New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
TAUuANY'S ISSUES.

Careful scrutiny of the speeches at the Demo-
n.atic Club dinner suggests the conclusion mat
The late General Hancock Is the real patron
saint and statesman Of the Tammany Denloc-
racy. All matters about which Democrats can
rossibly differ are local issues" Mr.. Keller
said that finance didn't count. Tammany didn't
care about the color Of its money. what we
want is an opportunity TO make money; ana
after Mr. Crokers testimony yesterday frankly
acknowledging that he was in politics working
for his own pocket "al the time 1t must De
confessed that Mr. Keller has chosen his politl-
cal affiliations with much discretion. He said
that Expansion. like the question OF finance
was only side issue and the main thing, IN
bis mind was the fight against trusts or IN
other words. against special privilege.
This same Idea seemed 10 find favor with
other speakers. Mr.. Perry Belmont, who Is al
ways for the people as against the millionalres,
declared that equality of rights and burdens
and duties was ever Jeferson's theme. ana
that 1.-THE Democratic party has no reason for
''existence If 1t does not always and unitedly
"strive for such equality" This was rather
risky sentiment to express In the presence OF
Mr.. Croker, who has been diligently striving
against equality in the freproohng trade and
using the city government TO secure monopoly
for the company that pays his son Frank
handsome salary for learning the business"
But the property-ow who have had to pay
more for their buildings the result Of Mr..
Crokers working for his own pocket every
time" were not present to protest. and the state
ment passed unchallenged. Thus embOdened.
Augustus Van Wyck ventured to denounce
trusts, with their death to free competition"
Just as II everybody didn't know that there was
no free competition In certain lines Of private
business In this town unless the chance for IL is
purchased by giving large retaining fee TO
Mr.. Cookers nephew TO secure the permission OF
the city government for entering the field at all.
Mr. Van Wyck scorned all governmental pater
nalism." In apparent ignorance that Mr.. Croker
the next morning was going TO avOw belief In
that governmental paternalism which can make
him and his family and friends rich by the use
Of official power. He said he wanted liberty
and property alike secure" perhaps knowing
that no owner of the Park Row Building was
present to rise up and remark that instead Of
securing his property Tammany had robbed him
Of $4,000, while Mr. Croker preparing to
get an interest In the Roebling Company and
meanwhile shutting it out Of the city
Perhaps Mr.. Robert b. Roosevelt would not
have talked SO glbly about the independence
and sanctty of courts and told how no Demo
crat should prostitute them II he had known
that his speech was to be followed Immediately
by frank testimony from Mr. Croker that Tam
many demanded allegiance from judges and
did not allow them to be independent. He could
not have known that ex-Justices of the Su-
preme Court would declare that the political as
sessments levied upon them were degrading to
shs bench" and 1.-THE price Of their election to