The record-union., 1894-07-05

him. He and they alone know the Sc,
crets of Tammany corruption. de dlo
all the business himself. u IS SAID. Nos
his nearest associate IN the secret couilcil
of the organization knew all the oesalls
of any transaction. Croker kept his own
books, and. am told, kept them III DIS
head. What, then, has he TO fearl ne Is
secure on every side, as sure as ne Is on
the ocean steamship. That may SINK,
may strike an iceberg, but the rish -
very small.
It has been said several times in these
letters that Tammany corruption was
highly systematized: that there was no
looseness in its practice; nothing retail
about il. Petty officials had no share IN
the profits and contracting of and for the
organization. Where officeholders nave
done these things, they have dlsooeyed
the iDiunctions of the heads Of the organ
ization and are abandoned TO take the
consequences. Thus the lot-box stuH-
ers were sent to prison. when Word 10
the District Attorney would have stayed
that office in its splendid work Like
wise. it is understood in the police de-
partment that every body stands by him.
self, and wherever d case OF blackmall
has been proven the individual VINO TOOK
the money took the punishment. he ala
not. and il is said by insiders that he
could not expose the man to whom he
delivered the money
Again, it is clear why Croker can re-
turn. II is not mere bluff when Mayor
Gilroy and Croker say for pu ublication, III
strong language, that whoever is proven
guilty of black mail and fraud shali be
tried and punished. Gilroy and Croker
could safely be of the jury who pronounce
the verdict OF guilty. So, while the Lexow
Committee have heard the proof OF the
accusations against ward detectives and
patrolmen, and in some Instances OF cap
tains, they have not traced, III single
case, a payment TO its ultimate destina-
ton. There have been given some Gimp
ses of a system, as when Senator Roesch
under cross-eX animation admitted the
use of his political influence to intercede
for arrested inmates OF disorderly houses.
There have, indeed, been indications
enough to convince the spectator that the
money lands high up" as Harry Hill
put it, but no proof. 1t Is very doubtful
if il is to be proven. | don't believe 1t.
individuals only have been Implicated
bv the evidence thus tar obtained by the
committee. There is the limit beyond
which progress cannot be made. Should,
however, the whole police department De
brought Enthusiastically iuto the mire and.
still more, if every political leader IN
Tammany Hall should be convicted.
.Dick" Croker would yet be safe, and
The Work Oh Inc COLIiHAttoC Will 10 liiSOlii-
plete.
Unless the most respectable class of
political corruption sends its witnesses on
the stand no permanent and thorough
purgation OF the community VIII result.
The department may be reformed, hum
dreds OF officials may be sent TO prison,
Tammany may be defeated SO that II can-
not rise again for years, but The sources
OF the filth Will be flowing springs.
People knew the police was rotten.
They know Tainmany is corrupt. They
knew the petty merchants OF the markets
paid biackniail They know prominent
merchants of Broadway and Wall street
have made Croker rich. But the Le1ow
Committee must get the truth III the
shape OF explicit iacts. hideUus "details
and shameful confessions 1roul men III
numbers, like the President oil the
American Refinery Company (who told
the United States Senate some iactsl, be-
fore the community can realize what 1t
all is. Ii must come out i'll print, day al
ter day, in the newspapers. before the
truth is comprehended. Then, perhaps,
men will be ashamed Of themselves and
cinch up their honor bit. so that the
progress of honesty may taxa another
step. The return of Croker is an indica-
ton that he does not take any stock IN the
hope of the outcome. His disappoInt-
ment is necessary to the promotion OF re-
I finement of common honesty. j. l.. >.