New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-04
BOLD POLITICAL BLACKMAIL.
PERSON AND CORPORATION THAT 1T
COLD INIrRE


PERSON AND CORPORATION THAT IT
COULD IYJURE.
People will cease TO wonder how II Is that Tam
many holds this city In such vsellke grip when
they learn that substantial contributions are made
the tigers power by Republicans Mugwumps and
Democrats alike. the latter whether they
"snappers7 or "An,iSnnppers.7 The public has a
more or less vague notion that jus; before election
time each year large sums Of money are collected
from business men and corporations who cannot
afford TO anagonlze so powerful an organization as
rammany. Few people know, however. that these
assessments are levied on any except those who
either favOrably inclined toward the present domi-
nant party or are neutral In politics. 1, may
prise "a good many persons TO learn that a little
thing like party afhation does not count with Tam
many when II sends It's emiNsarics out into the high
ways and the byways 10 collect the "wherewtthalr
r the bosses to In buying racehorses and paying
board AT high.pncd summer resorts.
The fact is that Republican business men and
head, Of corporations do not turn these collectors
away empty-hsnded. one OF the Collectors In
frie ndly talk Yesterday described how he did the
work assigned TO him. lie. was not making " con-
fessiOn.T nor he dissatisfied with his lot What
he said than anything else an eXemplihca-
ton of his own ceverness getting big contributions
from men who known 10 the public to belong TO
parc, whose interests are nimcal to Tammany.
given to me Of the men on whom was expected TO
call. One Of them was the head Of big corporation
downtown and q wcll-known Republican. called at
his office ana his private secretary came ont TO see
me- | told him that could not talk with him about
my business and could not even tell him what 1t
He replied that / could not hi, employer unless
made known my business But after great deal
Of h-mmng and having. l finally admitted to
see my man.
Well he said Won wanted TO see me personally ;
what Is II Won want y
Il told him that had come to ask him TO make
a ontribution the Tammany Hall campaign fund
But he said don't yen know that l am not
in sympathy with TainmanyP
YES. | know that replied
Why. then, do come to me- he said
Il came here because | told to- ansk cred
TO ask you II you would not make contribution to
help elect the candidate for state Sonator In the -
District
'Woll,' he answered looking at me as II he would
Ike to devour me- i like your check
4, | told Won before. Mr.. Blank. replied, i
came here because was told 10 come. Now yon
make a contribution or not Just rs You please
II You do not choose do will never hear any
thing about -from ne. nor from the orGanza
ton which rcprcSent-,o iar - am conc"rn"d.'
We'll. he gave me check for 5000. As he
HANDED II over he said
Now, see here, nave gwen Non rO'ooo Dnl
II Won will defeat the man whom thar money j.
going 10 help eject | will give Won SlOoO0P
since that have been 10 see the same man again
and h. gn," another check for the same amount.
When | entered hi, Office The second time. he said In
which plainly oppressed his surprise at seeing
again:
What. YOU here again
'lr>.' >sid. i an here again, and shall con
time come until You refuse TO give mo ANYTHING.
and then | shall not cone any moro. A. ted Won
when was here before. y"u do not have to give any
thing unless YOU want Ia. and If you do not YOU will
never hear ans hing about it-rom me- Then he
gave me le ch-ch.
TIL, noi isolated case, but the collector
talked FOR time in the anne strain. and to! how
H. had secured lsrgr sums for the same purpose and
h" goii IN his nrhi"N cn-ni,. Employing SuCh
method this the rammany Of TO day has ntr"nch'd
Itself ~ II stronghold much more ibprcgnable than
tia, o,'GI.d bN The Tweed Gan-. Tweed robbed the
dy tniIl-ht The present method while 1t may be-
just q. bad thai employed by Tweed has this
Niriu"--it cVad", the law.