The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-13
CORRUPTION In POLITICS
ITS DANEFUL INFLUENCE ON THE
LIFE OF PEOPLE.

Interesting Talk by James Ii. Reynolds
the Well Known New York ReformeI
Says ONLY Difference Between Cor.
ruption in New York and That in New
Haven is That in New York 1t is More
Picturesque.
James B. Reynolds, who was chairman
of the citizens union executive commit
tee which conducted during the New
York municipal campaign in 1897, spoke
at the United church last night on the
subject, "The Christian Citizens Re
sponsiblity in Municipal Affairs" Mr..
Reynolds is actively engaged in the uni
versity settlement work in New York
and last night he told of some interest
ing observations which he had made in
that work. The address was under the
auspices of the Mems club of the United
church. He stated that as a result of
his observations he had arrived at the
conclusion that political agencies and
| iiiiuclllcS, CClIupI, dlSHUHcol, dllu IL iIUI :
ant government has most baneful eff
feet on the intellectual and moral life of
the people and is responsible in a high
degree for the condition existing among
the people of the lower quarters of our
cities.
| In this connection he told Of an expert
ence in one of the squalid quarters of
New York. He called one evening at a
place where a boys club was holding
meeting. An election of officers of the
club had just been held and when Mr..
Reynolds entered he found a little fell
loW about twelve years of age, sitting
in one corner, crying. Upon inquiring
the cause of his distress, Mr.. Reynolds
was Informed by the boy that he had
given another boy two cents to vote for
him as president of the club, but the
bribed boy had neglected 'to deliver
the goods The corrupt political prac-
tees of their elders in the ward had
been picked up by the youngsters.
AS illustrative of the way in which
corrupt political influences work, Mr.
Reynolds related a circumstance in con-
nection with the recent blizzard in New
York. He said that philanthropic peo-
pie and societies believing that great
suffering would prevail among the poor
of New York because Of the blizzard,
raised a large sum of money to assist
them. Tammany Hall, as an organiza-
ton, gve $4,000 and Richard Croker as
personal contribution gave $4,000
Other contributions were received and
in all very considerable sum for relief
of the poor was raised. The money was
turned over to the department of chari-
ties of New York city for distribution.
That department decided that the best
way to relieve the poor was to buy coal
for them Accordingly notice was pub
lshed in the New York papers stating
that poor people in need of coal could
secure it free by applying at certain
office established down town. AS re-
suit, the next day after the publication
of the notice hundreds and thousands of
poor people flocked to the designated
place and tickets, emitting the holder
to a certain quantity of coal, were is
sued. But on account of the snow
blocked condition of the streets the coal
could not be delivered and hundreds of
the needy ticket holders have not re-
ceived their coal yet
Mr.. Reynolds also spoke of the alleged
providing of work for the unemployed,
in shovelling snow from the New York
streets after the blizzard. He said that
he had heard hundreds of complaints
from the men who shovelled snow that
they did not receive their pay. In order
to get at the truth of the matter he in
duced young man. a graduate of Yale
a,', III
laborer and secure a shovelling job The
student presented himself for work one
and after waiting until 9:45 |
was given a job. Just as he was about |
to begin work the boss said: Lets see.
it is little after 10 o'clock, isn't it?"
NO" replied the student, ut is quar-
ter to 10. "Well,' said the boss, II say
it is a little after 10 and so your time |
must begin at II o'clock" The supposed |
laborer then went to work and began |
to shovel hard. Pretty soon he was told |
by a fellow workman that he mustn't
work so hard as he would lose his job.
AT noon all the men who had worked
the hardest and done the most work
were discharged. AT night the shovellers
we're given tickets which they were told
would entitle them to their pay on pre-
at an office in the next street.
The next day the student called at the
,ffice with his ticket, but found the place
,losed. The following day he called and
'ound a line Of hundreds of men wait
ng to get their pay. After waiting for
some time he was informed that he
would probably get his pay in ten days
II two weeks.
And this despite the fact that the
street department had advertised that
he snow shovelling work would be
given to those in immediate need of
money to keep them and their families
rom starving The contract for shov-
ling the snow was let to a brother of a
prominent politician. This was the only
Xplanation of the existence of the state
# affairs found by the disguised stu ]
lent which Mr.. Reynolds had to offer.
lie asserted chat thousands OIL those
ren who were given work with the {
vowed intention of helping them to {
neet immediate needs and to keep them
rom starvation had not yet received {
heir pay
In concluding his address, Mr.. Rey- 3,
olda said: ! f
There is no agency and no power i
fhich does so much to undermine, coun- c
sract and destroy the best work of the t
1bpole and ab1robpS o,,I ~,