New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-15
JUDGE GR4DY'S .NTLKNIN."

The infrcpucQcy with NhlCn mlikincn bc'olh"
Aldermen has no doubt been the subject Of
much discussion among political philosophers
since the time Of William the Tcsty. but We
are free 10 confess that our own attention had
not been drawn 10 II until Grady. j.. Of the
Police Court Bench made his imprisoned APP
peal on behalf Of mkmcn and elevated rail
road guards NJ the Croker ob>cQulcS in The
East Fourteenth Street Home for The Political
IncurablcS last Friday night. Now that aitcn
ton has been called 10 II by Grady. j.. "" note
with considerable Interest the Circumstance" that.
though we can recall with ease the names ~
several hundrcd-Or perhaps thousand rum
sellers who have served with distinction and
profit In the Board Of Aldermen We can hardly
remember single milkman who has been
called by The unboughi suTragcS of his fellow
citizens from the milking stool and cow and
calf and pump. and all III" calm delights ~ III"
dairy. 10 minclc I'm the Will cXcitcmcnis ~ Tho
Aldcrmanic chamber and participate on some
thing Ike equal terms Ia Tie p.aEc of the
town. To the high function Of municipal lcgis-
larlon we have called The saloon.kccpcr the
contractor. the junk.dcalcr the plumber. The
banker faro, the broker lin patronage. ihr
cmlgrant runner scaycnccr. shystcr and hoclcr.
but hardly ever the mild. modest AMI innocuous
milkman. And IL Is an impressive thought that
II might have gone on SO for ages had not The
active and powerful mind of Grady. j.. Of the
Police Court Bench. seized hold Of the circum-
stance az one OF the most significant factors In
the present disturbed political situation and de-
termEed To shake up public opinion and fire
the Democratic heart on the subject
How long the intellect OF the eminent jurist
had been focused on this very interesting phase
OF the pull lie life OF our own time have no
means OF knowing. Nor precisely how his nj
tention came to be drawn 10 H. II may be
that during some Of the long vacations which
he finds II necessary 10 take 70 rccupcrac his
faculties. having Withdrawn into the country
to while away the hours in pastoral pleasures
and bucolic delights. he has observed the skill
and deftncss with which the gentle milkman
promotes the Illuminating animals tactical flow.
What more natural reflection for contcm-
plative statesman. bordering even in his leisure
the gravcst social problems, than that the milk
ing talent displayed SO unostcntati0usly amid
rural scenes and barnyard accomplishments
might be applied on larger scale and with
much more profitable results. To municipal
treasury. Quite naturally the question would
then arise, Why are not milkmen elected Al
ut ny NnltH, pHlNll-
ing this inquiry, ne may have reached the con
clusion that the Chamber of Commerce was re-
sponsbc for this gross injustice to the milk
man and crime against the public welfare, il Is
not given us to trace but the conclusion being
reached, no one who knows Grady, j.. could be
surprised at his rising up in great heat to re-
dress the wrong. 1t was like Grady J., 10 do
II at the first opportunity. even though he had
to disturb the purllng flow Of the Croker OBJ
scques.
Or ii may be that some day. after laborious
session OF court occupied with restoring to
cicty malcfactors with pull and sending 10
the Island indicators without a pull. he re-
paired to the chamber Of Aldermen TO calm his
pcrturbed spirit and battle his troubled soul in
the ripping flow of SOBER Flynns unstudcd
eloquence; and being there. he was struck by
the fact as his eye glanced over that varied
but impressive aggregation OF statesmen. that
there was not n milkman in sight TO the clear
intelligence Of Grady, j.. a circumstance Of this
unusual character would Mt once offer food for
profound reflection. "Why"-he would solil0.
in this fine array Of becr-pushcrs
and tumbler-rnscrs do see no dipper- swingers
and can-jugglcrs? Why is there no mllkman
hereT 1t Is easy TO understand that the mind
OF Grady. j., revolving this conundrum with
lIghtnnglikc rapidity would not be long aITiv-
ing ut the answer that they are kept out Of pub
lie life by the Chamber OF Commerce. And
fhen. of course, Grady. j.. said: This business
must stop right here The Chamber of Com
merce must be put down. 1t must take its iron
heel of from the neck of the milkman; the milk
mans right to he an Alderman must be cstab-
lished. a Board Of Aldermen made up almost
entirely Of sellers Of whiskey should BE- diluted
with an occasional dealer in milk whether the
Chamber of Commerce likes It or not" Rea-
sonlng thus, Grady, j., broke in upon the Croker
obsequies with the announcement that the old
fight Of the classes against the masses is stu