Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-30
TAYLOR In FIFTH
DENOUNCES THUGS
Ex-Direct tor Launches
Whirlwind Drive in
Bloody Ward
CHEERED BY THOUSAND

novn in the Bloody Fifth" Ward. where
s,acial Detective George Eppley was mur-
srod and where thuggery and terror
soivned on primary election day, ex-Direc-
,or Of Transit A. Merritt Taylor last night
Ssmanded the impeachment OF Mayor
smith and the end Of government by
Yearly one thousand residents Of the
.u,oody Fifth" assembled In Majestic Hall
a, Fourth and South streets made him
,be,r champion, to carry their pea against
.hvgRery and intimidation by the police
,nto every ward in the city.
The appearance Of the former director on
.Aa nlatform was his FIRST as a political
sneaker and was the start of a whirlwnd
ssmpaign TO which he dedicated himself
nn,n Philadelphia is rid Of political
pirates"
,.,er in the Forty-fourth Ward, Mr.. Tay.or
- vitriolic addresses accepted on behalf Of
,bs Town Meeting party the gauntlet thrown
So,vn by the Nare-Smith Republican Organi-
sotion at the meeting Of its city committee
two weeks ago and made the Fifth Ward
murder and thuggery thes issue of the cam
paign.
issue the Wares plea of "frame-up" EN-
director Taylor declared that Mayor Smith,
his Administration, contr tCtor rule and in
tInidation and violence by the police and
. hired thugs the issue for the Independents.
The meeting in the Fifth Ward was by
far the largest held since the campaign
was launched following the Town Meeting
urotest against murder rule.
Just as Mr.. Taylor arrived at the nall
three old-time political parades, with red
fire and bands, came from different direc-
tlons and as many of the marchers who
could gain entrance swarmed into the build
ing.
Not a single policeman was IN or near
the building while the meeting was being
held.
Max Herzberg, chairman of the Town
Meeting party committee, presided He
was telling the hundreds of voters who had
assembled to plead for protection from the
polIce that Jimmy" Sheehan is a relic Of
the hog combine" when the former director
entered.
The men stood on their chairs and
eheered while he walked to the platform,
where Thomas F. Armstrong, Town Meet
ing candidate for Receiver of Taxes; Rob
srt s. Bright. Frederick Boyer and Isadore
Stern were seated.
The former director was repeatedly in
terrupted as he denounced the most des-
motto and corrupt dynasty which ever con-
trolled any American city When he de-
olared that the first act of the Town Meet
ing marty IL successful, will be- the inn
neachment Of Mayor Smith Immediately
after election the hall became a bedam.
At the conclusion OF MS speech ne Calleu
unon the citizens of the Bloody Fifth
10 be the first recruits in an army of 10000
20 overthrow government by murder and
every man present responded.
When Mr.. Taylor had concluded, David
Tierkel, who acted as temper lry chairman
Of the meeting, offered resolution drafted
by the citizens of the Fifth Ward, appeal
ing to the voters of the city to crush the
contractor-controlled Organization which
has had the arrogance and impudence tc
make Phiadephians polite Il serfs and to
defle the Republican columns on the ballot
with the names of its henchmen.'
Isadore Stern proposed that the former
Director be delegated by the residents OF
the Fifth Ward to carry their plea through
out the city.
Mr. Taylor went directly to the Town
Meeting party rally in Graceys Hall. Fifty
second and Haverford avenue, and there
recruited $50 voters for his army and
obtained their pledge to free the city from
police thuggery.