The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-23
BIG RALLY
IN THIRD
WARD

There was a big and enthusiastic regis
tration rally at Capital hall last evening
This meeting was one OF the features OF
an extensive and well thought out pro
gram for aiding the party organization
arranged by the Democratic registration
club OF the City OF Providence.
Hon. John J. Fitzgerald OF Pawtucket
and Edward NJ. Sullivan. Esq. secretary
OF the Democratic state central commit
tee. were the speakers. James j. Moan
Jr.. presided. There were over 100 voters
present and though the night was
warm one the speakers received the clo-
sest possible attention and there were IRE
ouent outbursts OF applause
Mr. FitzNrald called attention 10 the
great need OF every citizen that couiu
POSSIBLY do so qualifying himself 10 vote
This year he declared was the most I'M
portant political year that any voter
could recall A constitutional amendment
was 10 come before the people for thelr
Judgment this year which II II passed
would make all efforts for representative
government in this state futile for many
wears 10 come. THE Democratic party
will have 10 go out Of business MT
Fitzgerald asserted II the measure to elect
the members OF the lower house OF the
legislature by districts received the sup
port OF the voters at the polls next NO
yember. Had the proposition been 10 dl-
vide the state into senatorial as well as
representative districts there would nave
been no objection. The amendment only
affected the house Of representatives, ana
the senate was TO remain the same.
Mr. Fitzgerald instanced the way the
Republicans had gerrymanded the city or
Pawtucket He created much amusement
by the way he described the lines or the
wards there. A way would be found 10
keep the Democrats in a hopeless minor
fly in the legislature by Juggling with dis
trct lines.
The speaker said that this one matter
alone called for the citizen TO go TO any
trouble 10 qualify 10 vote. so as 10 be
in q position TO preserve some OF their
rights. He then dealt with the Repub-
iican policies in this state. and In his
usual terse and eloquent style appealed
20 those present as men 10 interest every
one they could in registration.
Mr. Sullivan took UP the questions OF
taxation and minority domination. He
prefacing the discussion OF those sub
1ects by reference TO what he called the
tricks and frauds OF the Republican party
in the campaign and at the ballot box
last fall The speaker denounced In Sc
we're terms the actions or the supervisors
and the wardens and clerks during the
casting OF the vote and at the counting
thereof.
Mr.. Sullivan showed that the domina-
ton OF the small towns in the senate
made the rule OF some 10000 voters de-
pendant on the whims OF some 500 voters.
He referred 10 certain business inter-
ests as being the recipient OF certain
great favors, for which little return was
made TO the state In a financial way.
This aggregation he called the Rhode ISL
and company. and said IL had its fran
chise department. including car plant,
electric lighting department. journalistic
department and political department The
aggregation could afford to contribute
heavily TO the campaign expenses OF the
Republican party because IL practically
escaped taxation. He made a mastery
comparison of franchise taxation In this
etate and the taxation OF the same class
OF property In New York under the Ford
law. recently held constitutional by the
United States supreme court.
Mr.. Sullivan then argued that the COM
promise revenue bill. which passed the
last legislature, put increased burdens on
manufacturing property and real estate.
but left the franchises OF the aggregation
urtroubled.
vote OF thanks was given the speakers
and the meeting then adjourned