New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-18
RING METHODS At ELECTIONS

Clio, the Muse of History, whom we have
before called upon to testify as to the strong
resemblance between the old Tweed Ring and
the cheap Tammany imitation of to-day, is
varied in her moods When consulted on the
former methods of Tammany in evading the
Election laws the Muse grew reproachtul, and
her recollections of the past were somewhat
admonitory of what may befail honest citizens
if they do not now jealousy guard their sacred
right of suffrage.
Back in the 'sixties-to be precise, as history
should be, in 1SGS-thc old Tweed Ring" was
extremely anxious to elect John T. Hoffman
Governor of New-York, so as to put him in
training for the Presidency in 1872. Samuel
J. Tiden, chairman of the National Democratic
Committee, was equally anxious that Horatlo
Seymour, as the Democratic candidate for Presl-
dent, should carry at least his own State; but
the popularity of General Grant as victorious
soldier was 80 great thai neither Tildcn nor
Tweed expected to show q majority in New
York for the Democrats-that is, honestly. So a
circular letter, signed by Mr.. Tilden, was sent
out to Democratic leaders in every county OF the
State directing them to telegraph to William M.
Tweed the earliest trustworthy reports OF the
results on Election Day in their counties. In
the city the canvass of votes was kept back
until very late at night, but the next morning
it was learned that the Democratic majority
in the metropolis exceeded the aggregate Re-
publican ,naorities in the other counties by the
suspiciously round number of 10000 votes.
And it was soon after discovered by famous
student of election returns of that day-to w.t.
Horace Greeley-that, in order to secure this
necessary majority the vote returned from many
wards in the metropolis largely exceeded the
entire population of those wards!
"But," chuckled the cynical Muse OF His
tory, "that was only vulgar stealing OF votes
and classifying Of records!'
In 1876 Samuel ]. Tilden had suspicion that
he might be elected President, and he was espe-
c;ally anxious to carry New-York for President
by larger majority than he had received when
elected Governor; and his great talent for Or
canization was first directed to two objects
the early polling of the full Democratic vote
and the restricting of the Republican vote as
much as possible. The result was that on
Election Day the Democratic captains OF cleo
ton districts had every man they could trust
in line at the polls when they opened at
sunrise. These trained men, as soon as they
had voted took their positions in the line
again, not vugarly to "repeat," but to hold the
places for other Democrats who were late in
arriving. And when they dropped out near
the head of the line to accommodate good Dem
ocrats they took their places again at the rear
to deter or delay good Republicans until the
closing of the polls.
"That," whispered the sneering jade OF His
tory with dropping of her left eyelid, that
was not dishonest, or at least not illegal it
was simply ingenious"
Still later, in another year, when the Ring"
leader saw that local success was to be obtained
only by union of tho two Democratic factions
which were then about equally divided, he sug-
eested division of the offices. And in pursu-
ance of an agreement he and the leader of the
other rival Democratic organization unblush-
ingly stood up in public hall and shamelessly
drew lots from hat and swaggeringly divided
the spoils of place between the factions And
some of the present Tammany men stood
brazenly by and congratulated themselves that
such ant pupils had such arrogant and naughty
masters.
"This," burted out the saucy mink OF His
tory, "was not treachery to mems rights or
theft of vOtes-it was only freebooting in poll
tics !"
How will this parallel be provided by
Tammany on November next? Stealing
outright is prohibited, and will be pre-
vented by the new law. Freebooting is not
probable if there is no union of Democratic
factions, as appears unlikely. But what is
to prevent the apt pupils of to-day from
employing the tactics of the ingenious master
in 1876? If it be decided that each voter can
occupy forty minutes in voting and only six
citizens can vote at the same time, eighty-fve
trained Tammany men in each election district
can hold the polls during the entire time they
are to be open on November next And fifty
such can carry, not only the city, but the State
election And they are now VIGOROUSLY in
training by Tammany Hall leaders
Don't sit down and say lit can't be done
It was done fourteen years ago without the
facilities afforded now by the new law as Tam
many wishes to construe it,
PUSH THINGS IN THIS STATE.