New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-15
THE WAR ON TAMMANY.
THE INDEPENDENT COUNTY ORGANIZATION
BEGINS IT.
BIG MASS. MEETING IN COOPER UNION
SPEECHES By COLONEL a. s. BACON
JOHN D. TOWNSEND, a. r. coNKLING


AND OTHERS.
Cooper Unions great hall was crowded last even
ing with honest voters. some Of whom brought
their wives and daughters along. TO take part In
a political movement looking to the overthrow OF
Tammany Hail. and TO listen to reasons Tor driving
from power the Wlgwam leaders, VINO were
charged with becoming rich at the expense OF 'he
business men, the corporations and the taxpayers
Of the city Every telling point made by the speak
ers was received with unstinted applause. The
sentiment displayed gave ample assurance that the
"plain people" of New-York are preparing Tor
municipal revolution which Tammany nan VIII
find It difficult TO stay. Walter Rogers, successor
to Cappa interspersed the proceedings with livery
and patriotic airs
| Tho ,a,form was occupied by leaders of the
movement including John D. TOWNSEND Justice
William c. McCrea, Ernest IIarvier John H. j.
Ronner Justice Alfred Steckler ana his brothers
Charles and Louis, DR.. w. Eyre Lambert W. NJ
Manwaring Herman II. d. Klinker, ex-senator
Francis NJ. Bixby DR.. Alexander Lyle John p.
Smith, I. J. Seligman, Assemblyrnnn W. W. Bahan'
William A. Cans Camden o. Rockwell. Henry
Tice. Gilbert Livingston Beekman and others.
Justice McCrea called the meeting TO order ana
said that the cause Of this mdwinter uprising
was the discovery by the people that they were
merely the servants OF INSCRIPTIONS Tam'nany
ofticeholders whose bosses were growing wealthy
He introduced chairman Of the meeting Thomas
r. Van Buren,. head OF the firm OF T. d. Van
Buren, Co.. silk importers. who was. ne SAID
great granddaughter Of Martin Van buren, e'gh'h
President of the United States. and on the ma
ternal side descended from Joseph Earl Shefiieid'
founder OF the Sheffield Scientific School OK Nale'
of which university he Is a graduate. MIR. Van
Buren, who Is a young with dark hair ana
mustache and has pleasing address. made
brief address securing better municpai gov
ornment and speedily got down 10 business. After
$50 citizens had been elected vice-presi1ents and
LOT.
resolutions. which adopted without dissent
Tney declared that Tamnanys lnlsgoveInment OF
the city and the rapid AMI colossal growth or
wealth among that organizations leaders demanded
a rigid Investigation OF the city departments by
the next Legislature; that II was the citizrns rst
duty to relieve the city OF Tammany rule, regard
less OF National and State politics and that 1t was
the sole object of the present movement. to be
known hereafter the Independent County Or
ganization. to establish impartial economical ana
honest government in New-fork. Opposition was
declared to the Tammany system OF nsIeS,i ,
poses and 10 the Matchmaking OF HquoG-I'aleT5'
the illegal protection Afforded to gdinbl!i.s -nonsr9
disOrderly houses and other criminal resorts was
denounced. Non-partisan police am eecuDn pa' ~
were favored the BLANKET ballot and TIE dyoreg Of
more stringent election laws asked for, and al
good citizens were called upon ~ unite Ia Inc
When the applause which greeted this platferm q
Bacon OF brooklyn. in a humorous speech told how
The decent citizens OF his town had destroyed the
Mclaughlin ring. lie appealed 10 New l9rkerS To-
unite and destroy the Croker Tdinnany rlnS el'rf
the example set by BROOKE mites.
John d. Townsend made the main sp"rcn OF IN.
evening and assured his hearers that the time hni
come or striking down tne I%mm@ny fns TRey
have only the loss ~ great power to ~ al bnt
they will fight to protect the enormous weiith Nnch
ha we "A perfect knowledge Of Tw"'d's ihois ana
they have improved upon them our lniepsni,nce
has been stolen from us. as We slept. by hinI 81
freei,Joters" MIR. Townsend drew parallel be
T,y.. al nd
"conirollcl Judge this man owns them
Thirty years the names of IN" men Who rule
the city DID not appear In tAe city Directory for
thirty years most Of them had cen fe.ilg
at the public crio. Not more than two or three
years ago Mayor Grant then cr"k"rs most trusted
friend swOre before the Fassrii Committee that
day he Is said TO he worth more than NtNp IN
real and personal properly. MI TOWNS a. wsn,c!
iegisa tive cor, fni,tec down here ard Ms
covs- th. means by which Croker h0i become 20
nlsheI Ike n mOnarch's abode lie woull also nave
the committee md how great corporations. which
require legislation or iforyt'on IT." w. ,'ni. =,
by seeing Mr. Croker at h.s Office ~ III" "g1Sain
Mr. 'rownscnd referred 70 the large proportion of
Tho Legislature inquire whether Mr.. Croker ana
Mr. C;nroy were not large owners Ia It. II" wanted
the case OF the broadway Gable Railroad com
many examined into 20 discover what Instructions
Nr Croker then civ Chamberlain. gave O. the
Aldermen which resulted In their Introduction and
passagc on the day OF resolution allowing Inc
phUndephla syndicate 20 Law the cable Ia Broad
" why the business rushed through IN"
BOARD Of Estimate and the sinking Fund Commits
sion and signed by Mayor Grant tfe next day.
Tx a sscmblyrsan Alfred y. fonhhng spoke for
Other SPEAKER were David fcaly Julius liarburger
and Alexander Bremen.