New-York tribune., 1890-08-05
AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE.
MEMBERS OF THE FORMER TRYING TO DRAG IT
Down TO THE wIGwAM LEVEL TO HELP IN
SMASHING THE TARIFF--wILL THE

SMASHING THE TARIFF--wILL THE
CLUB SUFFER THIS DEBASEMENTl
Mr. Croker's absence and the midsummer luli
that is expected TO pervade even the polltlcal
world may have led some people TO suppose that
Tammany Hall idle these days. That sup
position would be a great mistake. The organ-
ization was never more active, never more alert
in casting about for means whereby 10 strengthen
its broken walls, never bolder more energetic
in making, or trying to make, combinations TO
pcrpetuate its corrupt administration of this
citys affairs. II has already secured some
ceedingly valuable allies: its latest acquisition,
however. is one that will surprise the community
since this auxiliary is none other than the Re-
form Club.
The Reform Club, as almost every one knows. is
OF the most important political associations
that have been formed here in several years.
IL was organized in lSSs, and quickly known
the Golden Club of America It's general pur-
pose, set forth in the constitution, was 10
promote honest, efficient and economical govern
ment' its immediate object was 10 cause effect
i've agitation in favor of tariff reform by reduction
abrogation of so-calcd protective taxes" In
pursuance Of the first il sought to promote the
cause of civil-Scryice reform, honest currency,
the business administration Of cities the improve
ment of electoral methods" and various other
good works. But its efforts in behalf of these
reforms were, at best, only secondary in COM
parson with its prosecution of the anti-tarif cam
paiCn. This it has pushed vigorously. Under
the guidance of Everett p Wheeler, chairman Of
the Tarif-Reform Committee it has deluged the
country with frec-trde literature. Hundreds Of
meetings are held every week under its auspices
in different States Having abundance of money
and having the secret support of the Democratic
party. its work bound 10 be felt. 10 secure
q frce-trade majority in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes has been its expressed determination
for some time, and it was the hope OF realizing
this desire that has led tie leaders Of the club 10
enter into shameful secret combination with
Tammany Hall 1t is only fair TO say. however,
that this alliance has not been ndOrsed by the
Members nor Will it be by powerful clement
III the organization, men who not yet ready
TO sacrifice everything for the purpose of smash
ing the tariff
These the facts in relation to the DEAL as
given by responsible men, who are in position
TO know all about it, few days ago confer
encc was held between representative of tho
club and certain well-knOwn leaders of the Wig
wan After some preliminary talk the question
of an alliance taken up The Reformer eau
tiously remarked, preacing his speech, Of course,
with ample apologies, that the 1ammany deega-
ton III Congress in recent years had not been
quite up 10 the proper standard. Without dwell
ing upon its general moral deprayity, he haSenet
to point ont It's intellectual shortcomings, the IN
ability ii its members to grasp the great ISSUES OF
the hour particularly the tariff question from
the Golden Club point OF view.
The 1ammany chiefs listened. They thought
| of the Wigwan's pretensons of friendship for the
| wOrkngman They remembered that there was
q strong protection element among their followers,
| but the case was desperate. After brief con-
| sultatlon the proposition was accepted That
! Is, Iannmany hdIl VIII nominate IecOZnlzed free
trade candidates for Congress, men ac-
| Ccptable u the club, IN return for
the clubs support of Tammanys municipal ticket
There was only one condition imposed by Tam
many That was in behalf of Dlstrlct-A ,torney
John r. Fellows, who the Tammany men declared
had already been promised the nomination Tor
Congress ia his district. And right here 10 may
be remarked, that this arrangement with the
Colonel was first heard Of Immediately after his
refusal 10 ask the Grand jury 10 lndlct Mayor
Grant tor maladmnStratlOn OF the Sherlhs once
as shown by the tassett Committee
II IS certain that the opposition in the club 10
this alliance Will not submit IN silence. There
Is, IN fact every prospect of a lively fight when
tie ma1cr comes up lor discussion, a> II certainly
Will now. These are the officers Of the orednill-
ton President, AnsOn Phelps Stokes ylce-preSl-
dents. Robert B. Roosevelt, jackson y. Scnutz,
Everett Z. Wheeler. Charles H. Marshall; secre-
taries, Russell Smrgis and Edward 7. Doyle;
bcl> +. L. Godkin. William VI. Wins, Eugene
6. BacStord, George Haven Putnam, III. B. Il.
Stapler, Henry Willard + Eilery Anderson. o B.
Horace f. Demng. George T. Peabody, H. II Boye-
sen, Charles j. Canda, James VI. Constable. Charles
Coudrrt ". J.. Dodge Parkc Goodwin. Ex-Governor
IIoadlv Walter =. Logan. Oswald OitcnGorfer and
Wheeler II. PrcNham. who l. chairman of the
General Committee of the Peoples Municipal
League, as the citizens movement of 1890 u
now called.