New-York tribune., 1901-10-07
TAMMANY'S EVIL SWAY

MR. CIRCUIT CALLS UPON NEw-YoRKERs
TO DRIVE CROKER AND DEv-
ERR FROM POWER
Ii 6he present fight against Tammany) i> Moth
ing hut Crokeri>m against honest Ecverw-
ment. Deveryism against decent sdmisi.trs-
tion of the police.
In such contest y look to see thousands
of Democrats ally themselves with
other good citizens for the destruc-
tton of the system under which public money
Is expended for the private proat Of political
leaders.
Public Office hns become the crcp door
private profits
The public offices SWARM with uanecessary
and idle empIoyes.-CFrom Edward NJ Grouts
letter of acceptance.
Edward NJ. Grout, the candidate for Controller
on the anti-Tammany ticket has sent his letter
Of acceptance to the various organizations which
have indorsed his candidacy. The letter is as
follows: ......-..-
Gentlemen: Your combined nomination for
Controller on the anti-Tammany ticket presents
clear and single question of duty. the solution
of which is not difficult for a Democrat who
believes that in municipal affairs action indie
pendent of State and national party is not only
9uSunable but often necessary In TINS night
there national or State politics. 1t in
wolves no question of Repubcanism or Democ-
racy- 1t is nothing but Crokerism against hon
est government. Deveryism against decent ad-
nliniStraton of the police. The present admin
istration of Tammany Hall has repeated its
misrule of seven and thirty years ago; and. as
Mr. Tilden said of the Tammany of his day "a
million of people are not to be given to
pillase TO serve any party expediency. to ad-
vance any views OF State or national politics
In such a contest / look To see thousands OF
Democrats follow Tiidsn's example repeat the
history of the uprisings which in the history OF
New-1ork City have periodically become neces-
! sary to throw off the gross burdens of Tam
| many. and ally themselves with other good citi-
| zens for an honest administration OF the affairs
] of our city and the destruction of the system
under which public money is expended for the
private profit of political leaders.
| COSTLY AND CORRUPT PERSONAL RULE.
There have been bosses of many a-iuds-bosses
who were honest. bosses who stole Ike common
thieves. bosses who have adrOitiy and safely, by
modern methods. acquired public money without
breach of law; there have been bosses who lived
in the community in some measure of respect.
and sometimes boss whose end y as in prison;
| but never before boss who treated us with
such contempt as to suppose that three months
residence in year was enough to preserve his
dominion over The intervals of his absence
have given larger opportunity to host of sim
liar. less responsible and generally worse imi-
sonal rule.
Public office has become the open door to pri-
vate proht The letting of a contract has be
come the opportunity 10 make money out of the
people. Specifications are easily drawn To limit
competition and exclude all but favored bid
dars The prices then made whatever IL l.
thought the public will stand The favored CON
tractor has political leaders his secret part
ners or is a corporation whose stock is held
by politicians Thus can be explained fortunes
which have visible source. The public offices
swarm with unnecessary and idle employees. who
impede rather than aid business. who have been
appointed for political reasons, and who are
often overpaid and underworked- The water
system of Brooklyn has been neglected until
threatened.
was deliberately made the water
system of the larger part of the city TO a pri-
vate corporation terms whose audacity
founded the people. The schools are inadequate
to seat all school children. but the tax levy and
the budget have grown TO unexampled fig
ure. while the erection of the few school
buildings provided for is DELAYED by the schen7-
ing of politicians to make money out of the
acquisition of school sites The rank and 4is
of the police force tyrannized in
manner to which men possessed Of the ballot
will never submit while corrupting partner
ship with crime-ths existence of which does not
mean personal liberty to average decent Citi-
Zens and the destruction of which will mean
restriction of the personal liberty necessary
to self governed cosmopolitan city-thiS part
nership with crime is fostered and approved
These, like other and similar offences of the
past. are the things which make citizens of New
York ashamed. which make their city a byword.
and which have helped to render Tammany Hall
a thing of suspicion and scorn in Democratic
State and national conventions. Honest Demo
Gratis owe to it no allegiance. but. the con-
trary should oppose il. The State constitution
has separated these city elections from Stat.
and national elections to the end that the city's
business should be dealt with by itself, unmixed
and unencumbered with State or national poll
tics. There is thus ripe and Mt opportunity Just
as the cause is strong and the aggravaticr
weighty, for good citizenship to unite success
fully.
In such a contest I am glad to take part In
accepting your nomination / realize and desire
that the people also shall realize the importance
of the office of Controller To il are conhde5
not merely the custody of the city's money and
the issue and sale of it's stock. but the charge cr
property the collection of money due the city.
and a voice equal with the Mayors and neces
sary to sustain his in the controlling govern
mental body the Board of Estimate and Aprcr-
ticnment the board which practically fixes the
salaries Of the city employees. Most important
of ALL upon that office rests the responsibility Of
examining and approving or rejecting all claims
against the city, the lawful disbursement Of its
enormous revenues. and a greatly increased
mower over the prices paid By the city for its
supplies 1t is the check upon all discoverable
erforts to defraud the city Every question af-
fectinR any municipal act or policy of moment
will at some stage require that officials de-
cision There can never be Ramapo Water
Company contract without his written consent
and approval
The offce is thus by means merely a bank
ing Office Its functions are governmental in .
ness qualities and complete knowledge of the
Ia ws Applicable to the city Properly adninis-
tered its duties afford no opportunity for poll
tics and need always strict honesty and an eye
single TO the interests Of the city
SHOULD STAND FOR ECONOMY
A. IL Is inevitably the tendency of other de-
partments of the city to see the demands for
IEHIGH VALLEY r. r. TO BrFPAIA
nay round Yrfr