New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-05
SENATE THIEVES PLIGHT.
STRIVING FOR DELAY IN THE MAYNARD
INVESTIGATION.
MESsRs. ROOT AND sTETSON WERE
PRESENT ~ ANSWER TO SUBPOENAs
THE TROUBLESOME DEMO

desperation of the Senate thieves and csscnlng
their chance of obtaining the certificate of char
actcr which Senator McCarren 30 imprudently
promised them; and yet. although they fully
realize that their situation j. becoming constantly
less and less tolcrablc, they are courtine delay
and welcoming every excuse that enables them
to put OF the hour when they must put their
partisans to the final test. They are constantly
changing their pans-if indeed, IL can be said
that they have anything worth calling Il plan
since the Joint investigating committee he'd ITS
first session. They adjourned last Thursday to
meet to-day, and the understanding then was that
they were to conclude their case at this session
But, although three days intcrycned. they were
not ready when the committees came together
this afternoon aud they had to take an adjourn
ment u1til Wednesday.
This does not moan that they have any real
evidence in view for presentation on wednesday
4, u matter OF fact, they have not. SO far as
their case is concerned, they are Just as ready
10 present il to-day ~ they ever will be- ihcrr
il not a witness they can call who Will not OF
very necessity do them more harm than GOOD.
They know this, and gave pitable proof that they
knew it when, after bringing Elihu Root ana
Francis l. Stctson here all the way from New
York. Rilglray arose and mcckly said he should
not examine them. rs thcy could say nothing
new. and would simply give cumulative evidence
10 cncumhcr the record. Then what did he com
pei them 10 come here for?
The ease OF Mr.. Sctson i, especially illustrative
of their desperate grasp after straws. Mr. Ntclson
had nothing 10 DO with the Bar Associations
memorial lie was not the committee which
investigated the steal lie did not attend the
meeting which adopted the memorial He ha'i
absolutely nothing 70 do with the matter; and, If
Ia l,l bc md t,-Ia Ito boV
added LARGELY TO ;hcif discontinue. They brought
him here on the mere chance that he might bc will
ins 10 testify that in his opinion Maynards act was
innocent lie is q prominent Democrat and lawyer
OF recognized ability and character. They wildly
hoped that he might do something 70 save them
aud they dragged him here on subpoena, simply
becaus. they were at their wits end and didn't
know what else 20 do. This they did lnow-that
they must do something; that, by hook or 10y
crook, they must 20; somebody who didn't run n
dive. and hadn't been indicted. to swear that
Maynard an honest man. Such testimony
even # they could get il, would be. of course
wholly immatcral 1t would have no more pcrt-
ncncy than tie evidence of the witness wlo socsht
10 clear man accused Of stealing spoons by swear
ing that nc did not see the fellow do it, But even
that would be comforting to lawyers Ike Ridg
way and Reilly. engaged IN defending case like
Maynards. All they can hope 10 do Is to weave
fabric % subicrIuccs sufficiently consistent to
give the " hossc-' chance 10 whip in the mem
ces who arc oy0rryIns about their reputation
But they haven't woven 1t yet and they are
paiu;.liy afraid they are not going TO-
Iii!l, Croker ani Shcchan were together YES
,crdiy, but 1t Is clear that none Of them could
show wly out Of the tangle. Hills way would
be- simple enough but tor those confouniel f,
fows with regulations H. would shut of the
nvcsiigation once, and bring in his report. de
claring Maynlrl a saint and the Ndr Association
set OF bhckgyarls. Bat wherever this is sIg-
pcstsd there re half dozen Democrats who he
.in - look cold AMI the" haltdozen are enough
. block the game. If they cannot be bribcd or
bulllcd woocd driven into acting with the
gang Maynard is loot, and with him the whole
nest of thieves must fall The policy OF delay
has been from the start 10 tn fierce effort
that llill and the machine are making 10 caloie
or cocrcc these unhappy men with repu'ationS
II i, safe 10 ,iy that Hill will never nccd anothcr
lesson 20 prove ihe reckless folly of allowing
Dcmocra, who can hc reasonably suspected Of
him, honest - ut a nomination for the Lcgis
laturc.
I'll, session Of the Joint committee dill not last
ten minutes. 1t WIS preceded hy an hour ana
htlf of caucus,ng. Hidgwly and Reilly ran hi'her
md Ion. whlsDering now into RoeschS ear, now
,n,o >ulzerh Then they took Mr.. Stcs)n aside
and oscertainrd from him that if they put him on
tlc stand he would he compelled 70 testify
,,anst them They knew that Mr.. Root would
do 50. Of course hut their proposition Is that he,
Icin., a Republican, would naturally nnpuie crime
~ a Court Of Appeals judge il that course served
his plcty. Why not? What is politics, anyhow
What's a man good for II he doesn't stand up for
his marty? Having proved that Mr.. Root Is
pcpubcan, that he once held office ~ RcpnhIlcdh
and was since tlcn an officer of Tie itpupllcah or
canization, Mr.. Roots testimony, according TO TIE
Hi idea of politics, l. plainly entitled tn ho ere
dcnoe whatever: and when he says that Maynard Is
thief and that the records prove H., RidswaN ana
Reilly expect the people TO understand that Mr.
Root speaks ~ n Republican, and damns the char
actcr of "A fellow lawyer ana II Judge merely 10
gain partisan advantage.
This IL Il beautiful illustration of the theory
on which these men are conducting Mhyhar"
" defence" II il an Outrag" on common dcccncN
tha, they should he using their place the com
mittcc'~ counsel, pad by the state, 10 %rve se
Mnynnrds personal attorneys Ihls committee i
here to get AZ facts, not 20 supply accused men
with IA defence II il its business to seek the
truth, not 10 shield guilt II Maynard had Il
defence, and a good one II wonld not be the
function Of Rdgway and Reilly ~ supply IT. but
on the contrary, It would he their duty 10 en-
anime and test it.. Their very attitude 10 the
Investigation is a scandal, not to speak Of me
taxpayers of this State are TO he forced To pay
these men thousands Of dollars for slandering
Wheeler II. Peckham behind his back, when they
had not the manncss or courage to attack HIM
while they had him on the stand. and for imply
ing TINT such leaders OF the bar az Frederic X
Condcrt James E. Carter Albert Stictncy and
Elihn Root alleging grave crimes against a
judicial officer from motives OF political and per-
sonal spite. This caps the climax Of impndence
and fraud.
The investigation will 90 next Wednesday
afternoon So at least. Ridgway says. He adds
bhat /, will he completed on that day lar
n. tLc examination Of witnesses for the interest
Inc serves il concerned. Nj. NaNtOn gave notice
that he proposrd 70 call witnesses il he not
satisfied that the facts had been fully brought
ont by counsel This means that the inquiry
will not he smothered if the Republicans can help
il Nor il It likely that the thieves in their
uccnt condition of weakness and decentralization
win attempt 10 fight Mr. SaXton's demand Thor
dilemma on that point Is trying: II they do heht
Il. the Democrats with regulations will probably
vote AGAINST them: If they don't. their task Of
coercing the rccalctrants will become harder
than ever =,