OF the Episcopal and Catholic dioceses,
respectively.
The hall was attractlvely decked in flags
and bunting. and Capones band rendered
excellent music, and as the temperature
was high the meeting started out under
favorable auspices.
Alderman Charles ID Sisson introduced
Henry ID. Sharpe as chairman. The lat
ter spoke In part as follows:
There has been some curiosity on the
part OF the governor as TO what the Citi-
zens Union Is and under whose auspices
its meetings are held. l will tell him.
We are not large in numbers, nor are
we a party, for there are among US some
Democrats and some Republicans. We
are strong in principles and hope 10 be
energetic In their assertion. We regard
with disgust the attitude of those who
ceem 10 think that certain group or
people are better qualified 10 govern the
state than the whole body OF the voters,
and regard this attitude as against demo-
cratic principles.
1--WE are against special privileges or
any sort and think the people ought TO
have a square deal. We think that politi-
cal shortcomings have an injurious effect
on our moral welfare. There are certain
defects I'm our fundamental law which are
detrimental to our welfare and 10 the well
fare OF future voters, and we believe that
these defects can best be remedied by
constitutional convention
MR.. GARDNER GOT OVATION.
Rathbone Gardner was introduced as
Republican OF the Roosevelt sort ana
was Obliged to wait for the demonstration
TO cease. lie began saying that when men
OF the callbre and standing of Mr.. Sharpe
take the position which he has taken, the
tide has turned and the best men In the
state are to lead on to better things.
He stated that the gathering was not
political meeting I'm the large sense. In
that IL was not held to advocate the spu-
port OF the nominees OF any one party ex-
cept wherein they advocated the princl-
pies espoused by the Citizens Union. The
speaker said that the body had its birth
McVickar. few men circulated pam
phlets exposing the corruption existing In
certain towns Of the state.
Another group OF men was called to-
gether during the last session of the leg
islature and presented bill providing for
an amendment 10 the constitution, calling
for the holding OF n constitutional con-
vention. This bill was killed in commit
tee
The Citizens Union committee then
went to the Republican State central
committee and asked that organization 20
assist them In getting the bill through,
but, according to the speaker, the leaders
told them that such n proceeding would
be bad politics and that the people were
not Interested"
The citizens the invent to the Demo-
cratic state central committee, and were
informed by the chairman OF that body
that the Democrats would advocate the
passage OF the measure. I'VE were COM
PEELED TO ally ourselves with the Demo-
Gratis said Mr. Gardner. because the
other party wouldn't aid us. not because
there are more Democrats than Republi-
cans among us"
TO REJECT THE AMENDMENT
letter was read from Bishop Harkins
expressing regrets and his sympathy with
the union I'm its efforts to secure a con-
Judge James A. Pirce was next intro
duced and spoke along lines similar to
those followed by Mr. Gardner. and said
that he would rather trust himself with
the members Of the Citizens union than
with their critics. particularly with that
master OF hou and jeers who has so
abused them"
Professor William Mcdonald OF Brown
university, chairman OF the Citizens
union. took up the matter Of the pend
ing amendment and picked that measure
In pieces. He said that there Is but one
issue in this campaign, that of whether
or not the people shall be given an op-
portunity TO say whether or not they wish
TO continue under the present regime, or
change both the gang and the regime"
The pending amndment he characterized
as "A sop and tho voters were urged TO
reject Il and thus express their desire
for a proper revision ot the constitution.
through the medium OF constitutional
convention.
lie said that those who will vote for
the amendment next Tuesday may be d-
vided into two classes-those who are
paid and those who haven't read the