The evening world., 1893-12-29
CALL IT BLACKMAIL.
Liquor Dealers organs Strong
Arrangement Of Tammany Hall.
Political Demands Enforced by Po-
lice and Police Justices.
Startling Statements from the Inside
on q Gross Outrage.

Under the heading political Black
MALI The Wine and Spirit Gazette,
an organ Of the l~iquor-dealers. and
which %circulates largely in this city.
comes out this week in n fve-column
attack upon Tammany Hall. 1t Is OF
the most bitter order, and among other
things %purports to show how Tammany
holds the liquor-dealers in subsection
and when and why political blackmail
vas substituted for monetary tribute.
For n long time citizens and taxpayers
generally have been anxious to get some
light upon this very subject. Rumors OF
all kinds have been circulated with the
greatest freedom. but there was little OF
confederation outside OF the work of DR..
P~arkhurst's Society. This attack, com
ing, as It does. from the inside" and
written apparently by the victims them
selves, Will be read with interest. The
article starts out with a tribute TO the
new anti-Tammany organization, and
says:
THE Independent County OrganlZa-
tion, q new departure in local politics.
not yet a month in existence, has al
ready scored a most signal success. 1t
has smoked the leader Of Tammany Hall
out of his hoe. compelled him to make
4 defense against the charges 1t brings
against Tammany. and which constitute
the reason for Its existence. and withal
has given the ma OF the Wigwam
such a scare az they have not betrayed
in many years"
The article goes on to say that until
two years ago over $780, 60 a year was
levied as blackmail. and the burden be-
came so great that complaints reached
the Grand Jury room. The latter. In a
presentment. substantiated the charge,
end by some mysterious means the evil
dence given to the Grand Jury found its
way into Croker's hands.
.Mr. Croker and Police Commissioner
Martin called UP the President and some
of the officers OF the Central Associa-
ton OF liquor-dealers;, and after pr9cur-
ing from them a full roster OF all the
local l!q~uor-dealers' associations In the
city, entered into a compact with them
stituted for 'pecuniary blackmail'
under the terms of his compact.
forced upon the liquor dealers under
pain of having their business rcmorsely
made vassals OF Tammany. Tammany
no longer wanted their money In con
alteration of which II had heretofore
permitted them to transgress the law
with impunity.
Now. What? Might they no longer
continue their Sunday traffic. Yes. on
one. and only one condition. They must
give political support to Tammany Hall.
Tammany had the names and locations
OF every one OF them. and would keep
fall to exert all the influence his place
Of business might command for the
Tammany ticket would be marked for
bounded by the police and pulled"
The article continuing says that every
saloon-keeper is well acquainted with the
boldly and denounce the system. The
fact that he would be bounded out OF
business alone deters them. Speaking OF
the manner In which the political black
mall e levied the article says:
This appearance OF Commissioner
sheehan upon the field at this early
sieniicant. 1t is most fortunate Tor
those who are waging political warfare
against Tammany; To the liquor in
portant, The old-time money blackmail
was collected through the agency OF the
police. The political blackmail OF to-day
In both csses the police force appears
as the executive agents OF Tammany.
THE Interference OF Commissioner
Sheehan was caused by allegations that
the force was being manipulate indie
pendently of the proper control Of tn"
Superintendent. The haste OF the Com
missioner to enter n denial Of this allie
BdllDn mercy tllthE llhl bN'TNtlSitlNt-
ness which guilt always produces"
As to the manner In which the pres
sure is brought to bear, the Wine and
Shirt Gazette cites a supposititiuus case,
and after pointing out that tn" Police
Department Is a Tammany machine,
SAYS:
Now then, John Doe r. a liquor dealer.
He IL personally known to the Tammany
captain If the election district In which
his FALCON IL located. The Captain discov-
erg that the influences cmanatinG from
that saloon are hostile to Tammanv. He
reports the fact to his distric, leader.
The leader at once goes to the Cap
tain of the Police Precinct ANA reports
that John Does saloon will bear watch
Ina. ON the other line the Police Cap
tain has received confidential instruc-
tions from the Tammany commissioners
20 listen to such suggestions from the
district leaders. W. must nhav tlOra in
structiOns OF he will be dlciplincd. So he
at cnce gives orders "a watch tn" off nd
Ing saloon. That means business.
I'm q very short time the saloon
keeper Ia cntrappet into some seeming
violation of law and is promptly ar
rested. Then the mission Of the police
Justice is 70 enforc" tha correction. II
reform Of his political methods he is
discharged. If he is ob1urate and
Independent the evidence Of his
violation Of law is presented to the Grand
Jury. Thus the saloon men stand in
mortal terror of the agents of Tammanv.
whether policemen or civilians. and their
political birthright Is sacrificed that their
business may be continued and they per
mitted to earn bread for their families i"