New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-06
THE Observation-Disclosures OFFICE.

The nomination of the Hon. John McKeon
for District Attorney by all factions OF the
Democratic party of this county was maze
under such circumstances as indicated that he
would be, if elected, so completely independent
of faction and even party control that
The TRIBUNE urged that the Republican party
should accept him as its candidate and
make the nomination unanimous. The Office
is one which should be as separate from
political influence as that of a Justice
ship of the Supreme Court, and there
would have been as much prOpriety as well as
sound common sense in the support OF Mi.
McKeon by all parties as there was IN that OF
Justice John r. Brady few years ago. Ana
there was greater necessity for 1t III the case OF
the candidate for District Attorney than IN that
of the Supreme Court Judge, for the Court was
already free from political control, while the
District Attorneys Office was not though It's
administration was never purer than In the
brief year now closing, during which Mr..
Rollins has filed the vacancy by appointment
of a Republican Governor.
What the parties failed to do Mr.. MckeOn
will have it in his individual power as the Dis
ict-Attorney to accomplish. He feels that
at his age he can never expect again to
be an aspirant for reelection; he has said
that he should never again be a candidate,
and that his ambition and purpose are to con-
duet the Office solely and wholly in the public
interest. His power to do this is absolute. He
was nominated originally by faction from
which ne had retired on principle; he was sup
ported by the other, with which for political
reasons he had never been closely affiliated,
la, b,s1 in
pathy. He was perfectly independent Demo
crat, and is to-day bound by no ties to either
faction. His independence Mr. McKeOn has
insisted on since election, when in inviting the
several Democratic organizations to send IN
names Of candidates tor the four Assistant
District ttorncyships ne gave notice that he
would not be bound 10y such lists, but would 20
outside of them for his choice if the recOmmen-
dations were not personally approved. An
official in this independent position, and with
the views of the semi-judical character of the
Office which Mr.. McKeon entertains has great
power for good and splendid opportunity to
do the people a great service and at the same
time add to his honorable reputation i'll the
community.
But with the best disposition to do right, it is
possible Mr.. Mckeon may make a mistake in
his selections; and if current reports rs to enc
or two selections already said TO have been
made be true, he is likely to fall into
error. He should carefully scrEtinize the lists
which have been sent him before deciding On
any person named in them. The Tammany list,
although the best thus far submitted contains
names of more than one man so VIGOROUSLY
unfit and corrupt that the selection of any one
of them would at once shattcr confidence in the
new administration. Irving Hall has placed in
her list notorious pace-hunter who has re-
Gently been in the commitment of the Sheriff on
n charge of defrauding his client and whose
personal and business reputation is of the
worst The County Democracy has named as a
special favorite man who has repeatedly been
the medium of communication between bond
robbers and their victims for the restoration OF
portion of the spoils on the condition that the
remainder be retained and exemption from
prosecution be granted. bIr. McKeon might
well lock over the report of the Legislative
Committee on Crime of 1876 before deciding |
on some of the applicants who have been re-
commended to him. At any rayc, the field |
from which he has to select is so broad that he |
need not feel under the slightest obligation to |
regard recommendations and lists which en- |
brace the names OF such men ns those we have |
indicated, There ought to he no mistake in |
this important matter.