Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-10
Democratic Machine Methods in
New York.

| The Ross of GrRvesend, l., l., i'm Open
Rebellion Against the County and the
Laws of the state.
The high-handed proceedings of John
Y. McKane, the Democratic boss of Grave
send, L. l., was undoubtedly a prominent
factor in arousing the people of New York
to their condition under Tammany rule,
and causing them to rise up in rebellion
against it. In the town of Gravesend, out
of a total population only a little more
than 5000, McKane had caused a registry
of over 5000 names to be made for Tues
days election. The fraud was garingly
apparent, and men were sent from Brook
! lyn, under an order of the court, to make
copies of the registry lists. On arrival
there the lists were found to be in the pos
session of McKane's tools, who pretended
to be copying them. Access to the lists
was denied, and the men went back to
| Brooklyn.
A second party of % reputable men was
despatched to Gravesend and when they
stepped off the train on their arrival there
Saturday night, with mandamuses in their
J pOChtlS lIbill - NEt tulltll VI lhb supreme
court to compel the Gravesend boards of
registry to allow copies of the poll lists to
be made, they were arrested by gang of
men, headed by John Y. McKane, and
were thrown into Jail on such charges as
"vagrancy,' drunkenness and 'disor-
derly conduct" At , o'clock in the morn
ing they were taken into the police court,
then conveniently in session, all efforts to
prove their good character and the lawful
ness of their errand were denied, their bail
was fixed at 500 each, and then they were
prevented from communicating with their
friends so as to secure their release from
Jail. This action of Boss McKane was a
deliberate defiance of the supreme court,
and the worst of all the outrages ever com
mtted in New York on the eve of an cleo
tion.
The Crownlng Outrage on Election
Day.
Gross as was their lawlessness it was far
surpassed on election day, when McKane's
proceedings were carried to an extreme
which amounted to open rebellion against
the constitution and laws of New York.
Twenty-Five citizens CT Brooklyn, author
lied by and bearing the credentials of the
Republican county committee, entered
Gravesend in carriages just before sunrise.
They had been authorized to watch for the
frauds which McKane had planned, and
each man bore a copy of an injunction
from Judge Barnard of the supreme court
Il, IL,
their attempt to see that an honest vote
was cast.
'Iniunctions don't 90 here" was Ne
Kane's insolent rejonder when Colonel
Alexander :. Bacon presented his copy Of
Judge Barnard's order. McKane called on
the crowd OF "heelers" who surrounded
him, some OF whom We're policemen, but
most of whom were mere rufhans, To at
tack Colonel Bacon and his companions in
the carriage. The gang obeyed the order
at once, set upon them, knocked them
down and cuffed and beat them. Colonel
Bacon and four others were arrested and
placed in the Coney Island police station.
Later in the day they WEI released on their
own recognizance.
Several other men, bearers of copies of
Judge Barnards injunction, were shame
fully beaten when they tried to serve their
. | papers. Inere was reign Ol terror Ill lne
town all day. About the town hall, in
which all six of the polling places of the
town are situated, there swarmed all day a
: horde of drunken scoundrels beside whom
the average convict would seem respect
, able.
! The treatment of strangers went beyond
the methods of the Russian police. When
a man whom no one knew stepped from
! the train two or three surly villains, halt
drunk or wholly so, would ask him his
business. If his answer did not suit them,
he would be ordered to quit the town and
f aided in his departure b. hes or blows
and kicks.
The Republican &c committee OF
Kings county demand Sheriff Court
. npv send posse to end to carry out
n Judge Barnard's o fhat official, will
a oaths, refused / any attention tC
q their letter. A sheriff refused to dc
his duty six leading citizens of Brooklyn
sent a telegram to Governor Flower, ap
S pealing to him to uphold the dignity of th'
e law of the state. He declined to interfere
e but declared that he would hold the sheriff
Y and other officers to strict account.