New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-13
SOME OPEN SECRETS.

We suspect that the leading articles In when
"Thr Albany Evening Journal daily expresses
its disapproval Of The Tribune and iis adm.ra-
ton for Mr. Plat are written in The office ~
that newspaper: they are - much more album
dant In zeal than In discretion. Fer instance a
recent article. IN which the praise OF MT fI't'
IL Of the same high color rs In the editorial mat
Ter sent out few weeks ago, and might well
| have been written by the gentleman himself.
| contains the suggestion that Mr.. Platt should
bring a libel suit against The Tribr lc. This Is
evidently an original conception. MI flatt i
too discreet 10 advise himself 10 do that The
article I'm question closes with the statement
that The New-York Tribune Is said 10 have
charged Thomas &. Plat with being guilty Of
"the crime Of blackman" and adds. with conSid-
ernble earnestness: THAT being the case, let
THE New-York Tribune produce the proof Of
this charge or let 1t stand confessed an un-
"pr,nclpled calumniator The time 10 produce
"proof has arrived" Now, while we cannot but
admire the chvalrous spirit OF our Albany CON
temporary In thus rushing to the defence Of its
patron against q charge only said TO have been
| made. We must say that we dislike the alterna-
tive Of either producing proof Of a charge said
| 10 have been made or standing confessed an
| that our ardent Albany contemporary will in
| It's cooler moments think better Of II and not
| force us to make the choice. And we are nbso-
mtey sur; that Mr.. Platt will not insist upon 1t.
Our Albany contemporary, as II seems to us,
misapprehends the situation. Let Us explain IL
| more fully. II Is an open secret In this town
we presume our Albany contemporary knows
| what an open secret is-that In several election
| campaigns-we will not undertake 10 say how
| many-Republican committees, National, state
| and County, when they have asked for contribu-
| tons to campaign funds from wealthy indiyid-
| uals connected with great corporations have
! becn met In many instances with the answer
| that while these individuals were willing and
| expected to make subscriptions for the purpose
| named they would prefer TO make payment 10
| that well-known and trusted leader, Mr.. Thomas
| G.. Plat 1t IL an open secret that this condi-
! ton has been assentcd 10 In "A ma ority Of cases
| II not all 1t Is an open secret thar the money
| so paid TO Mr.. Plat has been disbursed by
! means OF his own checks as his personal con
| tributions TO the campaign expenses Of Repub-
lIcan candidates for the Senate and Assembly
| and other official positions throughout the State
| II is an open secret that Mr.. Plat has not con
| sdered II worth his while TO make any account
| ing 70 the committees named OF his dsburse
| mcnts II is an open secret that many Of the
| corporations contributing In this indirect WAY
| TO campaign funds to be used-legitimately OF
| course-for the election Of Senator's and Assem-
! blymen have large interests at stake which
| NAV be dependent upon securing or defeating
legislation at Albany. II Is an open secret that
| I'm some instances legislation AZ Albany affecting
| corporations Ia this city has been held In com
mittcc. or otherwise delayed, until Mr. Plat
was assured Of contribution to the Republican
| canpaign fund This does not by any means
| imply n charge OF blackmail. And II Is quite
| likely that Mr. Plat did dlsburse the funds In
| trusted TO him with entire honesty Nor Is II II
necessary Inference from the circumstance that
the members Of the Legislature so aided by Mr.
| Platt were uniformly found voting as he wshtN
! that there was any Interior purpose In his dis
burscment Of campaign funds by his personal
| check
Only this it gives occasion for unfavorablc
comment, upon Republican campaign methods,
and suggests very unpleasant comparison with
those which Mr.. Richard Croker as the Tam
many Boss made so successful for many years
| And this happens to be time when the people
are uncommony alive to anything that has the
! appearance Of a continuance Of Tammany meth
dds under Republican rule. 1t Is quite possible.
too, that they may be hasy and uncharitablc
| In their judgment Of the conduct and motives
of very upright men, But the feeling Is gen
eral that the first duty Of Republicans in exist
ing conditions is to avoid the appearance OF
evil 1t has consequently been determined that