New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-25
10. THOMPSON AS a REFoRMER-
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE TO DENIsE MEANS II
40

CHAIRMAN OF \ COMMITTEE TO DEVISE MhAHo 1"
PURIFY TUE COUNTY DEMOCRACY.
The arrest of Wee President Jaehne on the
charge OF bribery IN connection with the Broadway Sur
face Railway franchise the fact that several OF the ea
IN members of the organization including Jaehne were
members of the Board Of Aldermen Of 1884, and all
voted for the Broadway Surface Railroad FRANCHISE ana
several members of the present Board together Win
the fact that John Keenan, Is the leader OF the county
Democracy in the Kiln Assembly District andis known
/ as the "Bismarck" of the organization, nave
given it good deal Of unpleasant notorl-
ETY. The additional fact that the majority
of the present Board Of Aldermen are members OF the
County Democracy and that up to the time OF the pass
age bill and Its signature by the Governor
the Board busily engaged In granting street rar"ae
franchises without much regard 10 the interests OF 'he
city, has tended impress the public with behef
in the professions reform put forth in the platform OF
the organization fall There members OF the or
ganization undoubtedly who deprecate this condition OF
things ard desire change. There are Others VINO see
that the public is thoroughly aroused on the ques'
ton OF corrupt Common Council and reaDze
that some of the guilty must be sacrificed or the
organization will have heavy reckoning with the Vo
ers at the election III November next.
There have been several informal consultations by
certain of the leaders from time to time Inc maIter
has discussed and 1t has been urged by the more
respectable that the organization must put itself on rec
old by disclaiming all further responsibility for these
guilty members 1t would go down under the weight
of public condemnation. There was aHotaer reason
why the County Democracy felt impeiled TO take this
course When nominating conventions were held IN
the fall of 1854. following the passage OF the Broad
way Railroad franchise, John Kelly put his
foot and declared that no one OF the
/ Tamnauy Aldermen who voted for the Broadway 'hlI-
road franchise should he renomlnated SLeIiH grant;
WHO was the only TaNmany Alderman who voted
against granting franchise for Mayor IN part on
the Board and received the largest NUMBER
votes ever y defeated candidate Tor Mayor
Jaehne De Lacy Cleary. ONeil and others, who voted
franchise have been ronOmnated and reelected
that time. Ii is underSi 0Od that Janmaly nan
will make the most OF THIS IN the approaching campaign
and undoubtedly with effect
The result of oil this has that Monday evening
a meeting OF the leaders OF the various Assembly as
tIlcls was hold at the NewAmsterd3m CLUB The meet
ing did break up until after midnight lie matter
thoroughly discussed. Ex-MayOr Cooper President
Beekmau OF the Park Department, E. Elcry Anderson,
Police Commissioner VOOrhis and others TOOK strong
ground in favor taking such measures as wOu lehu
convince the pubic that the OrSanZdlOn as WhOe
does indorse the acts of john Keenan,, NcelTrs
dent JHehne corrupt members OF the BOard OF
/ Aldermen. IL urged Dy some that the county
Democracy members Board OF lSSi were no more
guilty than the Republican and Tammany members
that of the twenty members OF the Board only WO
I "a Republican aud Tantnauy Democrat voted against
the franchise. The IeOlndeT 10 this was that the he-
publican aud Taminahy organizations nhu4rtIuscu 10
renOmuate their gully members. Wnlle inc count!
Democracy had done So As result oil she meeting a
committee OF ten appointed TO consider IN" Wh"e
matter ana report meeting OF the Executive Com
the County Democracy, 10 he held at an carry
day. The chairman of the committee - Hubert o.
THOMPSON, ana the other members include eI.Mayor
Edward Cooper, T. Eery Anderson, PARK Commissioner
Beekman, Ponce Commissioner WORMS ana JUSTICE
Maurice j. Power