New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-09
UITU Ills TONG TE OH"

That was Il rather suggestive spectacle IN
Judge Barlctt's court. over in Brooklyn. on
Tuesday. when OF, OF the "copyists Nc
KcOn by name, employed by the Democratic
rulers Of Gravcscnd 10 make copies OF IN"
voting lists, was set to the task Of writing his
own name. lie had been selected by that orIl;'-
mcnt of the local bench. Judge" Sutherland.
to copy the lists. and testified that he was en-
ploycd six days and paid 81 per day for his
services At the request of counsel he gave in
court IN exhibition Of his accomplishments rs
Il scribe beginning with the delicate AMI dill
cult task of writing his own name. The per-
Torrance is thus described by Il Democratic
newspaper:
lie seized the pen firmly turned his head to one
side. squintel at the paper, and slowly started 10
move his hand. AT the first movement his tongue
appeared at the Of his mouth. and every
movement Of the pen was accompanied by sqhirfn
~ the writer's tongue. As he wrote more of the
name the task seemed - become more laborlous
McKcons eyes protru1ed from his head and his
face grew crimson. Persons seated near the desk
could hear the Gravcsend copyist grunt and pun,
and the perspiration appeared on his brow before
the last letter OF the Hame was written
Being asked TO copy the first maine on the
isi he ran his tongue ont again. and. after Ten
minutes of squrming and coniorilon. succeeded
in producing something that rcS"mblcd III"
name. II may have been ihc young mans mis-
fortune rather than his fault hat his lack OF
facility with the pen compelled him 10 run out
his tongue aud squrn aud comfort himself ana
take ten Minutes to write a single name. Doubt
less the instrument was new To him. and Ii"
may not have had any Of tho advantages of
education IN It's uSc We do not blame him for
that. nor for running ont his tongue, If by that
movement the exercise WAS made more easy
or tOcrabc 10 him Nor do We blame him for
taking service M a compensation of So Il day
for which he maufcsty had So little aptitude.
He doubtless wanted the 81. ana as for bis
competency. Tia: WAS his employers lookout.
not his There is a reasonable suspicion. III
deed. that In the mind OF Judge" Sutherland
the fact thar h" required ten minutes time
for each name he copied was recommendation
rather than IN objection. ii being more i'm
portaut TO the purpose OF the judge" to o.
ciIpy the time fully than 10 copy III" lists swift
~ or lcgibly.
But what seems 10 us rather significant aud
suggestive about The transaction is The close
ness with which the Judge" adhered 10 Demo
cratic traditions and followed III" recognized
Democratic rule in selecting persons for official
functions The rule he followed In selecting
copyisls i the same that is Eabluall: follow
hy the Democratic organization which controls
this town In the selection Of men for pibilc
Office Nearly all the offices at the disposal OF
'hai org iuIzation are lllrd 10y men who are
inst nhout rs III for the places they occupy as
the Gravcscnd "copylst was 10 WELD the pen
They SIT on commissions and on tho bench or
the police court and they 20 to Albany ms AS
scrnllymcn or Senators. AMI whether they I'M
d.riakc 10 clean ihc streets. regulate the parks.
administer Justice ar make laws. they 60 To
work az II with their tongues ont and much
squirunng and contorlon The only thing they
do dcfily and haniily rs though they had been
trained To- do II. il 10 draw their salaries
The Gravescnd "copyiSt with his tongue
ont + m excellent Illustration Of the rule ~
selection in the Democratic party.