New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-08
pIATTS FIGHT IN ALBANY.
HE IS TRYING 10 TURN THE POLICE
FORCE OvEE TO BARNES.
AZ r.xscR,.pul.ous ATTEMPT TO NUlLlFY THE
rrrrCTs OF MAYOR WILSON'S REFORM
ADMINISTRATION in ORDER TO GAIN
MOI rrIc PATRONAGE.
POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


neous idea. and should be abandoned at once Mr.
Plat Is making a desperate fight to save something
from the wreck Of his machine in the metropolis Out
he Is not such simpieton az not 10 Know that me
battle le is waging there Is a losing one I've He-
ceives others but he is too shrewd to deceive him
self. intentionally Fully aware as he IS that with
few exceptions his following in New-iork CITY Is
composed OF men whose political activity IL prompt
ed solely by a desire for spells, and who are onY
attached to him by motives OF self-nierest he can
not fail to realize that with the patronage OF the
city against him he lahors IN vain As matter OF
fact the Patterson-Gibb narauders are prepared
to desert him in body at any moment his enemies
will consent TO receive them. They only lnger IN
the hope that through Governor Morions influence
Mr.. Pla,t may be able TO secure few crumbs Tor
them from Mayor Strongs table So WEI" ne -
weeping and waiting the Mayors hardness Of
heart and endeavoring to attract general attention
TO his own martyrlom he is all the while at work
strengthening his position in the State preparatory
to his ultimate retirement from New-lork TO the
rural districts which he still fonly hopes TO hold as
his own
An illustration Of his tactics will probably be
furnished in the Assembly tomorrow morning. 1t
Will come up in the Albany Police bill which was
the subject of such spirited debate on Tuesday.
This measure, il will be remembered was ordered
TO a third reading. despite the vigorous opposition
of ex-Speaker Malby, Mr.. Pavey and other leaders
Of the anti-machne forces. 1t Is an outrageous
proposition and one is utterly indcfensible II
violates the principle OF home rule and is there
fore contrary the accepted law of the Repub icin
party as enunciated at the last STATE convention.
1t is in opposition to the interests of this city
and State. The reputable citizens OF both parties
here are against it by an Overwhelming majority.
II is in utter defiance OF decent public sentiment;
its adoption would be suicidal act for the Repuh-
lican party in this county. Nobody wants 1t but
rang of pace-hunting politicians, VINO look Tor
support and guidance to William Barnes. ir.. IN
i'm of Il
who carries the late bosss banner here. Mr.. Plat
wants TO do in Albany what he Is trying to DO IN
New-York recover the ground he has lost in con
sequence of having man in the Mayors once
who has since his election last May refused as
resolutey as Colonel Strong to be governed by the
machine bosses He proposes to strengthen him
self by his favorite device the control OF the police
ALBANy's REFORM MAYOR.
The present Mayor of Albany. Mr. Wilson. is orc
Of the first in the state elected on a non-partisan
platform. He is Republican He has been .oyal
member Of the party all his llfe He has voted Tor
every Republican President since 'Lincon's first
term and for every Republican candidate for Gov
ernor since 1864 He Is however firm believer in
the theory that municipal government Is purely
question Of business administration. and that paru-
san politics has nothing whatever to do with ~
Like Colonel Strong he is business man. but he
had been somewhat identified with pubic affairs ana
had impressed his personality with sufficient favor
unon the city as to attract general attention wheh
the decent people OF Albany decided last year tha
the time had come for radical reform He pledgel
himself to the principles of non-partisanshp After
eecton he set about 10 redeem them. lie was soon
at war with the politicians OF his own party. par
,,cularly Mr. Barnes Mr. Barnes glories In the TACT
that he Is practical politician Of the most pro-
nounced type. He publishes two newspapers. Ihey
are edited at No 40 Broadway New-l ork accprdhe
TO his own testimony. II have no opinions. ne
proclaimed in public "A short time ago Il simply
,ata orders" one of these papers Is The Journal
Tburlow Weeds paper. Pledges and promises are
with him merely things with which TO deiune .''
people and for any man. particularly succesS'u'
candidate who feels bound by them, he mas ohy
unmitigated contempt ~
7, &c nasv IN soc how soon man like Mr.. Wilson
u,ou,d fall under the tan OF his displeasure The
Mayor in fact, had scarcely taken once peiorr
Barnes began TO hold up" his appointments ana
resort to various other means 10 cornpel obep'ehre
70 his wishes But Mr. Wilson was not dscour-
aged He felt that the people were with him lie
determined 10 keep faith with them by giving them
a decent administration. One after ano'her' the
various departments have been reorganized on
business basis The Water BOARD for example.
which was at one time a sink OF corruption. is now
in the hands Of three Of the best business men In the
CITY w n Weaver the president Is one OF the
largest lumber men in the county. Y. II. Young
man served two terms In the Assembly with credit
and is the largest coal dealer In the c''y Acors
Rathbun. the third Commissioner, is also well
Commissioner. is a merchant in excellent standing
So is the Street Commissioner, Charles II. Gaus
Charles H. Armitage. Overscer OF the Poor, Is a
Democrat. he has filled the position admirably In
every respect These the types Of men Mayor
Wilson has selected. Most of them Republicans.
but Republicans chosen for their fitness and abil-
ity not because of theii devotion to the machih''
THE POLICE FORCE OF ALBANY.
There is perhaps not a politician in the State,
certainly within 100 miles of the CAPITOL who
does not remember what disgraccful feature
the police force was in this municipal government
1t was about bad in It's as the metropolitan
force under Tammany and II cut, II anything.
more conspicuous figure in the unsavory political
contests that have dlsgraced this county at times
for years only few years ago, when Cleveland
land men then in control o Of Abany County sent
me ponce force IN body to West Troy 10 prca a
were trying TO run the primaries there. hey did
this bloody work efcciually and returned in glory
OF the policeman then was to take care OF the
primaries and work at The polls on Election Day.
The result was mos, Most here
Cheating bribery cry and all forms Of dis,
thousands OF fraudulent Democratic votes had
been cast.
A DECENT POLICE ADMINISTRATION
The change that Mayor Wilson has wrought in
this department amounts to a revolution The old
order Of things has practically vanished Upon
no branch of the city government has The seal of
reform been more deeply stamped The last cleo
ton held here model Of fairness and de-
cency. There was neither riotng disorder OF
any kind The ballots were honestly cast ana
counted. The Democratic majority OF 5000 the year
before was cut down TO 1000 although Senator HiII
confidently expected 10 receive between $500 and
1900 majority A Republican Congressman was
gained. OF the i've Republican, candidates for AS
sembly, four were elected. The Republican nomi-
nee for District Attorney received 1900 majority
The police discharged their duty impartally The
Mayor. being a member of the Police Board ex-
ofico. remained at headquarters all day like n
years the people. OF Albany had a pleasing, practi-
cal experience Of what fair election really meant.
the old system. but Mr.. Barnes insists that they
shall and with Mr. Platts assistance In the Legs-