The New York herald., 1875-10-20
THE CAMPAIGN.
The Opposing Armies Taking
Up Their Positions.
The Mistakes of an Impracticable
Party Dictator.
KELLY OR THE PEOPLE {?
What Is Said About the Candi-
dates on Both Sides.
KELLY Oh THE PEOPLE ?
RECORDER HACKETTS FIGHT

The local campaign upon which the city is just
ing would have probably been somewhat tame and
spiritless affair had been for the popular feeling
engendered by John Key's determined opposition to
the nomination OF Recorder Hackett which desired
by a majority Of the Tammany organization, and
garded by many Of the most prominent of Mr. Kellys
associates an act of justice and political expedency
Prior to the assembling of the Tammany Judicial Con-
vention strong efforts made by influential demo
induce the dictator orego his personal OBJ
jectons to the Recorder and to place his the
ticket for reelection the ground of his rmness and
fidelity on the Bench committee of sachems waited
on Mr. Kelly and, it is also said on Governor Tden,
to reason the question with him. The substance
OF their argument that Recorder Hacketts judicial
career had already met the approval OF the New
York press, almost without exception; that reform
principles demanded the retention of upright and fear
less judges on bench that after Recorder Hackcts
refusal to yield up the patronage of his court to Tam
many, the very fact of his nomination by Tammany
would prove unfounded character Of the charges
that in selecting candidates for Office Mr. Kelly was
influenced by personal prejudices and personal kngs
and that the desire of Tammany place reliable
partsans in all the courts having criminal Jurisdiction
1t this pressure from within the party induced
Kelly to make his personal attack the Recorder in
the Convention, attack which initiated the personal
AROUSED
The course of Mr.. Kelly in the Tammany Convention
the signal for activity and interest the cam
paign that would otherwise have been wanting. The
Tammany democrats were of course whipped into ST.
lence by the crack OF the Discipline Committees whip,
which constantly ringing in their ears. But the
Independent democrats and those who do not
ask Office patronage for their friends the hands of
the Boss did not hesitate to express their conviction
that Kelly had made great and probably fatal bunder
and that to say the very least he had consoli-
dated the opposition against Tammany and jeopardzed
what would otherwise have been certain victory. 1t,
true that he had put field some good candi-
dates whose fitness for the positions assigned them
the ticket not to be questioned This however
did not recompense for his Abandonment of recog-
nized reform principle by refusing to aid in keeping
faithful judge the Bench for his indulgence of
personal prejudice the expense OF his
party and of the public interests 1t soon
became evident that those who had warned Kelly
Of the danger of his policy had been mistaken in
their judgment The people generally expressed in
dgnation at the attempt TO sacrifice the Recorder be-
of his refusal to allow his officers
lectcd for him by Kelly from the Tammany poll
tcans and became evident that they intended TO
elect judge who had established claim to their con-
fdence despite Tammany Hail. The only voices that
raised in approval of the action of the Tammany
Convention came from well known policy dealers, and
from the criminal classes generally.
THE REPUBLICAN, AND ANTI-TAMMARY REVIVAL
This unmistakable public sentiment independent of
party not lost sight Of by the republican anti
Tammany leaders. With much shrewdness they seized
upon at once and resolved shape their as
to meet and encourage by recognizing the popular de-
mand for the denomination OF officers who had proved
their fidelity and capacity. The Republican Conven-
tion met promptly, adopted resolution declaring
they would ignore party and unite peoples ticket
ability instead of political standing In accordance
with this resolution they renominated Recorder Hacket
and District Attorney Phelps leaving the balance OF
the ticket to be subsequently agreed upon In all their
after actions they adhered good faith to tho principle
they had la down in their resolution The result has
been the formation OF union peoples ticket,
posed of fair men, supported by the republican and
anti Tammany democratic organizations, and generally
indorsed by the popular, voice
is CANDIDATES.
SO far as the candidates concerned public senti-
ment unquestlonaby indorses nrst and foremost Re-
corder Hackett and District Attorney Phelps There is
principle about the election Of these two candidates
which really underles the whole excitement attendant
on the canvass.
RECORDER HAcKETr
Recorder Hackett has made an excellent Judge. He
has been the terror of the criminal classes and has
done his best hold in check that increase of crime
Attributable to the hard times and to police ineiciency
which has atterly become SO alarming Nowhere
throughout the city, except in the corner groceries
owned by Tammany committee men, or in dens of
namy and crime can charge against the Recorders
short-haired nebrate will tell you in a confidential
whisper that 'Hackets been too (adjective) severe
that "he give twenty year TO Gallows Dick only for
ro66ng and threatening to murder his old father and
mother y or will cite other equally outrageous
sentence passed by the Recorder. But not word
be heard from any reputable citizen casting
upon the Recorders judicial action during eight years
OF service. Recorder Hackett is therefore ndorsed
by all the opponents OF Tammany by all indcpen-
dent selfrespecting democrats inside Tammauy and
by that large class of citizens which does trouble
itself greatly about political divisions aud party lines,
when touched
OF duty aroused, what is known ''thc silent
voten OF the city The Germans In their sturdy indie
pendence and sense Of right arc also in favor of Re-
corder Hackett. They do not love the power,
and the dictatorship OF Kelly very offensive in their
eyes Hence they will be found this year generally OPP
posed TO Tammany, and especially the Recordorship
DISTRICT PHELPS.
District Attorney Phelps, as a republican, could not
of course, expect Tammany nomination. Under
ordinary circumstances he would be the candidate OF
his party against democratic nominee aud the only
question would be the illness of the latter for the posi-
tion. But Mr. Phelps has been subject TO the same
OF terrorism has been attempted over his Office no
has been constantly threatened with charges and with
removal, and the rumor that Kelly was attempt
ing to get hold Of his Office part Of a plot
for the absorption by Tammany Of all the machinery bv
which the criminal laws are operated enforced in
the city seemed TO be confirmed by these undue attempts
nure the character OF the District Attorney espe-
cally when united with the personal crusade against
the Recorder II due to District Attorney Phelps 10
say nothing has been established showing any i'm
proper official conduct his part The action OF the
Tammany Convention has now made Mr. Phelps the
candidate not only OF his party, but OF all the
elements in the city opposed to Tammany and unwill
ing to place the criminal machinery in the hands of
Kelly. Mr. Phelps is well spoken Of among the people
at large and Is enthusiastically supported by hts own
party
PETER n. oLNEY.
MT Peter d. Olney is the Tammany candidate for
District Attorney and personally unexceptionabc
II he had not been badly handicapped by John Kelys
mistakes In the Convention he would no doubt have
polcd a strong party vote HI is the law partner OF
Francis c. Barlow Is favoritc of Charles oConor,
who frequently consults with him, and active
participant the proceedings against the old "rng -
The objections made 10 him not In any way atrib
utable TO lack Of personal fitness for the Office for
which he is a candidate but arise from the fact that
John Keiy's action in the Tammany Convention seri-
ousy damaged the whole ticket, and made the people
feel that to elect the Tammany Judges and District At
torney would be to give John Kelly dangerous
power, and make him more overbearing and dctaoral
shara