The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-17
TAMMANYS TRUMP CARD.

In the session OF 1870, the Democrats had q
majority of in the Senate and 16 in the
House of Representatives of the New York
Legislature. At the last election this majority
was cut down in the House to one, and even
this meagre margin was obtained by Tam
many Hall only by counting out Repubh-
can who was clearly elected in one of the New
York city districts. At the next election, it
was more than probable that the Republicans
would have obtained clear majority in the
House, and Tammany Hall determined to
make the most of the present session. But
few days ago, in an evil hour, one Jim Irving,
a notorious desperado who held seat on the
Democratic side FROM New York city, had the
temerity to strike in the face one of the
country Democrats, while the HOUSE was
actually in session. Against this indignity
the country Democrats revolted, and Senator
Tweed who runs the Hoffman Ia nmany
machine, was obliged to force Irving into
resignation. This made the House tie, and
reduced the. Democratic strength to one below
the number required by the Constitu-
tion for the final passage of bills.
The situation was critical. Several of the
most important Tsmmany bills were vet
over to Tweed and two or three confederates
the revenues of New York city, to be disposed
of as they shall deem best, without shadow
of responsibility to the people The Republi-
cans took advantage of the situation by unani-
mousy pledging themselves to vote against
the whole string of Tammany bills, every
member of each house elected as a Repub-
ican signing solemn compact to remain
true to the resolution of the caucus. Tweed
and Tammany were in CONSERVATION. A bill
was introduced at once providing for special
election to fill the vacancy caused by
Irvings resignation. The Republicans voted
solidly against it, at the outset, and Tammany
Hall was dismayed.
In this emergency there was but one course
to be pursued. Somebody must be bought,
and, happily for Tammany Hall, somebody
was for sale. The infamous scoundrel who
put himself up at auction was one Orange S.
Winans, local Superintendent of the Erie
Railroad at Dunkirk, and Republican member
of the House from Chautauqua county,
the representative of a strong Republican
constituency, who was elected by majority
of 1917 in total vote of 6727. On Friday
evening this man Winans said to friend,
''No man can break the compact we have
made and be less than utterly disgraced"
and on Saturday he rose in his place and an
nounced, amidst the enthusiastic applause of
the Democratic members, that he had deter
mined to vote against the Republicans. 1t is
understood that, for so doing, he is to receive
$4,000 in cash, and to be promoted to an
Office in the Erie concern with salary of
$4,000 insured to him for five years.
So Tammany Hall has played its trump card
and won. The iniquitous measures which
were imperilled by Jim Irvings assault on the
country member are sure of passage, and
Tammsny Hall will have at its disposition
for use in the next Presidential campaign the
entire revenues of New York city. Tweed
was playing for high stakes but Jim Irving's
hasty temper came near spelling the game.
A supreme effort was necessary, and it was
made. The bribe offered was too high
for the virtue of man who
has been for years in the employment of Fisk
and Gould. But it remains to be seen
whether or not the renegade will be suffered
to live outside of the penitentiary. Even
in New York there is law which makes
bribery a penitentiary offense. If that law is
not enforced in all its severity against Orange
S. Winans, Tweeds Legislature had better
repeal it forthwith. The Republican party
of New York has for years past been fighting
against terrible odds. A clear majority
of the honest legal voters of the
State are firmly attached to the party,
but Fenton and Conkling have contrived to
rend the organization into two great factions
by their struggle for supremacy, and, with
Tammany Hall presenting a united front,
defeat after defeat has been sustained. When
fate placed it within the power of the party
to put temporary check to the schemes of
Tweed, traitor in the camp was unearthed
who deliberately sold himself and his party
to Tammany Hall. The results of this trea-
cherry are not yet fully developed,
If they are confined to the
simple plundering of the taxpayers of
New York city, it will be well; but, in view
of the ulterior designs of the Tweed conspira-
tors, it is possible that they may extend much
farther and assume much more momentous
proportions. But the greatest calamity that
can befall the cause of honesty and decency
will be the escape of the renegade Winans
from the inst oonaeoueneas of his aaoharons