The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-04-03
GOOD GOVERNMENT
LEAGUE
lis Political Oath - Information
Which Will StartIe The Public.
SOME FACTS ABOUT SECRET ORGisz,uOsaTRt

To The Free Lance.
had seen and heard -omuchpi the So
called Good Goverum nt League.
sometimes called the yellow Dog cub,
that my curiosity as 10 lis real object
got the better of me. and ! determined
To investigate. saw tDp activities OF
this club principally expressed through
three or iour Young m"n. Identified I'M no
substantial way with the interests
Of your city. and through two or three
others who by icusop of their recent
coming To this city have not become Of
il. and given the citizens any reason tu
suppose that they aIc better or higher
or nhlrr than the average man 900 the
city. and this observation further
prompted enquiry into this organization,
lbs purposes and object \ copy of lis
constitution and bylaws Is before me.
and when read Article two then the
purpose became clear,and all ! had heard
about good government took another
meaning
Article two provides.
The foremost object of this olganiza.
ton shall be- 10 prevent jobhery and cor
mpt practices 10y Office holders in general.
and by public servants of the people of
Fredericksburg in particular, AND BY
ALL LEGITIMATE MEANS TO FUR
TIER AND PROMOTE THE POLlTl-
cal INTERESTS OF ALL OF ITS
MEMBERS. '
l. not this clear in part. and subject to
only One amendment IL should read
"hy all means to further the political in
terc~ts of SOME OF It's MEMBERS. or
it, origuators
have heard OF oath bound societies
among Foreigners. who come to the
hospiiablp shore of America, though
chiefly among the Italians. and the
Chinese: and il was Away. my idea that
irce-born citizens were at all times priv
legged 10 vote as they saw III. with their
conScieuces and their intriieeuce- ~
their guides. and 1t is iuuGamrutal
truth that this idea Is essential 90 all
good government aud all iwc govern
ment but Us read further. Article l. OF
the league passes under review.
ARTICLE Is.
10 is a. follows.
Every candidate for membership here
..t...s ,l.. ,,.,,,,-
beers constituting a quorum present 90
any regular meeting and voting upon
his application II the said appI cation
has been iuvorahly considered by the
Membership Committee or by a three
fourtlr- vote il the Membership Com
mittoe reported hi- application un'aVora-
Il, -holl l.ar rpaI or read for himself "A
copy oi the "hisatl"", ana -uo'''Ii', lIie
same il l"' ,'''i',' u' ''''".i '", ul',,,I''.
or some uein''i OF "'' "' '"' " ~ MY
Nominltt'r-. Ana u" U''iio, S'la.. AN.
tho obligation il open me- 'l,e "i,lou'
first having the irSt' o''oiH ana i'ii,n
Articles oi the constitution h'SiIU'l'I
read To NM livery apl''aN' received
10y vote. shall become . member aii'I
subscribing the following.
OBLIGATION.
I a., snl.mulv -,yenr Tor
,e,r,,., tbot v,il keen secret etall time.
,''..,. .,,,.l I,.,oof,.r oli tLat mov h. said
49,. In. ia .,u,' ,,,.etino al the Good GOV
- 49,. ..t,,.,,f ann,
''''''' ~, - - -, ,,.i,.t,., b..
'V'''''''', ~ ,.-.......';;,.,. ',.,,,
'' ',,,I.'' ,,i h., ~ ,,,.r.. nr.sent
..i So Tor atirul
,ho, Ia a, IN NOT Give H. any per.on mot n
NJ Ills l.oo,. any information
ubat.r.r thn number of members
- Ill.,. some. that I viii NOT disclose u
anv ,.rson nor n member of thi. league
th. nome ri any member oi the samc.and
IF asted bv any rcr4on not member
whether any one is n member or not. /
vii decline In tel, him. or her. and will
owe mo- hint that may disclose either the
names Of ony members. or the number
and strength of the organization. to any
person not member of thu same.
as f,r as can. all the provisions Of the
constitution aud bylaws oi this orgam-