The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-15
The Issue Between tho People and the
Erie Ring.

Erie Ring.
While the Erie Railroad jobbers-the word
might as fifty be written with an ''r"--with
that magnificent disregard of decency for
which they have become notorious have been
steadily pursuing for the last six weeks their
accustomed efforts to corrupt the Senate and
Assembly of the, State and to buy up votes
like so much merchandise, they have not
neglected other resorts to defeat legislation
adverse to their interests by the so-called Re-
form Legislature this session. One of their
tricks is to raise on cutlery against foreign
control of the road, and upon this theme they
have been harping every day. Another is, to
admit that the passage of the Classification
act by bribery and corruption was reprehensi-
BILE, but to lay the blame of that work on the
murdered Fisk, and to plausibly urge that,
after all, the Classification act is q good law,
inasmuch as it insures the presence of
experienced men at all times on a board of
directors. Yet another is to endeavor to befog
and obstruct legislation by causing all sorts of
bills to be introduced under the specous mask
of reform, but in reality designed to divert
public attention from the true issue and to
afford timid members an opportunity of shirk-
ing the responsibility of a direct vote in favor
of the 'Ring" they were elected to destroy.
Now, the issue between the people and the
Ring is simply direct and easily understood.
The lawyers who are now pleading so elo-
quently before the Legislative committee for
the rights of corporations and against the arbi-
trary powers alleged to be sought by the At
torney General of the State cannot change
that issue or conceal it from public view by
any amount of legal dust they may raise. In
deed, it appears to be pretty we'll understood
that their long speeches are only made for the
purpose of gaining time, so that the rush OF
business at the close of the session may enable
the Legislature the more easily to do the bid.
ding of the Ring and defeat all reform meas.
ures. The leaders Of the Ring managed long
ago, by the aid of bribed Legislatures and
| friendly Courts and a reckless defiance oil
law, to obtain possession of the property
of the Erie Railroad, in opposition tt
the wishes of large majority of the stock
holders. They would have failed in retaining
| it until this time, however, but for the passage
of the Classification law, which tied the hands
of the stockholders and gave the Ring GER
tain lease of power for at least five years
This special bill was passed by bribing ant
corrupting members. 1t is notorious that thu
men who voted for it, except such as were ir
some manner or another bound to the existing
direction, were almost all paid for their votes
1t is now proposed by Senator OBrien to re
peal the Classification act, thus corruptly an(
unconstitutionally passed, and to give to thu
stockholders of the Erie Railway the privilege
to elect Board of Directors at an early day
Nothing in this bill conflicts with the rights o
any bona fde stakeholder. 1t does not dis
crminate against any of the present directors
or against any of their friends and supporter
who may own stock in the road. It give
vote to every man entitled to one, and pro
vides in every way for fair election.
Is, therefore, not an anti-Ring bill, provide,
the gentlemen who constitute the "Rng
actually represent majority of the stock
holders Of the corporation. If they do not
then they should not claim the right to man
age its affairs aud to hold possession Of ii