New-York tribune., 1900-12-26
FAMOUS WORDS OF GARDINER
THEY BEAR WITH THEM THE EVIDENCE
OF HIS UNFITNEss FOR OFFICE.

Touching on" and "appertaining to'-as Chief
Devery might say-the possible denomination by
Tammany OF Asa Bird Gardiner for District At
torney next Fail. there be doubt that Mr..
Croker before deciding the question will weigh
carefully the propensity of the wing clipped Bird
to make soaring flights Of eloquence in his public
utterances, which much more interesting than
profitable If Mr. Croker should finally decide
that Gardiner is entitled to the 'vindication" of
denomination he will probably exact a solemn oath
from the candidate to make no public utterances
or issue political or personal documents of any
kind which have not been previously carefully
censored by an accomplished private secretary and
forwarded in proof to Mr.. Croker to be read and
given out for publication
Here are OF the deliverances OF Mr.. Gardiner
which brought him into disrepute with sensible folk
and the memory of which will initiate against his
denomination even by a leader so reckless Of po-
liticaI propriety Mr.. Croker
In the campaign which preceded his election Mr..
Gardiner made speech at the Wahatchee Club,
Third-ave and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES -fiftn-st.
on the night of October 13 1887. which uttered
that famous remark which startled friends and
foes alike ITO hell with reform"' Here is an ex-
from his speech on that occasion:
Now three years ag1 o gentesn they turned US
all the departments. They spent over S2OOO trying
70 Vas nfS the rasut Why say Where viii you nd
books kept as the BOOKS were Hnder ii TammSny mn any
tory OF municipal government that made such a
When any of those people talk TO you about mu-
nicipal reform. you tell them-and use strong lam
with reform!'
Mr., Gardiner gave exhibition of petty
petuIance the night of October s. 1885, when he
tiously left the dinner of the Loyal Legion
at Delmonico's, because Governor Roosevelt ar
rived late and the cheers which greeted his en-
trance interrupted for a moment or two the
speaker who was on his feet at the time. The
day Mr.. Gardiner felt called to issue a long
statement explaining his action. 1t ended as fol-
lows:
His advent this special time appeared to ee
for political object: For that reason with
was almost at an end when Colonel Roosevelt n
peared; Nothing could be said that would change
taste displayed in appearing at that late hour
that it was calculated for political effect.
Gardiner set the whole town laughing in Novem-
ber 1882 when he formulated his answer to the
serious charges made against him by the City
Club, which accused him of malfeasance in Office.
This was sent TO the Governor. and in
stead of being confined to logical argument. was
composed in part OF feebls ridcule for his accusers
and sapienJ appeals TO his ancestors. It closed
thus:
AS I review the so-called charges to which an
answer has now been ma made | cannot but feel ag-
counsel for Generals Grant and Sheridan and also
% e THfed States Sary % eas OF sW
Point and finally as assistant to the Secretary Of
dence and esteem Of my associates: as well of
good people of thfs. my native city. where my
family has been located since the administration
of Governor Wouter Van 1willer.
The climax of Gardeners foolish utterances was
reached when on the night Of November he de-
nounced the indictment of Chief Devery for inter-
fering with the State Superintendent of Elections
Gardeners remarks on that occasion were a direct
announcement to the Chief of Police to defy the
laws and also the Iawless element to use violence
at the polls. What he said was:
That indictment is an outrage. I did not hear
wasn't there when the Indictment was found II
will not hold Devery cannot be legally indicted
until he has committed overt act in violation
OF the law or causing violation Of the law He has
the right to instructions to his subordinates
lie cannot be indicted legally such Instructions
VThe Indictment is outrage. The Grand Jury is
composed mainly OF Republicans. This looks like
intimidation
After all these foolish utterances it will probably
be conceded that Mr.. Gardiner made a sensible one
yesterday when in declining to speak about his re-
moval to reporters he said;
II believe I have already talked too much"