The times., 1899-10-20
THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.
Governor Roosevelt Makes an At
tack on Croker and TammanY.


tack on Croker and Tammany.
NEW YORK. Oct. 19-The Republican
campaign opened tonight at Durlands Rid
ing Academy, Fifty ninth Street and Park
Avenue The principal speaker Of the even
ing was Governor Roosevelt, who was re-
ceived just as heartily as when he was cam
paigning for himself. The crowd vas sc
large that an overflow meeting had TO b
held
The Mszet committee was represented on
he platform by its chairman. one of its
older members and two OF its counsel,
and the City Club had the Rev. Thomas r.
SIicer there. Governor Roosevelt, in the
course Of his speech, warned the Cts
that by attempting to defeat Mr. MaZet or
any other Republican candidate Tor the
Legislature they were working not in the
interest Of good government but directly
against it.
Senator Chauncy NJ. Depsw was chair
man. and first introduced John Proctor
Clarke one Of the counsel of the Mazet
committee. who made the revelations be-
fore that body the text of an appeal to
good government While Mr.. Clarke was
speaking Governor Roosevelt arrived, and
was heartily cheered. After Assemblyman
Mazet had spoken the Governor got a
chance.
The Governor began by a plea for iu-
dietary free of political influences. add ng'
We ask for nothing and receive moth
ing from the men whom we have nomi-
mated for the bench and ! intend to recon-
mend 10 the next Legislature the enact
ment into q law of a bill 10 prohibit all
such assessments and receipts in the fu-
ture. In the judiciary the question Of
politics should be wholly subsidiary to the
question OF the mans professional and
moral fitness for the high office 10 which
he aspires. II is an evil and terrible
thing for the whole community when there
is corruption among those holding legs
lative and executive positions in the Coy
ernment. But il IS infinitely more evil
and more terrible il the corruption spreads
TO the judiciary. The Republican party
and the independent organizations with
which il has Joined forces for this, and /
trust for future campaigns. have done well
in suboTdinaIing partisanship 10 the com
mon good in these questions OF local con-
/ Germ, above all where the purity OF the
/ judiciary is concerned. We have begun
the fight on this line and we intend %
fight it out until the great principle OF
the Independence Of the bench is unaltera-
f bly, established"
+ Mr.. Roosevelt devoted his remarks es-
pecfaIly 10 Tammany and Croker whom
he termed the irresponsible despot of
Tammany Hall" On this point he said IN
part:
since its return to power in this city
. Tsumany Hall has run riot. Corruption
f. has been organized and concentrated as
Iever before, and Offices mostly sine
cures, have been multiplied as never be-
fore. When you permit Democratic ms itu-
tions to be turned into a farce, n trayssJy
. OF popular government in which the spirit
Z OF absolutism and the spirit OF corruption
work unchecked, hand in hand, you are
( not only bringing shame TO the city 5IC
inevitably causing financial loss 70 every
citizen.
Moreover, it is worse than foolish; Il
is both weak and wicked 10 try and cover
I'd the corruption on the plea that 10 ex-
pose il hurts the City's good name. The
! city's good name is hurt by the corruption
itself, not by is discovery. The only way TO
confer q lasting benefit on the community
is TO cut out this corruption and 10 over
wheIm in crushing disaster the organization
now in control Of the city. an organization
which is not in any proper sense OF the
werd a party at all. unless you would
stretch the word party TO include league
CT bandits whose tie OF association is the
lie that unites those who join TO rob for
the purpose Of dividing the spoils.
None but people who have been rem
dered caIIous by the knowledge so often
brought home 10 US Of the corruption Of
our city government can help being stirred
TO a generous Indignation by the testimony
produced before the Mazet committee !
wish TO recall 10 you the words Of Mr.
Croker himself at the outset Of the invest
cation. when, with as cynical q contempt
for deeency as was shown in the other IA
nous remark. What are you going to dc
about ito he stated: ! am working for nay
pocket all the time 1t has been shown
that. in every branch OF the city govern
ment. this is the theory upon which Tam
many officeholders work. We have right
20 appeal TO you, to appeal to all men
Republicans. Independents. and those hon
est Democrats who feel that Tam
mauys supremacy Is an intolerable shame
and reproach TO Democracy. and we ask
your support iR the present contest on the
naked issue OF right against wrong, Of de-
cency against foul corruption"