New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-12
SOUIRMING.

Sncering at Mr. Moss on the part Of the Mazet
Committee because he did not earlier call Mr..
Platt and make his impartial investigation OF
the Republican side Of the city scandals is add
ing insult to injury. 1t is Of course, true that
Mr. Moss made n great mistake when he for
got the old adage Like master like man" and
dreamed that II was possible for a sef-respect
ing person TO be allied with Mr.. Platt's ser
wants, even for good purpose, to recall the
well known sentiments of Mr.. Cornelius n.
Bliss. But ii does not become the members OF
the Mazet Committee TO say so.
We are not disposed TO relieve Mr.. Moss Of
any responsibility that is justly his. We per-
sistently urged him to do his duty when that
duty first became apparent We warned him
that he could not yield TO machine pressure
from week 10 week without sacrificing his OPP
portunity. We told him that he was mistaken
in thinking that he must shut his eyes TO the
Republican scandals OF which he had knowl-
edge until after election, lest he should pre-
cipitate break up Of the committee before
election and perhaps lose the Legislature and
consequently power to effect his cherished re-
forms. We were convinced that If the COM
mittee and he did not probe with manifest i'm
partially they could command no respect for
their final recommendations and could be Of
no service TO good government or to the Re-
publican party, even If the elections were car
ried. And we were also convinced that II Mr..
Moss had at that critical moment stood up for
his convictions, even the most fearful and sub
servient Of committeeman would not have
! dared 10 run away.
But Mr. Moss preferred to deal tenderly with
the skittsh and timid statesmen whom he
! feared TO stampede. The result is what might
have been expected. He did not use his power
| when he had it, and. naturally, when the COM
mttee, with election past, was in position to
follow its own machine bent. IT threw him over
board refused TO listen TO his witnesses and
concluded that it would not be run by It's paid
counsel" There is tide" etc. Mr. Moss did
not take his at the food, but Just as 1t was
about run out, and il is not surprising that he
| finds himself stuck In the mud, for all his good
intentions.
But Notwithstanding all this, the Mazet Com
mttee cannot hope TO escape It's share Of re-
| sponsibillty for its shameful running away by
saying that Mr.. Moss is himself to blame for
not taking up these unpleasant matters when Il
| could not run away. The Republican members
/ know perfectly well that IL was In mistaken
Difference to them that Mr.. Moss so long hest
| tated 10 do what II is evident he all the while
believed to be his duty. Others perhaps may
/ crticise him; they may not They did their
best 10 steer the investigation away from mat
| tiers which threatened TO interfere with Mr.
Platts personal comfort or his legislative bust
ness. Some Of the members showed more haste
and anxiety than consisted with ignorance of
| inside facts when Mr.. Moss touched the tee-
phone monopoly which Mr.. Plat protects at
Albany. from which IT is believed he receives
suitable campaign contributions, and over which
Mr.. Lauterbach hovers as a guardian angel.
| Their disposition In this direction was too evil
dent last summer for anybody to have any
confidence now In their pTctestations Of good
faith as investigators for reform only
Besides, their contradictory stories and eva
slons leave them In a plight that is neither
dlgnifed nor honorable. AT one minute there
was no letter. The next minute the letter can
not be made public. Then the paid COUNSEL
did not try 10 run things. Soon after he had
no business to try to run them. Just now no
body wanted to put Mr.. Plat on the stand.