New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-29
"BOSSn HERRICK AND HIS PALo'
GLNfPSES OF A MAN THE GoVhhN'i'
DOESN'T LIKE.
HIS METHODS OF RUNNING THE AFFAlkS w
ALBANY-NoTHING TRUSTED TO CHANCE

Albany Oct Cit is strange that while GoVerno'
HIPS power IS supreme in places remote iron, M
Capital in the affairs OF Albany Itself he Is
a cipher. The strength Of the opposition Wnieh nos
developed here under his very nose IS, III ~
causing him much concern. And his opponent > Nv
laundering tyro imbued with an honest dcSl'0 ~
serve the people, but a politician more adiot az"
crafty than himself more cOldly in earnest more
reckless of the ordinary considerations of frehuSnP
and gratitude and intent on the annihiI"''o"
OF everybody and everything that stands IN MS way
d. Cady Herrick, the notorious "boSS,
the worthy in question lie owes his power ofIslu"'
10 Daniel Manning and Incidentally to his own
treachery to that leader. When Mr.. mainline "1
to Washington as Mr. Cleveands Secretary oil INC
Treasury Mr. lIcrrick took charge of the DcmOcr1o
General Committee He at surrounded h"'scli
with his Instruments, and on MI hd"'''7
death was thus placed in fuli co"uO
of a machine of his creation. HIS prlhcpat
rival within the party was Edward +. Meegan an oiu
friend of Mayor Nolan whose political death-Warrant
was issued by Governor Tilden when he refused W
recognize the so-caed "Ku-Klux7 organization OF
which Meogan was leader. Between Meegan ana
IIe1fck the feud has been bitter and deadly mecs""
early allied himself with Governor Hi, ana 10
doubt anticipated great profit from the comoit'"iou
against Herrick But IIcrrck has SO Tar proven
more than a match for them both. for years III
has run this city TO suit himself. His control OF
the machine Is absolute. lie has possessed every
official from the Mayer down. There IS 10 irald OH
the people that his creatures not in position 10
perpetuate with impunlty and no outrage which
they are not ready to do at his bidding
Personally Mr.. Horrick is not unattractvo lie
Is tall and slender, with gray hair. gray musiache'
and large thoughtful gray eyes Ills manner Is qu.ei
and seIfcontaned his speech Is slow and his
words are al well weighed. He has none OF the
small weaknesses or enthusiasms that so often undo
other asplrants for power lie is not bachelor hho
Governor Ill., but he has no passion for society no
passion cards passion for fast horses no passion
other than to others TO carry out his mandates
and TO slaughter them the instant they attempt to
,ele In spite OF tie deractons OF his adversares, he
Is really lawyer Of fair ability and the pety mean
nesses that actiate d" bosses have no place IN
hts competition Though his henchmen are contnn-
ally stealing elections, nobody believes he wohld
cOuntenance small plferings, and this astonishing
rectitude excltes the Of the venal beings VINO
surround him. BY his own direction Mayor Mahar
appointed him Corporation Counsel. His present aim
is ostensbly directed toward seat on the supreme
Bench and Governor Hill has delighted In baking
this modest ambition. But he is really counting on
Mr. Cleveland's denomination, In which event his
position would become that Of a dictator with eX-
Iaordnary powers.
Uerrick's right hand man Is MATT Delehany.
the clerk Of the Common Council Mr.. Delehanty has
been an office holder since 1856 and is known among
local politicians as the marrow fat man." from his
knowledge OF the use Of the little thin tickets called
marrow fats which sometimes in the past
srreptitously folded between the ordinary ballots, so
as 10 increase the number Of cast al election
His salary IS only $1,000 year, but his Interest IN
slndry contracts and franchises has rendered him
practically Independent. The capitalist Of the machine
IS A. y. Brady who was well known some years ago
TO freoueners Of the Delavan House bar where he ac
quired mented reputation as a concoctor OF mixed
drinks lie subsequently launched out into the tea
business and having secured through Deehantys In
nuencc some profitable almshouse contracts, he con
celved the idea of becoming fuhcdged politician
A crushing defeat In ra0 for the County Treasurer
ship somewhat staggered him, but be was c0nsolcd
ly an appointment the Fire Commission and re-
tanned the Office uu Just before the Commission was
investigated" By the " Committee Of Thirteen" MI
Brady dresses well, is particularly polite and afablc
I'm speech and would be picked out in any company
as a pattern Of rcspectability. His opposite Is John
p Mastorson the athlete of the machine. person OF
trucuent manners aud ponderous ply ,1ue who policies
the door at conventions, the boys and makes
himself generally useful in the heavy work Of tho
concern.
| How do the Democratic rank and file stand toward
this classic quarettcl IT is putting it mildly to say
| they regard them with fear and trembling Inc
least show of Independence insurs their ruin. Even
John McEwen the unhappy being who had charge
! OF the penitenary the time Of the revolving
/
usefulness had departed. Robert IL. Moore the
present County Clerk has bcen~ knfed.7 because be
was not sufficiently tractablc In the hands OF tho
| boss William II. Clute, long a police Justice
thrown last year because he had acquired uni
versa esteem for independence and integrity. Fran
els H. Woods the present Surrogate and OF the most
justly popular Democrats In the county who recently
| appointed his chief clerk from the upper
part Of the county desired by the machine. has
shared the same fate; aud OF the infatuated group
who are now clinglng to Mr. llorricks coat alis,
there Is not that will not be similarly treated me
| moment occasion demands, no matter what his past
services may have been or how urgent are his Chains
| TO consideration. A
Norton Chase heads the ticket which Mr.. Herrick
Is trying 10 force down the thr0ats OF the voters
| M: Chase, who nominated Mayor Mahar III OPP i
su0n 10 Mr.. Wemple at tho syracuse COnVehtSiU1i,
| is the engaging youth on whose behalf the MIN
District fraud, perpetrated whom he ran agsihs,
senator Russell Two years ago stories about me
Interest which certain tail0rs and necktie vehdcIs
ielt IN his candidacy have not yet DIED away. All
| the Assembly he was a nonentity. The only dl,,
lincton he earned the unenviabe one Of Votns
against bills designed 10 benefit the city: Inc lo
lhat ms was due 10 his ignorance ana ineAperIcI.
probably legitimate one, but II IS iLaugnt Mds
| significance b. those who understand that throusn
him llerrick expects 10 control all the legislation
affecting the city .
Martin d. Conway the candidate for Surrogate.
| Is a Helrick man who became dissatisfied al MOI
receiving any Office and 50 seeded to Aleegan nc
| Joined The Committee OF Three Hundred, put III;
him very large vote Ilerrick. deemng II exped,
snt 70 win him back made CONWAY iSai he was
cut out for a judicial career, and 50
wormed himself into surrogate Woodss con has
hdence, with the result that woods ~
been dumped 10 make for him. This amiapio
person. legal standing and his standing IL the parry
are illustrated by the fact that In his capacity OF pOco
justice ho recently decided In the interest OF me
machine that the Primary Election law Is uneonslu
liOna. and that the General Term IN New-fOfk tlS
an wrong In declaring that IL wasn't .
Jacob II. Clute. the llerrck nominee ior o oumy
judge is celebrated chiefly for his bosierpus manner
with Witnesses and his general boorisbness IN cntLl;
lie Is a chronic Office seeker attends every lndlelA
convention that has anything 10 bestow, and nae
Go1iteJ mons Than once "a stump candidate when
lie party refused TO listen 10 his lmportnniues ne
Is as unpopular as bis opponent judge Not'' j. ihe
reverse and while those who don't know him may be