New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-17


bitter personalities Thomas J. Creamer going so far
az to give the lie direct 10 John Kelly. The Com
mittee-room was the center of interest to most OF
the prominent New-York politicians Tammany
Hall was represented by John Kelly, Augustus
Scheu Edward l.. Donnelly, Thomas Dunlap.
Thomas Cooper Campbell. James DAILY and others
The anti-Tammany organization was repre-
sented by Oswald Ottendorfer Gideon j. lucker
BENJAMIN Wood, James OBren. +. Nj. BIxby
Robert b. Roosevelt, Ira ShafeT, Joseph Blumentna
and others. The prospects Of the contestants were
eagerly discussed. 1t was accepted, however, ~
foregone conclusion. that the anti-Tammany dee
CATION had no chance of being given seats IN
the Convention, and that the hearing was mer >
matter of form. There "a rather spicy inter ude
to the hearing. One of the members OF the 'oih-
mittee addressing the large crowd IN the room. sn
IF Won fellows will leave the room we viii proceed
TO business" Benz Wood, thinking this ling at
the anti-Tammany delegates, responded warmly
that he and his colleagues Democrats OF older
standing than the speaker and that this remark
showed the bias Of the Committee, and was fair
evidence of the treatment his delegation might eX-
pect to receive from the Committee. II was eA-
planned that the remark was made III Jest, ana no
disrespect intended.
THE CASE OF THE CONTESTANTS FROM ALBANY
The case of the fJar contesting delegates from
Albany County was first taken up Assistant
Attorney-General Fairchild appeared for what Is
known as tie McEwen faction, and /. j. Aelghah
for the contestants. Mr. Fairchld claimed that LIS
delegation bore the stamp Of regularity. and ~ II
had complied III every respect with the requirements
of the rule adopted by the Convention OF ISL th'y
were entitled to recognition MIR. Melghan Oa''o me
claims of his delegation on the assertion tha' tney
represented the great majority OF the Democrats oi
Albany and that they had also compiled WIN al INC
necessary forms in the matter OF election. Eacn
side was allowed fifteen minutes for debate.
THE ANTI-TAsIlfANY MEN ON TIE IAM1iASf DlsP IL
The case of the New-York contestants was tLcn
taken I'D. Fifteen representatives from each SIZE
were allowed to appear before the Committee. The
debate was opened by Robert b. Roosevelt on the
part of the anti-Tammanr delegation. He sad
that the Tammany General Committee. which was
supposed to represent that branch of the Democ-
racy of New-York City, controlled by the
Tammanv Society. a secret organization OF when
John Kelly was the controlling spirit The lam
many Sachems bad the power of determining VINO
should meet in the hall or building owned by the
Society and could thus give the stamp of regularity
70 any General Committee they Jaw iii TO recognize.
This Is a dangerous power to grant any secret socl-
ETY. he said for il gives the power 10 dictate nom
nations and possibly elect bad men to office. II Is
the control of thi, society that enabled Tweed and
his confcdcratcs to continue their reign OF plumber
so long 1t is this power which enabled John Kelly
10 exclude from the Tammany Hall General Com
mittec all who would not bow the knee to him.
Within the past year Mr. Kelly has succeeded III
hacking the Society with so many Of his personal
friends and adhcrens that he is able 10 dictate and
control every election for sachcns and al! the nets
and proceedings of the Society The speaker
claimed that his delegation were elected in strict
accordance with the rules prescribed BY the Con-
vention Of 81. and that they more truly repre-
sented the Democracy of New-York City than those
Of Tammany Hall
Oswald Ottendorfcr went over much Of the ground
covered by the preceding speaker He had nothing
10 say against Mr.. Kelly personally. II was tie Of
canizaton Of which he i the recognized head that he
objected TO- II does not truly represent the Democ-
racv of New-York City. The Tammany General
Committee and the Tammany party are composed
largely of a low order of men. Tammany ignores
the more respectable portion of the Democrats OF
New-York The organization it at present exist
is emphatically one-man power. He had nothing
10 say against Mr. Kelly personally but the tendency
of the condition Of things in the Tammany organlAa'
ton will be TO place bad men in power and thus
pIOllCt lfIfllli'u VI wv N'AAi' ~ INNS
the reign of Tweed and his confederate in crime. lie
claimed ;hat the delegation of which he was a mem
Der are better representatives of the Democracy o
New-York than that headed by Mr. Kelly. whether
they are accorded seats the Convention OF not. h'
said he should support the nominees.
JOHN KELLY's ARGUMENT
John Kelly said he had been held up to the Com
mittee in such a light that he hardly knew himself
H.. L. ..Ib sr Am,
motives. If he has made mistakes, they are those
of the head and not Of theheart. Ee was placed, he
said at the head Of the Tammany Society after the
overthrow of Tweed and his guilty confederates
and, with the aid Of many Of the best men OF the
Democratic party in New-York, has endeavored to
purify and reform the Tammany organization. be
believed that they had succeeded in SO doing That
the Tammany organization has won the confidence
of the people Of New-York is evidenced by the fact
of its success. After the overthrow of Tweed and
lis confederates Tammany had elected its candidate
for Mayor and the rest Of the county ticket with ono
exception al the last election. It's delegation ash
for admttance to the Convention representing IN
contestby the great majority of the Democrats OF
NewYOrk City, and a. chosen IN accordance Win
the rules prescribed by the Convention of ISL IL
has been charged that there are bad men III the Tam
many organization. Those who made the charge
were by 10 means pure themselves. Mr. Roosevelt
had run a party organization for the advance
ment of himself and friends, and had sold
out to the Tweed Ring for place and power
By this means Mr. Roosevelt was elected tO Con
gress. Richard ". Henry appointed Dock Com
missioner, Nathaniel Sands made Tax Com
missioner and Joseph f. DAILY elected "a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas. For the elevation of the
latter gentleman to judgeship he thanked them.
He was pure man and well worthy of the position.
Ii was their one good act Thomas j. Creamer had
sold out his party last year BY a corrupt alliance
with the Republicans, insuring the election Of Gen.
Jones. Republican Oswald Ottondorfer was sub
servient to the Tweed Ring when in power. and had
received large and excessive sums for ADVERTISING