New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-02
MURPHTS RULE IN TROY.
HOW THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CHAIRMAN
ROSE TO POWER.
HILLS SURRENDER OF HIS PARTY TO THE
FORMER KEEPER OF GROCERY
COCKPIT.
rRoaAsrAYF CORRESPONDENT oFrHErRrBUNs

AND A COCKPIT.
FRoaAsTAFF CORRESPONDENT oFTHErRIBuNkI
Troy, Oct 3O.-One OF the scandals of moder
politics is the appointment of Edward Murphy, 1r.
chairman of the Democratic State Committee
That such a man should be at the head of a great
party in the Empire State of the Union is vel
calculated to destroy the allegiance Of its firmcs
a,lherents. Here in Troy where Mr.. Murphys ante
ccdents are well known, the wonder is that even
Governor Hill could ever have stopped to bargain
with him for the liQuOrmens support, and reputable
Democrats may well raise their hands in despair
when they learn the true history OF their State chair
man and what his elevation really implies.
Mr. Murphys business affiliations are no secret
All Democrats know that he Is brcwes. His per
sonal character it is needless to assa But what
will they say when they told that their destinies
swaycd by the former keeper Of groggery with
alleged cockpit attachment, and that their political
interests TepOse in the hands of employer of pro
fessional desperadOes who has given over this city
the control Of of low standing that tyrannze
the population and keep respectable citizens in
state Of terror? The disgracefil methods which
have established his power Will undoubtedly be en-
plOyed again next Tuesday for its perpetuaton. But
are honest Democrats willing that victory in such
cause should be purchased I'm this free Republic
at the price of violence and fraudl
The groggery. the profits OF which first started Mr.
/ Murphy on his present of prosperity, wa,
of Fifth and Fulton sts in this city, and the
cockpit is said TO have been on the floor above
His taste for cock fighting and kindred pursuits
therefore, gratiied at the same time that he sur
rounded himself with the crew who have since
proved useful TO his political ambitions Whether
Police Magistrate William DOnohue whose appoint
ment at his instance is Of itself sufficient crime,
first met him at this resort not. IS uncertain II
is certain. however. As the files OF the local news
naDers show that DonObue was forced ia Iesinn In
1851 when II became known that he had been evying
backma on the keepers Of disor1erly houses. and
recepting for his Dlunder official letter-headS.
bearing picture of the City Hail. Ia is also certain
that at the first opportunity Mr.. Murphy forced
Mayor Whean. against Whelan's earnest protests to
reappoint this pattern Of judicial virtue. D0nohue
is now senior paltner I'm the liquor
firm Of DoROhue. 1ierncy &c Co., whose
brewery at The head Of Hoosick-St In this
city manufacturers the fluids for whose excessive
consumption Police Magistrate Donohue mucts in
digent drunkarls sends them to prison. And this
is the man who looks after Mr.. Murphys interests in
Troy while Mr.. Murphy IS in New-YOrk looking after
the interests Of the disciples of Thomas Jefferson and
Andrew Jackson!
Police Captain f. J. MCkenna. of Muphy's
appointecS and bosom friends, a saloon River
st. from behind whose stained glass windows sounds
Of revery issue at all hours Of the day. McKenna's
name is longer over the door, but when not actually
arrestlng drnkarls he helps TO make them himself
Immediately across the street IS a variety theatre
whore fights to a fnish' frequently INDUCED I'm,
and cOmbatants and spectators alike repair their
wasted energies under the approving eye OF the police
captain. The better to attract their custom, Nc
Kenna hougLtfIlly carpets the street in WEI weather
with straw. Mckenna's most welcome customer IS
superintendent of Police W. ". Willard, also a Murphy
appontee, and bosom friend OF the boss Mr.
willard is the person who, at Murphy'S instance,
waited the polls at the last election, bulld0zed OBJ
noxlous voters and hustled them out of line. His
name presented to tho Grand Jury at Buffalo
about a month ago for Indictment They came within
one vote of indcting him. The United States Dis
trictAttorney. II Is understood, will bring the case
again before the Grand Jury at Auburn, on NOvem-
Der 10. Two Of Wizards suborlinaes, Policemen
Kenncally and Ormsby, actually indicted for the
offence and are to be tried at Auburn in Novem
Der.
Mr. Murphy's Police Commissioners are also Excise
Commissioners. Saloonkeepers predominant In this
body. \ common saying in Troy is that a rum
seller has chance for political prefermcn unless
he sells Chairman Murphys ale Excise Commissioner
and Chairman Of the Democratic County Committee
Fleming's whiskey, Mayor Whelan's "pop7 and Police
Magistrate D0nOhue's lager. To those who do these
bIngs tho wages of sin IS not death, bat prosperity
one Coggn. who runs villanOus "dlve,' built out
over the river complained against for keepins
open Sundays and desecrang the day with dance
music. 1t IS not Illegal 10 pay dance music on
sundays IL Is Illegal 10 Keep saloon open on that
day. The worthy Goggln, however, is customer
of Murphy's. SO the police appointed BY the eminent
ctzen who presdes over the destlnies Of the Demo,
cratic party of this great STATE civhly hOdhcd
Goggin that they had no objection TO his making
men and women drunk on Sundays but
that he must really discharge his orchestra
Why don't the citizens rise in their might and put down
these infamles They are afraid. The rufanly
retlnue of the chairman of the Democratic Committee
OF the State OF New-York block every avenue of
dress. Yet the mutterings, II not loud, are deep
The shame and disgrace OF the Murphy rule are
moro than human nature can stand. II Is largely
through the Murphy influence that anything re.
sembling an honest election IS utterly unknown in
Troy. Gangs OF "Iepeaters' swell the majOritles
of his candidates Beer and bo0dle' brings HIS hrcd
rufans TO the polls. Registration lists are doctored
and dead mcr's votes counted for years after
they have ID to breathe. Last year dead
at the polls at the very moment his
corpse passed I'm o hearse the way TO burial
Are these the methods that the Democrats CT New York
wish TO countenance by retaining the VINO em.
pl0ys them at the heal Of their organization Can
they afford To go before the people under leadership
which represents all that Is most abhOrrent TO the
National idea Of virtue and liberty