The record-union., 1893-11-21
new YORK BOSSES.
The Pointed Lesson Taught the
State Machine.
The Democratic Ticket All showed
Under to Rebuke sheehan. Hill and
Murphy as Well as Judge Maynard
-Brooklyn's Municipal Scandals.

ing has excluded almost every other topic
Of conversation. In the streets and clubs,
among business men down town and
politicians at the headquarters this is the
one subject of living interest; and the
newspapers have been so absorbed by it
that little else has been given editorial
consideration. Following as it does an
almost lifeless campaign, in which New
Workers manifested little or no concern,
this sudden and Gag er displayof interes
is one of the expected and significant
phenomena of the extraordinary election
of 1893.
Five days of such earnest discussion
has brought to expression about all the
theories that will be offered and on some
points general agreement has been ar
rived at. 1t is conceded that the uni
versatility of the reversion to Republican
rule in all States where change was at
all likely demonstrates that the extra ses-
sion and the fear of prospective legislation
were potent factors in the general result.
Authoritative representative es of all
parties, Democratic and Mugwump as
well as Republican, admit that the Ad-
ministratlon has given dissatisfaction.
Democrats, straight and anti-snappers or
Cleveland men, would shield only the
President, granting all else that is
charged. But there are general causes,
and, like the influence of the financial
panic, which operates in this State as in
every other, their agency can be perceived
and measured as accurately in one part OF
the country as in another.
It is the minor causes peculiar to this
State and New Jersey which deserve
some consideration. They are OF little
use for partisan purposes, for they are not
political in the narrow sense. But they
are OF great importance because of their
significance; and their bearing on local
political problems in every American
community gives them more than local
value. Their part Ill producing the result
in New York and in the State across the
Hudson, and their possible consequences,
can be estimated best here on the ground
where they have worked.
They were moral forces, and so far as
they revealed themselves during the cam
paign were directed exclusively against
one man, Judge Isaac II. Maynard, the
Democratic candidate for the Court OF
Appeals. The rest of the Democratic
ticket was made up of men so irreproach-
able that the excellence of the ticket was a
wonder to New Workers., who did not
know what to think OF such condescension
of the State machine. Independent DEM
ocrats for time were nonplussed by the
extraordinary forbearance of the bosses.
DuC 4ney udAd was d sing GldlIy DdO nOiu-
inee and every element OF opposition was
concentrated against him. He had been
Governor Hips active accomplice in the
theft of the DutchesS County returns,
which, if counted, would have elected a
Republican TO the State Senate. His act
was violent one, but it gave the Demo-
Gratis majority of one in the upper house
of the Legislature, and thus complete
control of the State Government.
1t was great service to The Darty at the
time, and Governor Hill and afterwards
Governor Flower appointed Maynard
Associate in the Court of Appeals; but
a complete exposure made public every
detail of the theft, and trial of the case
of subordinate brought out judgment
from the Court Of Appeals which stigma
tized the act as a crime.
The New York Bar Association made
an investigation through committee of
nine, seven of whom were Democrats,
which came to the same conclusion unan-
imously. With all this standing against
the man, Sheehan, Hill and Murphy still
demanded that he be nominated, both as
a reward and as vindication of himself
and of Hill.
The Bar Association led the opposition
against Maynard through the campaign,
but their activity was limited and not Of
practical nature. They issued circulars
setting forth the facts. and their judgment
OAl buO law SOfOI1liS bLO CoSO, anu A0lO
one mammoth meeting in this city. But
they could arouse no enthusiasm that
would manifest itself and were almost in
despair of their cause. Hence their sur
prise at the final result, which not only
defeated Maynard, but overthrew the
whole State ticket.
Hence, too, the surprise of all who
voted against their party. 1t is many
times day for the past few days that
such conversations as the following have
been heard among well-known Demo-
Gratis:
Il rather expected Maynard would be
defeated, but how did it happen that the
whole ticket was beaten ?''
at beats me,' says the second, who
then asked tentatively:
"How did you vote ?'
''Well, I-you see /, for the first time
in my life, voted a straight Republican
ticket.n
"The deuce you did! So did II
Then they look mutually shocked till
they see the point and laugh.
There were thousands of men who
made up their minds to punish the State
machine, but who did not intend to let il
be known how they voted. Each thought
he was acting almost alone, and it is only
on finding so many others with him that
the individual is confessing his moral de-
cision. There was a touch of moral
cowardice in all this not pleasant to think
of. But the outcome of it will be moral
courage which will be characteristic of
all political action in the State in the
future.
Men have learned that the number who
are willing to vote against the machine.
If 1t is not worthy of support, is large
enough to be etfectual at the polls
They have seen that the best of Demo-
Gratis have done this in a purely State
election. They have come to the conclu-
sion that a secret ballot is not a necessity
to right political action. 1t has enabled
them to make the experiment, but
now it is decided by thousands that
independence of party on such oc-
casions is at least respectable. If
this is a bye-result of the late election,
whether it be good or not, il will be at any
rate the beginning of very important
force in political development. 1t has
already borne fruit in efforts to organize
anti-machine associations of Democrats.
These viii probably prove abortive, but
If a large number of Democrats will
openly stand ready to vote against their
party long stride toward good govern
ment will have been made. 1t is not
necessary that they unite in any formal
society.
Besides the Maynard controversy there
were other moral issues which were de-
cided. The methods of Mclaughlin in
Brooklyn are crude and old-fashioned.
Corruption is general and not at all svs-
tematized. Every petty officer runs his
own office for all it is worth, with the re-
suit of frequent scandals of the most dis
graceful sort. Citizens of that city have
come to their senses, and McLaughlin's
machine will have TO be brought up to
date if it is to continue in existence. Nc
Kane on Coney Island managed in a no.
toriously unscrupulous, loose and violent
way, and he viii be driven out and better
methods will be introduced there. In
New Jersey the race-tracks, which were
not places of sport, but of fraud and the