The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-08
A CHAPTER IN POLITICAL HISTORY

~ Aott
Croker that he ought 10 come home.
The charges made by his brother-in-law,
McCann, were wired 10 Croker, and he
was informed regarding the comments
that had been made by Mayor Grant.
His answer a that he wouldn't
come back. A. the time, Mr.. Croker
was soiourning In Wiesbaden, an ideal re
sort I'm Germany, about an hours ride by
rail from Frankfort-on-the-M Main. Wies-
baden was oncs famous for its gambling
tables, but the Prussian government
stopped all that q ago, and Mr..
Croker found Il one of the most delight
fully quiet and restful spots In the world.
But the Tammany scandal wa con-
stantly putting or bigger proportions un-
der the proddinRs of the republican legis-
lative committee. The New York repub-
leans have n way of ''reforming' Tam
many. The thing works in this way:
When an important election is
pending, the republicans and the
sachems get together, the Tam
many leaders picking out the
offices they are particularly anxious to
control, and the republicans naming their
choice. This dicker, which,with one or two
noteworthy exceptions has been faithfully
carried out ut the polls for twelve years
last past, accounts for some of the oddi-
ties in New York's election returns. II is
q practice so openly carried on that
everybody knows about Il. Within a few
weeks the New York Tribune, the national
organ of the republican party, has re-
pcatedly declared that Hill was elected
Governor in 1883 as the result of q distinct
bargain made in this way.
The Tammany chiefs are unquestion-
ably a corrupt gang, but they are undoubt-
edly clever. They often manage to get
away with b republicans in the post
election distribution Of the money spoils.
When he republicans find themselves
thus outwitted they always know what to
do; they begin speeches in the senate at
Albany, depicting the terrible rottenness
OF New York city's government and then
get a senate investigation committee ap-
pointed. In the run Of years there have
been dozens of these. The Mccarthy
committee Of four years ago was one Of
the hest known, the Fassett committee is
getting its work in now.
Atthese investigations II is always easy
to find some sneaking politician in the
Tammany crowd who, having got part of
the swag hut not as much as he thinks he
ought to have, promises to go on the
stand and "reluctantly" give his fellow
conspirators away. This witness is never
lacking, indeed, he is always easily found.
This year il is McCann, who concluded
that he ought to get more money and
better offices than fell TO his share and
who, lending himself TO the republican
committee, made public "A lot Of charges
against Grant, Croker and Others. APP
parcntly the New York public readily ac-
cepts the belief that Tammany's rule Is
rotten and the people would welcome
sweeping reform. That, however, is not
the objective point with the republican
committee. Its mission is simply to
serve notice on Tammany that il must
not be too g~rasping and that il must
come To time when the republican state |
committee says the word. The inquiry
now progressing will be pushed until |
these partially exposed chiefs realize that |
they have got To be saved at all hax- |
ards. They will appeal at length to the
republican bosses and, thereupon, these |
bosses, for a political consideration, will
proceed TO save them; and the states in |
vestigating committee will get out Of the
way.
The situation In point of its political |
surroundings Is interesting. Notice what
has been going on i'm New York. Thomas |
- hott 10 ~ to1 ttNtkl Va ttlc u = ItDuUc II
lican politics, he manages the distribution
OF patronage, the custom house is his. BY
rights all this patronage belongs to the
states federal senator's, but Mr.. Eyarts
wouldn't Ne bothered with II and Mr.. His.
cock foolishly parted with II, as IL in hand
some recognition Of Platt's services when
he wal elected to the senate. When New
York expected TO get the worlds fair,
Platt realized that Tammany was going
TO get control of the fairs money and
management n he concluded that he
wouldn't have IL Il IN circumstances
He could not overthrow the committee Of
arrangements and forthwith he started to
knock New York state out, and he sue
ceeded. This proceeding brought to open
rupture a lot OF republican leaders in New
York state who, for some time, nave been
held together by no higher considerations
than political exigency.
The factions are pretty well defined
now. Mr.. Plat and Senator Hlscock will
pull together. Warner Miller, James j.
Belden, Chauncey NJ. Depew and a fol-
lowing scattered over the state will come
out and be separate. In this second fac-
ton, lone of the leaders are of account
when IL comes to the business end OF
practical politics, except Mr.. Belden. He
Is "A member OF and q
OF Senator Hiscock. These
two republicans ought never to have been
permitted 10 get into a quarrel, but the
thing is done, and the fight is on without
a doubt. Weeks ago the STANDARD re
fcrred TO MIR. Belden as a man who, hav-
ing The distinctive qualities of political
leadership, Is destined 10 go TO the front
in the management of republican affairs
"a