New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-18
ICAL RECORD.

good tmany unsayory political schemes, but, in
the opinion of the Republican leaders OF the
State he never undertook more reprehenslble
than that upon which he is now engaged In
the history of NewYorb Republican politics 1t
would be difficult if not impossible TO find any,
thing more outrageous. Disloyalty TO party
could hardly 90 to greater lengths than the
execution of his plans would involve. lie has
SURPASSED all his previous efforts in his present
endeavor. Assemblyman Deyo recently put it:
The distinction of having attained the climax
of political treachery can now rightly be claimed
by Mr.. Fish
Despite the shameful record that he made at
Albany last winter in the interests of Tammany
Hail. Mr. Fish still asserts that he is a Republican
and particularly exemplary member OF his
party the opinion of the Republican State Com
mittee and the rank and file of the party to tho
contrary notwithstanding. Yet in the face Of
this, he has deliberately set out TO defeat the
election or reelection Of as many as he can Of
the loyal Republican members of the Legislature,
that is men who did not and who will not as
sist him in betraying his party. He hopes to
defeat a sufficient number Of these, eectlng
Democrats in their places. to secure for himself
such balance of power as will enable him, by
the help of the enemy to make himself Speaker
of the Assembly and turn that body entirely over
to the Democracy, conceding to them one half OF
the chairmen Of committees, etc.
This, in brief is his scheme. lie has already
undertaken to carry it out His methoCs are
thoroughly characteristic of him and are IN
keeping with his course in the Legislature last
winter He is going through the State stirring
up dissenson among Republicans in close dis
tricts trying to persuade dsafeced members OF
the party to defeat the regular nominees thus
endeavoring 10 insure the success Of the opposl-
tion He no longer attempts to conceal his pur-
| pose or his work. He openly brags about it in
Democratic papers, his regular channels now lor
! communication with the public. Here, for eN-
ample is the way he talked about the matter In
1.-The New-Yorll Times of a recent date:
The Democrats may make some gains. They may
elect their in Rockland in the lonkers district
of Westchester County, and may gain one member III
! Queens County. All these districts are very close
and sullivan, too, is doubtful
| No more frank avOwal of treachery could he
| made Fish somewhat excited at the time
He was much elated, owing TO the fact that the
arrangement for his remaining in partnership
with Tammany Hall had been carried ont success
fully. This renewal of cOpartnership was great
relief to Fish. On it depended entirely his con-
| 1uuance in public life. Without Democratic help
his political career was at end. The alliance
made by him and Mr.. Gibbs with Mayor Grant
| at the City Hall at the time of the Worlds Fair
contest may be said to have expired when tho
| Tammany members of the Legislature decorated
Fiss shirt-front with diamond studs in recog-
milton of his usefulness to them and in payment
of his treachery TO the party which had sent MN
TO the Assembly. This present, of course, was
only trifling part of his reward, which included
various appointments in the city departmentSj
where Fshs Endorsement of a candidate was anu
is looked upon with almost as much respect as
though he were really one of the Wigwam Com
D,,t flor fba maj o.
ton of the Republican State Committee, denounc-
| ing the disloyal course of Fish and GlbDS,
question arose in the Tammany councils whether
a renewal of the alliance with the traitors would
| be advantageous Could they be reelected az
Republicans with Tammany help?
After careful consideration of the subject it
was thought that Fish could be sent back to Al
bany. but with Gibbs defeat seemed inevitable.
Accordingly Fishs hands were strengthened. ms
was done in a way that astonshed most people
familiar with the Assemblyman's political career.
Ii is not vet three years since Republican LeglS-
| lature. on the recommendation of Republican
| investigating committee, advised that Mt FISH
and his fellow-C Commissioners on the Alueduct
| Board be removed from office. The abundant
| reosons for this course were known to everybody,
| but in the face of this fact the Tammany Mayor
ordered Mr. Fish to be made appraiser of Aqueduco
| lands in Putnam County. The order was given
| to Judge Dyk man and executed by him. HIS son
| is an assistant of Corporation Counsel clark. By
means of this Office Fish has tremendous power
| in Putnam County. Every man whose
| land has been taken for the great waterway Is
dependent upon him for terms OF redress. lhao
be will make the most of the place no one ac-
! auainted with him will doubt for moment.
Bat this is only small part of the assistance
given Fish by Tammany and the Democratic lead
crs They have strengthened him in every way
possible Fearing that eX-Assemblyman Mabie
| might become a candidate against him, Fish had
him made an Aqueduct Appraiser with himself.
Then to prevent if possible, Democratic candi-
date being run against him. he secured the appoints
| mont of all the most active Democratic leaders
| in Putnam County to lucrative places Charles
| L. Austin, chairman of the Democratic County
| Committee, made watchman at Lake Ma
| honac. F. c. Iowes and F. Carey, eX-chairmen Of
! the Democratic County Committee, were appointed
watchmen on the Southeast ResSvoir, at Brewster.
John W Foshay and John Townsend, two moro
active Democrats, were made watchmen at Boyd's
Reservoir To make the Democratic chairman.
Austin still more friendly to Fish, his son re-
ceived snug berth from Commissioner Gilroy
in the Department of Public Works. No less
attention was paid to Fish's interests on the Re-
publican side. Almost every active member OF
the party who would accept Office has secured
one No less than four Republicans OF Brewster
are. through Fsh's influence with the Democratic
leaders, drawing Sl20 month as inspectors OF
masonry-John r. Yale and William Langer arc
stationed at the Sodom DAM D T.. Nichois Is ao
Purdys Dam, and George IlHotsoh ID Oh Iiio
Aoucduot near Tarrytown. A. l.. Crosby, a Re'
publican worker of Towners, is an inspector az
Sodom Dam. at the same salary as the others
Four other Republican Fish men at sodOm Dam
ore Theodore Kelly, janitor; Frank Hine, clerks
Iobn Crane, messenger, and John OConnor' aAo-
man. -, -. -. .hl
To be sure, this is only small part OF the
patronage Fish has obtained Besides the places
be has received from the Democrats strange 70
say, lie still has an influence IN certain "spa,