New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-10
AyoTgrR PLOT TO STEAL THE STATE.

ANOTHER PLOT TO SlEAL 1HE SIAM
The bill TO reduce the number of election in
spectors in this city from four to three III every
election district, and to give two OF the three
to Tammany Hall, has been ordered to thIrd
reading in the Assembly and is practically GER
tain to pass that branch Of the Legislature.
Indeed. there is grave danger that 1t Will be-
come a law, not in spite of but because OF the
fact that the sole reason for its existence is its
capacty for evil 1t was concoctcd for the
single purpose of enabling Tammany to make
fraudulent count of votes in this CITY, and
every member of the Legislature who helps to
mass it will do so knowing that it was designed
and will be used to promote an infamous CRIME
Nobody dares to pretend that such a measure
is needed The Democrats have stoutly ana
unanimously answered every accusation of false
counting in this city with the assertion that
under the existing system false counting was
mpossibe. The two inspectors OF each party
in every district are closely watched, they say,
by the two inspectors of the other party, and
intimidation. bribery and collision are prac-
ticaly impossible. They have made boast OF
this fairness and of the law which enforces it.
They have never imagined that they were de-
frauded, and they have pointed to the condl-
tions imposed by the statute as conclusive proof
that no fraud was practised on their adyer-
saries
This has been their argument in the past, ana
they do not venture to reverse 1t now. one OF
their spokesman in the Assembly the other day
was led into making the positive assertion that
elections in this city are honestly conducted.
That acknowledgment cannot and will not be
withdrawn. Why then, does Tammany de-
mand two of the three inspectors in every DIS
trict? Because Tammany wants them" That
is the official and perfectly frank answer. ny
does Tammany want them? There will be no
public reply from the Wigwam to that qucs-
ton The audacity of the bosses Is not yet
quite equal to an open confession OF ln1any'
though at the present rate of progress 1t may
soon become so. Mayor Grant has never ex-
blamed why he broke his solemn promise by
making the Police Board Democratic, and
nobody will tell the public that Tammany
wants a majority of the election inspectors for
the purpose of stealing the State and the PreSl-
dencv. But that is its purpose. 1t can have
no other. 1t is estopped by its own declara-
tions from suggesting any honest motive for
demanding change in the law. 1t intends by
a fraudulent count in this city to overcome the
honest Republican majority in the state which
il already anticipates. And there is great dan
ger that it will he able to carry out its intcn-
ton if this bill becomes law.
We warn Republicans that this is no vague
and distant and trining peril which confronts
them. 1t is positive and imminent and deadly
We summon every Republican Senator and As
semblyman to watch the bill with unccaslng
vigilance, and TO combat it by every means AZ
his command We urge the newspapers OF
beth parties which believe in honest elections
to denounce the bill as an utterly wanton and
detestable instrument of crime We tell Gov
ernor Flower that if the bill comes into his
hands his signature will enroll him in de-
lberate plot to steal the State. We call upon
fair-mnded citizens everywhere to proteS,
against the outrage, and to unite in demon
stration of popular feeling which will ovcrawe
the conSpiratorS and their slaves at Albany.
There is no time to be lost. The emergency
has arrived.