The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-24

0l0 at Jne I0QucSt VI tue otAibS Dcu1O-
cratic chairman who had given out
the remarkable estimates and who
had acted as their counsel release all
one dav and without anv petition
from citizens of the State or any rec
ommendaIion from the court before
whom they had been convicted.
/ Some of these matters were made
an issue in the fall election of 1892, but
/ the entire Democratic ticket was
elected by the cleveland tidal wave
although the Democratic candidate
4 for governor ran 1000 votes
Behind the Presidential ticket. In the
same election it is well understood
some sort of compact was made be-
4 tween the Democratic organization
and the proprietors of few of the
race tracks in the State, who were
making great fortunes by conducting
I their tracks in violation of law and
who desired further legislation in
their interest, such as to protect them
! from prosecution. As a result of this
coalition majority ofthe Democratic
\ legislature which was chosen in 1892
was favorable to the racetrack owners
4 and in defiance of public sentiment
! they passed laws which practically
absolved the race-track magnates
from all restraint The same legisla-
! ture passed the 'coal-coinbine bill. y
4 concerning which ! informed the
gentleman few days ago. have
4 been told that some Democratic mem
/ bers of that legislature who hesitated
| to support the bill were assured that
4 it was Il party measure and that
| the party would reap benefit
| through some expected contributions
from the coal combine to the party
organization.
| These 1nisdeeds, with many Others
which | have not time TO recall, were
in issue before the people of New Jer-
sey in the election of 1893, and con-
tributed to bring about the unprrce-
dented majority of 1900 votes which
the Republican legislative ticket re-
ceived that fall.
Then followed the attempted steal
of the senate, participated in by the
Democratic State organization and
by every Democratic senator. The
attempt was thwarted only by the
decision of the supreme court of New
Jersey.
1t was found, as a result of a legisla-
tive investigation, that under the old
ring the "old gang almost every
piece of furniture in the statehouse,
every article that was needed for its
equipment. the contracts for ventila-
tors, for Office fixtures, for desks, in
deed everything was subject to a
''divvy' in the interest of some mem
Der or members of the party in power.
There was found to be fraud in the
furniture. Some went into the pri-
vate office of the leaders of the party
There was fraud in the coal that was
purchased TO heat the stateEouse.
There was fraud in the soap and
scrubbing brushes, which ought to
have kept the building physically
clean at least. There was fraud, Mr..
Chairman. even in the very flagstaff
on the top of the Statehouse. 1t
ought to have cost, on the mostliberal
estimate, not exceeding 5000, and
vet did cost, being supplied by a
favored contractor. the sum of 81. $50.
So that even "Old Glory with her
stars and stripes, could not float over
the Statehouse of the State of New
New Jersey without being compelled
to pay tribute of 500 to this ring
who controlled the administration of
affairs in the State. Applause on
the Republican side
Speaking OF the attack on Attorney
General Griggs by the New York
World, Mr.. Pitney said:-It is appro-
pirate that the gentleman should cite
for his authority journal whose
character is so well understood that
it is excluded from respectable read
ing rooms and even from the social
headquarters of its own political party
in its own home city-I mean from
the Democratic Club of the City of
New York.
The most of the Worlds charges
and inuendoes relate to Mr.. Grlggss
career, professional and political, be-
fore he became the governor of the
State. of New Jersey. Such of them
as were deemed worthy of mention
were exploited in the gubernatorial
campaign of 1895. The people an
swered by vote of confidence, adopt
ed by $4,000 majority.