New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-05
INVESTIGATE!

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has got itself into Il position which it needs 10
get itself ont of at once Fortunately, III"
right process of cxricati0n is not long and
hard but short and easy. All that the Com
mittce has 10 do is to begin business, but 1t
ought to do that forthwith. Fly various errors
and misadvcntures condition Of things has
been developed which certainly does not indi-
cate the real spirit and purpose of the com
mittcc, but which nevertheless does 10 some
extent diScrcdt It's sagacity ana will destroy
its usefulness if n radical change is not quickly
brought about.
This investigating committee was created III
RESPONSE 10 Il popular demand. which demand
WAS based upon a wcll-nigh universal convic-
ton that the Police Department of Ncw-lork
had long practiscd mchodical corruption for
various ends. personal and political, and cS-
pecially that il had used its vast power over
elections 10 cheat voters This belief was
amply sustained. When the Police Board was
made Tammany body. in defiance of public
opinion and Of Il long-cStablishcd precedent hav-
ing almost the force Of law, the presumption
was inevitable that the job was put through FOR
the purpose of dcbauching the franchise
When absolute control Of the boards OF cleo
ton inspectors was given TO Tammany ~ the
stolen Legislature that presumption was
clnchcd. and two subsequent elections nave
furnished overwhelming evidence against the
cOnspirators. Men of sober Judgment and pr;lc
teal experience in NcW-l0rk politics believe
that from 1000 10 10000 fraudulent votes
were counted for the Tammany ticket In this
city last November under the supervision ana
to u large extent through the direct agency Of
the Police Department. All the developments
Of the last four months have combined 10
confirm this belief by Il little scratching of
the surface enough fraud was uncovered To
force the Indictment Of more than three score
election officials, nearly half Of whom have
been convicted have cOuricd mercy 10y
pleading guilty. Others have run away, and
if all the familiar signs of terror are not de
ceptve in this instance the whole organiza-
ton is on the verge of panic. The latest con
tirmation Of what has long been practically
proved is found in Congressman Dunphy's or
fetal description Of Tammany's vile ways ana
his resignation from its General Committee.
The people of the State had become aware
before the last election Of the fact that gang
of corrupt tyrants here and In other cities was
stealing their rights and powers: they wcr"
sick Of that slavery. and they went 10 ne
polls to end Il. Having made a notable begin
ming with their votes, they went on TO complete
it by a steady pressure Of concentrated opinion
eXcrted through the processes of law and upon
the minds of the lawmakers whom they had
chosen. The conviction of Mckanc and the
relentless pursuit of Tammnny's base tools in
this city uncrringly reflect the determined pur
pose of the people To smash the dcspoiiSm Of
fraudulent elections and be free again.
Such the popular temper when the Lcgis
laturc met. If there was ever a prc-cmncnt
| oil ierat Ia he
| body now in session AT Albany was bound 10
destroy the specially designed machinery by
which the Democratic bosses of New York have
been turning out fraudulent maiOritcs. As
means TO that end an investigation Of the
Police Department was demanded and ordered.
An excellent committee was appointed for the
purpose and everybody supposed that it would
proceed promptly and rcsolutcly 10 business.
But at the very outset the unfortunate mis-
understandings, Vaccinations or whatever one
may choose 10 call them, began. and they have
continued to this hour. Misled by the spokes-
men of various organizations in this city whose
interest in public questions not seldom produces
more talk than action, the committee came TO
New York and asked 10 be coached and steered.
Without going into the details Of lamentable
experience il is necessary TO say that from that
day to this the committee has failed To make
so much as a start on the road which lies
straight before IT, Indeed, it has escaped by a
narrow margin, if at ALL the colossal and gro
tesque blundcr Of proracting its erratic ncgO-
tiatiOnS 10 50 late date as TO assure the ad-
jOurnmcnt Of the Legislature before anything
is accomplished and the consequent subjcc-
ton Of honest citizens, through another election
to the old theft Of their votes by Tammany
board. Even now il appears that the committee
totally mScOnstruing its mission and assault |
Ing its own dignity and credit IS at least lis |
tcning 10 the prepostcrOus demand of counsel |
for complete authority 10 direct its mnutcst |
acts 1t would be singular confession Of i'm |
potence for committee Of Senators 10 make |
itself the creature Of lawyer who should be its |
servant, even If that lawyer were, what he
certainly is not man Of eminent character |
and attachments.
The people Of this State will never forgive
legislators who let this opportunity 20 by with
out destroying the present machinery for steal
ing votes in NewYork City i'm the interest Of
Tammany Hall, exactly as the man who stole
return Of votes has been DESTROYED and as
they are now destroying the legislation which
made vote-stcaling practicable i'm other parts
Of the State. We believe the committee can
prove also that the Police Board has been
active in raising an enormous corruption fund
from criminal and disrcputablc sources for the
support of Tammany Hall, and for the general
and political purposes Of that organization
and its allies. And we sincerely hope that DR.
Parkhurst and others will be able 10 furnish
abundant evidence on this line which they
have been so long pursuing. The committee
should thoroughly exhaust the whole field but
the first thing Is TO discover whether the Police
Board has been engaged in falsfyng the vote
of the City Of Ncwiork, or permitting its
Justification. If so, the Legislature that should
adjourn without taking steps 10 guard against
that crime at the next election would deserve
to be whipped from the Capitol, aud every