New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-05
GEN SLOCUpS DUBIOUS METHODS.


The Democratic party is extremely unfortu-
nate in its candidates from Nsw-York State ;
and particularly in its candidates Tor Governor
from Kings County. Its principal Candidates
for President have been periodically staoDlns
each other in the back, and evidently propose
to keep up that amusing process until the cioso
of the polls in 1922. Mr. Jones, VINO pays
the freight" and Mr.. Flower, who has to pay
roundy for every nomination hs gets, are Scowi-
ing at each other apparently with murderOus IN
tent. As for the Kings County Democratic can
didatos for Governor each has insisted on COM
hitting political suicide on his own account !;
Chapin by drowning himself in his own water
vo,T. and Slocum by his own trolley railroad
wires. The extinction OF Chaplin as a Guber-
material possibility by ths exposure OF his pri-
yate scheme to saddle worthless water-worlls
plant on the city Of Brooklyn, OF which he has
proven an unworthy Mayor, was not more sud-
den and complete than the political obliteration
of General Slocum by recent revelations OF his
peculiar attempts to impose tic worthless and
dangerous trolley system of electrical propulsion
upon the same city, of which he has shown him
self to be most npatrotic citizen. The dubi-
Gus methods Of Chaplin and Slocum will not bear
investigation; in tho light OF public exposure
they are shown to be low and selfish in concep-
ton, and designed to benefit few spectators
regardless OF the interests OF the many and at
the expense Of the city Itself.
The first revelations by THE TRIBUNE of
General Slocum's efforts secretly to secure per-
mission 10 establish the trolley system within
the city Limits wero startling enough. They
showed that he Would not hesitate to employ the
most despicable means to securewhat he wanted
without the knowledge OF the people or property
owners in streets where eectric-light wires al
ready existed by representing that the motive
power of his railroad was to come from these.
He presented to the State Board Of Commission
ers affidavits Of consents Of property owners
whose property was not on the line of his pro-
posed extension and he finally got the Railroad
Commissioners 10 hold hearings In the Chamber
of Commerce in New-Y ork City where Brooklyn
protesting citizens were not likely to appear.
He had the sublime impudence also TO allude to
the few who knew anything Of the hearing and
we're present to protest against the trolley Out
rage as "a beggarly crowd But General
Slocum has shown his contempt for Brooklyn
citizens and Brooklyn interests in a more ia
grant manner. He has all along said he had
no fear of the opposition that the thing was
fixed and tina; the trolley would 60 through"
This was mere club chatter, it is true talked
at a late hour of the night when his contempt
was undisguised. But he has shown his faith
by his wolks-secret workings, it is true. but
effective Under permits of the Park Depart
ment to repair his lines east and west OF the
park and to replace defective rails he has sub
sttuted the style of rail necessary in operating
trolley roads, and has, moreover, secretly put
underground the wire known as the return
wire" to complete the electrical circuit, prepara-
tory to putting up the overhead wire as soon as
the State Railroad Commissioners give the con-
sent he is so certain of getting. The two roads
on which this has been done without the knowl-
edge OF the Park Board extend around more
than half the southern section of Prospect Park