The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-23

good business man, devoted father, a
true friend and an incorporating
fighter. Mr. Croker has admitted that
he is doing the best that he can for
himself and his family. What good
citizen is not? He admits that every
thing being equal. democratic admin
istration should place democrats on
guard. Is this criminal? He says that
he will stick to his friends. What
square man will not?
But the most interesting phase of the
investigation is that which deals with
the republican boss. Having been an
noyed and bantered, indirectly insulted
and bored by the inquiring Moss, Mr.
Croker exclaimed: GO to Mr.. Platt
and investigate him and his two sons.
That firm is at the foundation of all
the corruption in this city"
Here is a direct challenge. Plat sent
the Mazet committee down from Albany
to investigate Tammany. He did not
come out courageously and show his
hand by personally charging the demo-
Gratis with corruption, but skulked be-
hind the curtain of the legislature and
played the part of smiling hypocrisy.
He would strike at Richard Croker, but
would be masked. He would strike from
behind, attack in the dark, and play
the sneak. He would besmirch the
Croker family while protecting the
Platt family under a cloak of silence
and duplicity. But the Tammany lead
er is not the man to submit to the ma
licious indirection of treacherous enc
my. He struck straight from the Shout
der. He drove his lance through the
cloak and struck the conspirator.
Will they investigate Plat? No!
Republican investigations are not for
the purpose of getting at the truth, but
to manufacture political buncombe.
Their object is not the publication of
politics, but the elevation of republic
| an plunderers to office. The inquisitors
aim at republican success. not at po-
| litical reform. They want the spoils of
| office, not the laurel of unsefish hon
esty. They want the confidence of the
people in order that they may get the
| peoples money. In this state they have
| stolen nine millions of dollars in the
| management of canal improvements
alone, and they brazenly wrap the man.
tie of purity about them and go forth
to fill the air with lamentations over
the alleged corruption of democracy.
The spectacle is one which should have
it's effect upon the voters, not only of
| the state Of New York, but of every
state in the union. The republican par
| ty has about reached the limit of de-
| ception and dishonesty. The people
have been duped times without number
| that men who openly refuse to investi-
| gate republican frauds while posing as
| the doctors who are to eradicate the
evils of the times be driven into the
| open and branded as the traitors and
criminals that they are.
The Mazet committee will be true to
the traditions of the republican party
in nation and state. 1t will refuse to
let in the light upon republican conspi
racy. but in it's refusal it adds to the
| strength and solidity of the foundation
upon which the democracy will build
| it's most gratifying success in the next
| campaign.
I There is much gossip concerning pros
pective presidential candidates. Sew
| eral democrats are being mentioned for
the nomination. Mr.. Bryan's present
visit to the city has revived the dis
cussion. OF course, Bryan is first named
| He is accepted as an aVoWed candi-
date for the nomination. His follow
ing is large and influential. He would
have been stronger here had he accept
ed the Democratic clubs invitation and
| made rafting Chicago platform
speech which would have commanded
the admiration of the masses and cap
tured the organization leaders, who
would have been forced to recognize
him as the star of the evening How
ever. his receptions here are of a fiat
tering nature. and he is most prominent
among the "mentoned' for the nomi-
| nation of 1900.
Then there is Judge Augustus Van
Wyck last years democratic candidate
for governor. He has following which
is not to be despised. Born in the south
| and having for many years been iden-
titled with the southern cause, he will
have many friends in the convention of
1900. Should political fortune take a
veer in the direction of Augustus Van
Wyck he will be a lively candidate be-
fore the convention. Ex-Governor
Campbell of Ohio is another whose de-
mocracy is said to satisfy the Central
West. He is not ignored in the gossip.
Ex-senator German Is strong, mag
netic, persuasive. His nomination would
please a vast majority of Eastern DEM
ocrats. With them he is unquestionably
the most prominent among those who
are named as possible standard bearers
in 1900. This, of course, is mere gossip,
but newspaper readers are entitled to
the gossip-thats what they buy pa
pers for. Out of gossip springs the real
ity Of nomination.
JOHN NJ. QUINN.
|