The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-05


not know that this is true neither do
we know that II is false. There are
Republicans and Republicans. and the
kind accustomed to fiirt with Tam
many Hall are not in good odor else
where. II those> alleged Republicans
took stock in the Tammany ice trust
they probably did so with the same
motive which caused our distinguished
anti-monopolist and anti-money power
friend, the editor Of the Times, to take
stock in the Dime bank, because they
expected to reap good dividends, an
expectation realized in both instances.
But that has no bearing upon Tam
manys connection with the Tammany
ice trust. Mayor Van Wyck and his
brother, the Judge, who wrote the
anti trust plank of the Kansas City
platform, own, the former 1918 and
the laste" 1000 shares of ice trust
stock. The mayor did not pay cash
for his stock but carried it on notes.
J. S. Cram and Charles +. Murphy
dock commissioners appointed by
Mayor Van Wyck, who gave the ex-
elusive privileges of the docks to the
trust; john Whalen, corporation coun-
sci, who gave a legal opinion that
these privileges could be granted: II.
:. Kearncy, commissioner of public
buildings, who purchases the supply
of ice for the municipal offices; George
V. Brewer. park commissioner, who
purchases the supply for the parks;
Randolph Guggenheirner, president of
the coplmon council that makes the
appropriations; Joseph E. Newberger,
Martin Y. Mcmahon and Rufus f.
COwing, judges OF the courts, also
appear as holders of large blocks of
stock in the trust, which are supposed
to have been given to them for SER
vices rendered or expected and last
but not least Richard Croker and sew
oral members of his family are credit
ed on the books OF the company with
! 900 shares each.
The mere fact of owning stock in
business enterprise would not Of
itself condemn these officials for they
might have secured it honestly and
| without any intention of using their
| official power and opportunities to in
| fate its value. But the fact is that
| Just as soon as the Tammany crowd
| fixed matters so that the ice trust was
| safeguarded against competition the
| trust raised the price of ice, which
| cost 81 a ton laid down on the docks,
| from $3.50 to SO and 81 n ton to whole
sale customers, and from Sc to S12 a
| ton to it's retail customers, and re"
! fused to permit the sale from it's
wagons Of small pieces which were
| purchased daily by several hundred
thousand people who were not able
to buy 100 pounds for 60 cents, the
price fixed for the smallest delivery.
! This was manifestly an act of eXtor-
tion made possible not by the pres
ence of eleven alleged Republicans on
the list of incorporators but by the
presence in New York's city hall of
Democratic officials posing before the
people as opposed to trusts yet hAins
in their pockets stock in one and using
the powers of their offices to give that
stock artificial value. Says the Scran-
ton Times;
According to the laws of New York state
the governor has the power of removal from
, office of any public official guilty Of nalieas-
anuc. The New York World presented formal
charges against Mayor Van Wyck through an
attorney, and demanded Of Mr. Roosevelt that
he perform his duty and remove Van Wyck.
Tammany Hall declared its willingness 10 lerd
any Rid in its power to punish the alleged
deTection OF any OF its members while hold
ing office, and requested Governor Roosevelt to
use his legal authority to remove Van Wyck, or
any public official proved guilty charged,
-Four months have elapsed, and yet Governor
| Roosevelt allows a man charged with mafeas
ance in Office, against whom has been presented
overwhelming evidences Of guilt not only to
remain in Office but to take no coGnizancc whot-
ever of the charges Why? Because il Van
Wyck is guilty, it will inculpate a number Of
prominent and wealthy Republicans of Gotham
and will prov, boomerang.
We question if any man acquainted
with Theodore Roosevelt believes this
last sentence. There is not an act IN
his public career which lends color tC
the insinuation that he would shirk
a duty on account of political pres
sure. Neither is it true that no cog
niZanCe has been taken of the charges
Governor Roosevelt, through the at
torney general, has called upon Mayor
Van Wycll to offer a defense and tho
mayor has asked for a certain period
of time in which to prepare that de.
Tense. That has been granted. 1t will
: expire within a few days. When thai
, reply Is received it will be up tC
, Roosevelt to take the next step. II
is believed he will appoint a commits
sion to take testimony. The Tam,
: many crowd would like to have Roose
welt act impetuously after hearinl
, only the prosecutions side of the case
: If he should remove Van Wyck with
t out due inquiry and dellberation i
I would enable the Ice trust crowd L
bid for political sympathy and pos
as martyrs to gubernarorial partisan
4 ship, but Roosevelt viii not give then
I this coveted opportunity. He intends
= to get every fact squarely entered OF
e record and to act judicially upon tn
t evidence
n We do not deny that many Repub
n tcans are holders of stock in trusts
e and that many more would like to be
1 We guess this is also true on tn
I other side of the party fence. But /
n comes with poor grace for the Demo
r Gratis to holler against trusts in on
= breath and in the other to press t
= their bosoms the Tammany gan
: which makes it's campaign none
i through just such acts of piracy a