New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-28
THE SUPPLEMENTARY md THE BO1RD.

THE SUPERINTENDENT md THE BOARD.
Tammany is diligently preparing TO steal the
election That is the plain meaning OF the
fraudulent registration which has been proved
in many cases and doubtless remains undetect-
ed in many more 1t is that which Is signihcd
nv the refusal of Police Commissioners Martin
and Shcchan 10 support a resolution authorizing
Superlntcndcnt Byrncs to detail policemen Tor
dutv at polling places outside their precincts.
rammanv fears the effects of the Senate III
vostigation. fears the consolidation Of its OPP
Moments fears "A revolt within It's own ranks.
hui most Of all fears an honest election. 1t has
stolen votes by the thousand in past years wheh
they were not needed. Just TO swell the margin
of safety 1t means TO steal votes by the zen
thousand this year. when they are desperately
needed TO avert ruin Nobody should be aston
isbed nj such audacity. exhibited at the hottest
point in an investigation which has reyoltcd the
whole country with its exposure Of unparalleled
depravity. and driven the whole conspiracy OF
,naIefoctors TO the extremity Of terror. II Is
precisely because they find themselves in That
plight that they are now plotting to escape from
il by an additional and colossal crime Their
only hope of salvation lies in their ability 10 sur
pass their own infamous record. They are Ike
the burglar who. caught in the act, murders his
victim.
To diminish the opportunities for fraud on
Election Day was the sole purpos" OF me r'SoIu-
ton offered by Commissioner Murray on FIJI
dav. Every Tammany worker rejoiceS tllat
Martin and Shcehan prevented It's adoption.
They all know that the assignment OF police
men 10 unfamiliar precincts would he Il serious
hindrancc To their plans. Hitherto Iaminahy
election officials. Tammany ruiiians III ana
around the polls and the police on duty unucr
Tammany orders have cO-Opcratcd perfectly 10
swudle voters in numerous districts. The fact
was overwhelmingly established last winter III
the trials of election thieves and before the
Lexow Comnbttcc. If the police agents were
transferred. the combination could not turn ont
the required result readily ana abundaitY.
The purpose would remain and the conspiracy
would be c0nSummated a. far rs possible" but
thorough understanding might De lacking ana
the machinery would not run 50 smoothly Ihcr"
is not trace of calumny in this assertion OF
Tamnany's design and hope 10 steal the cleo
ton II is merely statement II facts-Of factS
proved In law Of facts which have caused Tam
many leaders Ia rejoice among themselves IN
the past and which alone sustain whatever
feeble expectation Of success the most sanguin"
Of them now cherish. Ability 10 carry out in
detail the general plan Of cheating ut the polls
has been one Of the Surcst titles 10 prcf"rment
in the organization. - influence, offices AMI
Jobs II was by This means that Diver the
district leader became Diver the Police Justice.
The failure of the resolution through the adj
verse. votes Of Martin and Shcchan is useful aS
4 revelation Of Tammanys attitude ana purpose,
and il does not conSirain Mr.. ByrncS in The
slightest degree. His authority IN the matter
would not have been curiailcd if the Commits
sioners had formally forbidden him To send pc
lcemen ont Of their precincts on Election Day.
Soon after he had returned from the Board
meeting to the witness stand on Friday. Shcc-
han. PERHAPS inadvertently. declared that no
net Of the Police Board could hamper the
superintendent in the discharge Of his duties"
One Of his most imperative duties j. the enforce
mcnt Of law al the polls. and he Is not only cln-
powered hut under the highest obligation 10 ON
plov the men under his command in the way
which he deems best adapted to The accom-
plishmcnt Of lhal object Occasional transfers
in the manner proposed have always been made
on Election Day when convenience or necessity
raauired and general transfer is absolutely
within the Superntcndents discretion. II The
Tammany Commissioners try 10 hinder the cxrr-
else of his authority. much the worse for the
Tammany Commissioners
So much The worse also will II be for Super
intcndent Byrn"s. in the opinion Of honest citi-
Zcns if he neglect 10 Use his unrestricted
powers according 10 his best Judgment for the
protection Of the polls. But we do moi believe
that he will pay the slightest attention 10 the
action Of Martin and Shechan on Commissioner
Murrays resolution. He cOmprchcnds his duty
perfectly and confidently expect that he
will make known his purpose 10 perform ii at
the right time and In the right way.