The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-21
Tn aad,s disclosure.

We copy from the World what appears
to be an epitome of the long-promised
disclosures of William Nj. Tweed. We
do not wish TO be understood as vouchine
for the absolute correctness of this abstract
of what is doubtless much more elabor
ate document. but probably it is in the
main faithful to the original, and the dis
closures themselves are in substance un-
questionably true,
The striking feature of these revelations
is that they duplicate so many prominent
and influential Republicans. That the
old Tammany Ring and its immediate
satellites were involved in the conspiracy
for robbing this city and ultimately shared
in the plumber, nobody doubted. Hence,
few will be surprised to find the name OF
Mayor Hall added to the list of culprits,
Like Peter B. Sweeny, he pocketed his
ten per cent, of the stealings, and the
threatened introduction of this fact to the
light of open day is amply sufficient to ac
count for the clandestine departure of Mr..
Hall to foreign lands.
When it was seen with what alacrity
many Republicans in the old board of
supervisors ratified the enormous and ex-
tOrtionate bills which the Boss and his
through the board, it was shrewdly suS-
pected that these political opponents Of
Tweed, who had been elected for the pur-
pose OF keeping strict watch upon their
Democratic associates, received compensa-
ton for their votes in some substantial
mode. Therefore, the public will not be
astonished to learn that such active Re
publican supervisors as Henry Smith and
4 in onuh thaiY
services as they went along
The largest outlay for Republican aid
in the robberies Of the ring was during
the legislative session of 1870, The CHIEF
instrument for plunderine the city was
the charter passed in that year. 1t CON-
pletely remodelled all departments of the
municipality, opening wide door for
Tweed, Hall, Sweeny, Connolly and their
associates, upon whom the important
Offices were bestowed. This charter Gre
ated the famous board of audit, through
whose operations the city was feeced Of
millions of money. 1t was always believ
ed that bribery and corruption on a large
scale in the legislature, procured the
enactment of this charter; but this could
not be proved because those who knew
the facts would not open their mouths.
Tweed has now done this in the affidavit
and other proofs he has placed in the
hands of Attorney-G General Fairchild. TC
secure the passage of the BILL it seems
that he paid 100000 in cash to Norris
Winsow, u Republican senator from the
Jefferson district, who was to divide il
with William b. Woodin of Auburn
Frost Of Staten Island. Ewood of Otsego
Brand Of Madison, Wood of Livingston
Blood Of Saratoga, and Morgan of Dut.
chess, all of whom were Republican sena.
tors, except Frost, who was a Democrat
Besides these senators, money was paid t
other Republicans for assistance in carry
ing the measure. among whom were the
VIGOROUSLY infamous lobbyist A. ID, Bar
Der, the half brother of Judge Noah
Davis, Ia Republican judge) and
Hugh j. Hastings, the editor Of the
Commercial Advertiser, leading Republi
can journal OF this city. The precise sums
paid to these agents do not appear in the
abstract published in the World, though
it seems that Mr.. Hastings got $4,000
at one time. And it is highly probable
that larger amount than $2O0,000 was
ultimately received by these senators.
a good many rqscals Of various sorts
and sizes are mixed up IN these startling
revelations. We cannot refer to them il
detail. 1t is possible that some names
are used without sufficient authority, The
full text of the documents furnished by
Tweed to the Encouragement will give
the public the means Of correcting enron
GUS reports, and placing the brand only OF
the foreheads Of guilty parties.
Pretty nearly all the persons whom
Tweed duplicates i'll these great crime,
have gone out of Office. Only two OF
three now occupy prominent positions
The most notorious is William B. Woodin
He entered the senate in 1870, Just il
time to take Tweeds money and vote fol
his charter. He has remained in the sen
ate ever since; and for the last four year,
he has been the Republican leader in tn,
legislature. During the present session
he has been unusually arrogant, 1t il
high time that he stepped down and out
dis speech Ofyesterday does not clear vi
his case
These painful and humiliating disclos
ures should teach a memorable lesson.-
NJ Y, Saa,