The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-25
PRENDERGAST RAPS CAYNOR
DEFINES SEDITION As DON'T
TOUCH Me WHERE rM SOFT.
Tells I.ehish Alumni That something ne.
sides Epictetus Ia Needed 10 RUN =
Gity--Taiks Of Lack of AbIe Men In
city Work-Mr. Wickersham Guest.

sides EpiCtetus IL Needed 10 nun .
Gity--Taiks Of Lack of Ablc Men In
city Work Mr.. Wickersham . Guest.
"A safe definition OF 'sedition." said
Comptroller William A. Prendcrgast last
night at dinner Of the New York Lehigh
University Club at the Hotel Astor. Is
Don't touch me where I'm soft
when you walk home from here to-
night, gentlemen" he continued. III
you should meet foot pad or parhandler
on the way, salute him. Say No sedition
here. my friend. Proceed with your work.
City government is not an individual
enterprise This city cannot be run by
any single individual mind even il 1t
comprehends within itself all the learn
ing OF Epictetus and knowledge of city
government acquired within fifteen
months I'm ashamed to have TO say it.
but this city deserves and should receive
an enlightened and common sense man
agement Where such management ex-
lists you will find the city business trans
acted in way that will receive the strong
appreciation Of the citizens"
The dinner at which $50 Iehigh men were
present to cheer themselves and their
guests was rendered especially to Attor-
ney- General George W. Wickersham. The
Attorney General spoke upon the value
OF a wider college training than one
limited to strictly technical pursuits. in
which Lehigh stands so high. Among
other speakers were Judge Henry q.
Ward Of the United States Circuit Court
Of Appeals. Judge Walter G.. Noyes OF
the United States Circuit Court. Justice
Frederick Z. Crane OF the Supreme Court
in Brooklyn. George f. lde. president OF
the Yale Club: A. X. Gulick. president OF
the Princeton Club. and DIR. Henry s.
Drinker. president OF Lehigh University.
| As Mr. Prendergast rose to speak a son
evening trying to prove his loyalty called
| out:
Are you Irish?"
The Comptroller replied that he most
certainly was Irish.
Il had il in mind not to say anything
about city government tonight, he
/ continued, but IL I said all my Irish
would let me say | would probably be
accused of sedition. l had supposed that
the alien and sedition laws died with
Federalism somewhere back in John
| AdaInss time, but find that nov We nave
notice taken OF sedition by devout
disciple OF Democracy in our own day
Then it Was that Mr.. Prendergast gave
his definition Of sedition.
Il was clear that the audience was in
sympathy with Mr. Prendergast's words
AZ soon as he had answered his friend
who asked him il ne was Irish. but when
he came to the place where he thought
he could safely define "sedition' anc
presented his definition many OF then
jumped to their feet and all cheered
II was more than minute before he wa,
able to resume his remarks.
Mr.. Prender CAST spoke Of the large
number of employees in the city govern
ment-s5 600 appro ximately- and said hs
believed that a large majority of then
were underpaid. especially the profes
r..,'I, ;s that the GOOD men in the citv,,
ranks are exceptions anu poor 'a'en
IN q CITY government 10 ui"coho,'hoa', ~