New-York tribune., 1890-01-26
WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR II?
THE MYSTERY OF c. p. McCLELLAND.
INDIGNATION OVER THE RETENTION OF A

INDIGNATION OVER THE RETENTION OF A
BAD DEMOCRAT IN GOOD OFFICE
The retention of Charles P. McClelland III once as
Dcnutv Collector at this port has pazzled the minds
and tired the patience of the Republican leaders IN
New-York more perhaps. than anything else that
has been done or left undone by any FEDERAL omcer
here To most OF them it Is sun mystery hoV
withstanding all the explanations OF the iact uhdt
have been offered and that grows deeper as week
after week and month after month goes oy WIN
McClelland stil the Collectors right hand man and
his special adviser and representative ii lhe duhii'
tration Of the Custom House.
What is the meaning of his retentiOn7 why should
he have such conspicuous place OF honor ana re
sponsbility. when Republicans with five umes his
ability are consigned to subordinate placesF Wheh
the Collector is away he practically runs the custom
House: when Colonel Erhardt is there, he seems TO
have almost as much 10 say the Collector MN
self about pretty much everything. In many in
stances he seems to consider himself sort of supreme
Cour and the oracular way in which he passes upon
matters at times fairly aStOnishcs the officials ana cit
izens that before him. His continuance IN once
so long has inspired certain awe in regard to hIn
and some people have come to look upon hlm as .
model Government officer, that was wholly de
voted to the service and knew nothing whatever about
partisan politics.
No careful reader of The Tribune could entertain
such a view of Mr.. McClelland. This paper had its
attention drawn to him long ago. shortly, indeed after
Mr. Magone brought him here from Westcheser County
which is still his abiding place, he madc his perSohahN
felt. The Tribune was prompt in recording MS dongs
from time time. 1t soon discovered that nc was
with all his Civil Service pretensons, one OF the
most violent partisanS in the Custom House. though
as a rule extremely sly in his work Every one IN
Westchester that knows McCleand knows this TO be
fact Hence single illustration OF his character IN
this respect will be sufficient. 1t was furnished by
the last Presidential campaign.
The Republicans of D0bbs Ferry organized A strong
club and did effective work for Harrison and Morton
On the night before election the members learned ta'
McClelland had been over White Plains and had
sworn in as deputy sherhs four runians from New
York, of whom was an expire hghter Inc
object of this action was 10 frighcn from The
polls the negroes at work there the AQucduct who
had perfect right to vote. II was decided by the
members of the club that they should so TO the
polling place early in the morning and by then
presence reassurc the colorcd men. At an early
hour wagon load, consisting Of five six negroes,
arrived, deposited their ballots and went away. y
second load came shortly afterward. They entered
the polling place with their leader They were I'M
n,odiotcy ,ci upon bv NcCcliand's deputy shclil~.
The leader, hands held. and he unmcrcfully
| hammered by the cXprilc Fighter. In fact, tc
negro would probably nave been killed but Tor the
XII the negroes were arrested and locked up. No
regular complaint was made against them, Appnta
ton Tor their release made. but the DcmoCrduc
Justice Of the Peace pretend d that he could not
find the key" of the lookup. and of, red other equally
trivial excuses After the poll, closed the negroes
were set at liberty. The parties 70 this outrage were
brought before the Grand jury for Indictment, bu'
escaped. owing to disagreement. lN means oi 'W'
outrage between thirty and forty nc-roc~ were pre-
vented from voting. more of them attempting L"
do after the assault
These detail, are vouchcd for 10y some of the most
re-. pcctahc residents Mc~tchcStcr Comfy. VINO DC
clare. Furthermore. that Mr. Mc'lcland was III u'
pollnc place al the time OF the assault llcoe mon
feel particularly ANNOYED because Other Democrat,
tVtf DgI
in office while Republican workers there are SUI
ont in the frost and snow.