The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-30
GRANGER TELLS ABOUT
REFUSAL OF USE OF HALL.
Continued from page One.

Utk W tGl Nbui dNA'ililoH w eh W
ourrence which ! fear may have been a
design OF some INSCRIPTIONS person tn use
the name OF your paper without authority
and to pass himself of as one of your
representatives.
On Wednesday October y, in reply To
a telephone call at my office, I vas asked
II / could give the Journal any informa-
ton I'm regard 10 the difficulty which. the
speaker said, the Journal had heard the
Democrats were having IN hiring halls In
the city. I replied that | could not give
an interview over the telephone, but that
IL the speaker would call at my office !
should be glsd TO tell him what | knew
I'm regard To IL.
In a few minutes a very young man,
somewhat heavy in build and OF medium
height, whom l had never seen before,
called at my Office and said that he was a
representative of the Providence Journal
and repeated the question asked over the
telephone. The following conversation
then took place. G quoto from steno-
graphic notes made at the tins by my
secretary
In reply to the question | said, The
Democratic Campaign committee met yes
terday and discussed the question OF hold
ing meetings. They felt that the issues
before the people could best be met by
public discussion and wanted therefore TO
hold a large meeting in Providence. OF
course, as you know, Providence Is a pc
| culiar city i'm having but one large hall
since the burning OF Music hall. A mes
senger was sent Immediately 10 secure
Infantry hall for one night between that
day and election time.
NOT FOR DEMOCRATS.
He came pack and reported that he
asked n he could engage Infantry hall for
some night between that date COct. 2D,
and November 7th; that the person In
charge OF the hall asked him for what
purpose he wished IL, and he said for a
meeting. He was asked what kim OF a
| meeting and he replied a political meeting.
He was then asked whom he represented
and he said the Campaign committee of
the Democratic State Central committee
and then the reply was given him that the
hall was engaged for every night except
| Sunday nights until after election. No
other conversation was reported.
The Reporter-would there be any pos
slbility OF having II on either or those
Sunday nights?
Mr.. Granger-I think not.
The Reporter-Have the committee done
anything In regard TO obtaining any other
halle
Mr.. Granger-There Is no other large
hall that 7 know Of. but If you Know of
| any one WHO VIII come lOTNHIN dlu Dul
Infantry hall at the disposal OF the com
mittee we should be very glad to take IL.
| would take II myself. My experience
OF last year In attempting to get the
Providence opera house (Which I engaged
but the agreement was afterwards can-
celled). would lead me 10 think II would
be impossible To secure Infantry hall. OF
course. we wish a free discussion of po-
litical conditions and think IL Is good for
both parties. l do not think there IL any
thing I'm the American political life which
takes the place of open discussion by both
parties. The right of free speech Is
something which is very precious to the
ordinary American citizen.
CITIZENS UNION FAILED TOO.
/ was told by one of the officers OF the
Citizens union that the Union had also
failed some time ago TO get an open date
for Infantry hall.
The Reporter understood so, but did
not want to say so unit ] found out
definitely.
Mr.. Granger-I did not go 10 the hall
myself, but | have no reason 10 doubt
the report which came back.
The Reporter-Have the committee de-
cided what they will do about tho mat.
ter?
Mr.. Granger-Wherever we can obtain
small halls. which | hope will be In every
ward in the city, meetings will be held
Personally, II | were running for office
and knew that my opponent coud not Sc
cure a hall In which TO discuss the issues
OF the campaign. | should feel that | had
"A very poor case II I did mot offer M
opponent the use Of the hall for one.
half OF the evening TO present his side
OF the question.
The Reporter thank you for the In
formation.
TOLD OF A HOWL
As no report of this interview with M
has appeared in your paper, but on the
contrary you nave referred to the howl
q use your own words), Of Democratic
citizens over the hiring OF halls by Repub.
llcans. with the intention OF preventing
the holding Of any large Democratic
meeting I'm Providence. as un@arranted
by the facts. l fear that | was Imposed
upon by the youth who called upon mC
and that you are not i'm possession of tbs
ard that yo uare not in possession OF the
real facts In the case.
Ordinarily an application for "A hall foi
a night when IL is engaged Is met by ar
immediate statement to that effect, bul
YOU will notice that In this case the agent
for the hall refrained from stating tina
it was engaged until he had, by a series
OF questions. learned exactly Tor what
purpose the hall was desired, when he Al
| OliIN FAlos l1N Nv 'N ~ 80
beginning, lhe hall is engaged for every
evening from this day until after the III
of November election day..
In this connection IL seems pertinent n
refer to tho experience OF the Citizens
Union. am credibaly informed that thi'
BODY sent a representative TO the hal
several weeks since. on stating the pur
pose of the meeting. which II was desired
should be held, the agent called up tn
secretary OF the Republican state centra
committee, and after consultation witt
him reported that the Republican commit
tee had the refusal OF tho hall FOR ever,
vacant night until after election. and tina
as they were expecting speakers from on
OF the state and could not tell when the!
would come. they must hold the hall 10
every night. The Citizens Union, there
fore, were unable TO secure the hall.
ALL WOULD HOWL"
I am not sure whether they also. II
the elegant language OF your paper. hav'
"howlea," but I am quite confident that a
these facts become public every fair
minded citizen, no matter OF what party
will howl"