The broad ax., 1926-02-27

The coming election, which will be
held April 18th, brought out an in
spring gathering to listen to the dis
cussion of the better civic order Of
things which involves the election OF a
United States senator, state superin-
tendent Of public instruction, state
treasurer and SO on The occasion
carried with it historical conditions;
it was held on the ffty-second day of
the year, which marked day for each
week that will have come to pass be-
fore the year is closed; again the
gathering was assembled in the his
toric educational institution dedicated
to the honor of Wendell Phillips, whose
words of defense of the people of
our group tells lasting story.
Mr. Harvey A. Watkins, chairman
Of the occasion, called the meeting to
order and the Metropolitan Commu-
nifty choir, under the direction of that
matchless wizard of music, Prof. J.
Wesley Jones, marched in, took their
places and sung America" joined in
by the entire audience. Invocation
was offered by Rev. J. R. Harvey, pas
tor of the Cosmopolitan Community
church, 5227-29 South Wabash avenue.
The choir then rendered Deep River, II
selection by our own Harry T. Bur
leigh
Before the chairman introduced the
first speaker, the vast auditorium was
we'll filled with citizens who came
from every section of the south side,
eager to hear the important things to
be said by the various speakers. The
lessons given were impressive, con
vincing, and important from the fact
that the information given dealt with
the election of men to control the hos
pitfalls, asylums, county finances, the
reconstruction of roads, and the county
ballot.
Mr.. Harvey A. Watkins, chairman OF
the meeting, briefly stated the object
of the meeting after which he intro
duced the first speaker, the Hon. John
F. Devine, clerk of the probate court
who has served the people in this
capacity for seven years and whose
efficiency has made a profit for the
taxpayers Of this county Of $5I2.0OO
The recommendations given from the
county board, whose majority is
Democratic, pay him the highest trib-
ute that has ever been paid a clerk OF
this court He comes to the people
for the Office Of county treasurer purely
upon his record as their servant. He
discussed the various provisions of inter
est that should revert to the county in
sustaining its various institutions and
guaranteed to pay a greater sum to the
people Of this county BY careful,
systemized business conducted Office
than had ever been paid before. He
is making the campaign purely upon
his record and not upon the amount
of money he could spend in it. He
stated that he had been told not to
come to the meeting in the 'black
belt" from the fact that the multi
millionaires had all the colored votes
in his pocket and what he did not have
he was financially able to purchase.
and that he would not receive ten
votes from a precinct in the entire
district, but he believed that our group
represented just as much courage. and
knew the value of a worthy public
servant and man who had been loval
to the party and he was willing to
take his case before them feeling that
he would justly receive the same con
sideration as the candidate who made
the open statement that their highest
constitutional rights were purchas-
able. In closing, he appealed to the
men and women to give to him just
consideration at the primary to be
held April 18th, and when he shall
have been nominated every department
in his Office would give to them an
equal opportunity.
Following Mr.. Devine was a selec-
ton from Verdi, rendered BY Nine.
Adelaide Herriot of st. Louis, No,
with Mrs. Cleo Dickerson Holloway at
the piano. This selection was so much
enjoyed by the audience that the
singer was forced to render an encore,
Comm Through the Rye" which she
did in a most acceptable manner.