The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-23
One of Them to Be Slain in the
Electric Chair This Week
FOR KILLING A REPUBLICAN.
The Crime of Bat shea ard the Methods
That Elected the United States
Senator From Troy.


friends lef1 nothing urdone 10 save him
from the chair. The enormous Republican
majorities in New York state in Novem-
Der. 1894, and November, 1895. were in part
due 10 popular Indignation over this afro
cious murder and a desire 10 stamp out
the horrible evil known as Mdrphyism. The
New York Times. the leading Cleveland
Democratic paper Of the United States, in
It's issue of March IL, 1894. printed more
than page devoted TO Ed Murphy and his
thugs. under the title. "Bossism That Ends
in Blood" Following are extracts from
the article:
Troy. March 1e.-The flag which shows
that Edward Murphy. jr.. is still in control
OF the political field in Troy is still flying.
but il is dripping with human blood.
AT the election which was held In Troy
last Tuesday Mr.. Murphy. long the political
boss" OF this municipality. was yictori-
Gus. 1t was a bitter struggle. for there
were unusual forces in. the contention for
supremacy.
Encouraged by the hope that the odious
domination of Mr.. Murphy might be ter
minated in this year when bosses are
being overthrow, the attempt was made
TO purge tins city. 1t failed, In the strug-
gle murder was committed, and. though
ii came too late TO avail this year in that
tragedy the people See a blood-red omen
above the now victorious camp
In public places and in the public press
the moral responsibility for that crime has
been placed upon the responsible head of
the political system which not only made
II possible but inevitable. Edward Muir
ply, Jr.. senator OF the United States
from the Empire state is the head and
organizer Of that political system
A breath of public opinion has been fan
ned To breeze which is blowing against
that system of politics which has pre-
vailed since Mr. Murphy began to rule.
The breeze is growing TO a strong wind
storm is inevitable. which will sweep the
corrupt structure from the face OF the
earth in fragments.
What is "Murphyism?"
Briefly stated. it is that system of politics
which profits by and encourages any man
ner OF rank fraud, any sort OF vile corrup-
tion, any outrage against decency, any
crime against the ballot, violence, repeat
ing, bribery. theft and whatever in the cate
CORY OF crime Is necessary 10 give one po-
litical faction a victory over another at all
hazards. without regard to decency, law,
or the sentiment OF good people 1t is
ward politics IN its worst form.
'Murphyism" has prevailed In Troy for
many years. IT has prevailed in nearly
every ward of Troy. II has created a car.
II has made his subjects slaves II has
caused decent people TO be angry at first.
then discouraged. 1t has made Troy syno-
nym for whatever is worst In politics
Put the frauds of Gravesend whose
boss" Is now wearing stripes in prison,
and the frauds In Brooklyn and those in
the worst wards in New York, for which
dozen or more convicted felons are now be-
hlnd the bars and the worst that prevails
il the most corrupt parts of the ring-ridden
New Jersey towns all together. and for
audacity, for unhlushing cr.minanty, for
wholesale corruption of the ballot box. they
are no worse than the prevailing methods
In some of the wards OF Troy
IL Is commonly remarked among thought
ful people in Troy that the things which a
decent public sentiment corrects IN older
portions OF the country and the things
which vigilance committees correct in the
newer portions are allowed 10 so uunotlcei
and unpublished IN the town of Troy Its
best citizens call II "a sinkhole of corrlp-
tion." politically speaking
Tnere is little use in attempttng TO de-
scribe the political situation i'm Troy by the
use OF epitsets. a few plain facts win give
a better idea Of what goes on in Troy on
election day under 'Murphylsm" than all
the emphatic adjectives In the dictionary
There was an election in Troy last Tues-
day II is said by those who have seen
many similar elections TO have been COM
parahvely fair and uncorrupt for Troy.
IT that be true. there IS good ground for
the vigorous and emphatic demand OF many
Murphy shall JON the procession of other
hosses~who have this year been tumhled
down from their thrones by the overpower-
ing and stunning blows which public opin-
ion has dealt them
Al the election in Troy on Tuesday one
man was killed, three others were danger
ously wounded, some Of the most notoriaIs
men IN New York state headed gangs az
rePeaters in the polling places, and still,
those who have studied "Murphyismr for
several years. looking at the list Of dead
and wounded and casting a hurried glance
az the squads of desperadoes that swarmea
AZ some Of the polling places affirmed that
this was quiet, decent election for Troy.
Who was IN Troy on election day? First.
there was Edward Murphy. the boss
lie came up from Washington city and led
his hosts IN person. He was there for DAYS
before election day, mapping cat the cam
paign
1t IS probably an accident that the tail I'm
Rensselaer, county vas built lust across the
street from Mr.. Murphv's brewery II vas
not an inappropriate coincidence 1t Is in
ne brewery that much Of ''NTurphvtsm''
had It's birth for Mr. Murphy has used u
as his political Headquarters. The beer 4bat
IS made there and peddled 10 the rros
sHa3s an over The city Is a wonderful helm
- keeping y alive Men who are fun Of
Murnhv'S beer and the other things .bev
drink Ia places where AIurphv's hear IS soIs
are the bone ana suew on election sav
whsn "Nfurphyism' exhibits ITSELF in tts
most vivid form. TIE brewery nas hsen
credited as being a great help 70 NJ Me-
pav tn politics.
When "M0rpayisH" is properly rewarded
a3a q descent Las. hacked hy pubHc opinion.
Is enforced. many % me Murphy satellites
a" tu come back very near 10 the Mace ~
htSinhi2E- They w.N he In fail Good nco-
R.e " troy aFe hoping thar This .tne viii
spteGfF e7me> The fau wlu have 70 ~
sis.frSfi 70 Accommodate all, hut thar can
b. attended o.
SaHe Or t7osa VINO Were - Troy an t1a.
.ast -irat.an day. al whose ae.ions vera
dominated Ht Murphylsro." are i'm me ian
POW Aa'E ~ taem, however. ara SIN
posed 20 6aye LEFT The city ara cannot ba
ca-reht 80
Another man eho vas in r~-v ON sIs,-
t.oa day Vas ,3e notorious Dave p.ssle- -
.u'a. TTere are uarn IN Troe uaa saw +As,
#" ~as t5@re F. Nar->'lv-s r.er.s-s ~ 4e
.a# man VINO achieves such wide spread no
.#F'etF i"2 az tarea years ago ny assisting
'#. 1arka klnE. - h~seu. n escape from fAe
eli5eers ~ tae AK. BE vas ia Troy when
.4ar2s s}SH1' WAs last on exhibition
HSe f2yaa was IN Troy. and - Is est4
rave SF"1 E.,5 gang or reporters rom
Nr% AsF& ctey. brought IN ry some f.flr-
e9He IN assist ir .as ceremony. - irs.sf,f,,.
Boss Murphy BE nNws~ For another wear
tH4s 4FGtea1t ~ ,he '+s1ss'' oree lived s,
NTN 1o-k. tie occupied foe responsible
r'>sttaH ~ lockout n a gambling ats-a
l1 EAST Fp-rtseC,I strret.
Hatt T5aEe~r AZ 87gffzlo was a1~~ IA
Trey ~ eie~ts-1 Dag. ara q squad ~ -
9-&f"Fs sa'5 - Rave como from buffalo.
was arttr BIS direction
d Ntl ems as seen ta4, re Murphy stss-'
) : II B.