New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-30
DETERY AND THE ELECTION LAW.
A. r. CONKLING SAYS TIE STATUTE SHOULD
BE REVISED so AS TO TAKE ELEC-
TIONS AWAY FROM THE POLICE

TONS AWAY FROM THE POLICE
While considerable space has been given in the
public press to various unsavory incidents. as
brought out in the Lexow inquiry. In the career
OF William 5. Devery since his promotion 10 be Act
ing Chief OF Police the in which he con-
Quoted the polling places in MS prccnc. in the cleo
ton OF 1899 has apparently been overlooked Alfred
r. Conkling who has for years been prominent In
the public affairs OF this city. drew the attention OF
a Tribune reporter 10 the evidence which was ad-
6uced before the Lexow Committee as to the meth
DDS which prevailed in the Eleventh Precinct OF
which Devery captain. on the Election Day OF
1898
Captain Devery's conduct on that day. SAID MI
Conkliug was so outrageous and partisan that you
expect the thing to happen next iaI
when. instead Of having the control OF precinct OF
perhaps one hundred or one hundred and nrty men,
he will command police force of nearly eight thou-
sand In the evidence taken before the Lexow
Committee a Republican Inspector OF elections tes-
titled
went in there (meanng the poing-piace, 10
challenge voter. and the officer In charge OF Ina
polling place would not arros; that voter ahless
to the station house and made the charge per-
sonaly. l went down there and while was IN
there there was platoon OF men, suppose my
were from different precincts-and the captain SAID
TO these men: Il don't want any charges orousn.
against you people. and II makes no dnerence Mna
tells YOU There is lot OF slk;stoeking p eoP,e
and If they open their mouths stand them on their
heads
This testimony together with other similar ev'-
dence can be found in the Lcxow committee re-
ports Vol l. page 2os may point out also that upon
cross-examnation Captain Deverys counsel fahed
10 discredit the testimony OF this witness
MR. COMPRESS EXPERIENCE.
AT the same election Of 1898 Samuel Gompers. the
labor leader was a candidate FOR delegate 10 the
Constitutional Convention. Mr.. Gompers was prop
ably the only candidate Of the Labor party VINO hau
the slightest chance OF election IL vas '"eie'u'e
Vital that he should receive all the votes 10 "oh
ne was entitled Only three days ago watcher TOT
Mr. Gonpcrs told me OF his experience win beNe'E
on that Election Day. The moment the amman!
rufrans disco, cred Who this watcher was ne was
ordered TO Get out OF here" Showing MS "a'c"e,
certificate. he insisted upon remaining pu' 'ne
threats against him became 80 serious tna' ne Iel ,
the pollingpiace. lie went 20 Captain De'e'' anu
told him what had happened
Is that night, Captain he asked
Ono Devcry replied. but il does not pay 10
quarrel with those fellows You naa ne,iifg ,,rs
home In other words. captain Devey W. ,Sa A
no protection 10 an authorized "ht'hv, -, ~ in
Dor party and while there were TWO Tamnsly , ~
spectos Of election ana one tsndi9a;e had no one
"a rsnreseuf him and probably many OF 'He 'O'es
for him we're counted :or u1 W~ c;ompcrs
VINO running FOR delegate asaLn., ~, .birh fhis
The leader OF the Assembly GlstiTt "a III; sui
incden, took place was Timothy D's hn dove our
livan and his brother was the man ""o "'0'e ''
the labor watcher. A.. -.sun,e Act
-. ~ next election approaches pes IA''
ing chief Dcvery will summon the prerri... IN a.
manders to headquarters and tell each cnp'A' ,n
will held responsible FOR me en'ofc ,aTc 70 en-
Election law In his precinct ana me t,,res 1'hi.
sorce the law Will lead 20 serious c0nsequehI.s ~
in the language OF ne day; WA t Ue KAT Dev-
fo- every patroman on the force kio~s ~
CIV has been promoted 10 serve Tammhia!o .,., s.s
regard TO the az billy o. calling specia
,d ~ ne NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by the Republican
machine-to deal with the evils likely 10 slo ~ "
partisan control OF the fohce Dep"' '''e''' VI
"The Republicans with whom have talked 40
not as a rule. favor special session OF ''' a.
lature for II might prove a Dophe' Nm ,r
or six wears hence there should be K"?Nnnt,"l ~
at eas, anti Tammsny Mao, a ,he Governor
Democrats would, y they controLed Wy .,d do
and ,he Iegislature call an extra session anu w.
something Ear "oIae e, man Session e Thcre is one
cuse for extra session at tis lshvt,,, ~ ~
IS to amend fniy the ace,g should be- Separated
from the Police Department There snonu ns 81 SO
pa nan epost potcai parties This method am
/ tnld worked very well IN Brooklyn for many yt 80.
! ana the gentlemen who framed the Greater -
W., Tbsr,nr are perhaps now sorry that they re,
fused 20 listen 20 the advice OF ret9fIr's u. ~
| 20 the separation OF the E''c''" "D''' '
Police Department
A CASE IN POINT
"Ubue am on this subject let me say that there
,ho,,ls he a thorough revision Of the Election IA"
For example the famous tally-sheet case OF INC
Assemblynlan and Alderman In the AlA'h ASs'"
Div District resulted in the election OF the ''u]"
Union candidates but owing 70 defects IN 'he ID"
the were originally a"apeH /" 90.
candidates Then. again. the persona! ldent'H'a'o'
clause IN the Registration Law. when "ofhed WI!
well for one wear was repealed by the aci o. conn
nv penuhi,can who ,nkcrod with the Election 10 "
81 1886 and there is no provision IN INC
ration law which prevents voters rom Ie.iii.'.t
the old Tammany practice ~ registering ~
~ thirty different poiing-places There are ol',e'
defecis in the Election law, but these are me Wih
ciral ores and ! throw out the sucge-non ma "
OILY excuse for an extra session of the iegS'a.uI
,e 10 mai. 50 thorough revision OF me rlec.,o,
law os viii suppress the deyiltry when lammhhy !
80 nrena,od 10 practise the DAYS OF regisirauoh
/ ia s,rnn Election Day next autumn