New-York tribune., 1902-01-11
EXCISE CLASH AT DINNER
GROUT AND JEROME CROSS
SWORDS.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS HE'S Rim
MING A WILDCAT AND NOT
REGARDING SIGNALS.


N the excise question characterized the dinner
# the West Side Republican Club, at the Wal
6orf-Astoria. last night. To the six hundred
members OF that club who were present Lieu
tenant Governor Woodruff Controller Crour
and District Attorney Jerome each expressed
his own personal attitude on the matter with
yehemence. Mr. Woodruff's reference to the
nercentage OF the Republican vote in the last
campaign evoked protests from the Democratic
citv officials present The play of sarcasm was
both brilliant and frequent.
Last nights dinner was the fourteenth annual
feast Of the club. At the guest table. beneath
draperies Of American flags, sat the president of
the club, julius H. Seymour; Lieutenant Gov
srnor Woodruff. Mayor Low, Controller Grout,
District Attorney Jerome, President Cantor,
Charles Y Fornes, President OF the Board of
Aldermen; Justices Morgan J. O'Brien. James
:. Blanchard and John Proctor Clarke, Collector
BidweI. Robert c. Morris. Assemblyman W. S.
Bennett, Job E. Hedges and r. Fulton Cutting.
Grace said by the Rev. DR.. J. Oliver
Wilson.
M Seymour acted as toastmaster. The first
sneaker was Mayor Low, who made a strong
appeal for the improvement of the Erie Canal.
He dweIt upon the part it had played in the
development Of New-York City, and he strongly
championed the views expressed by Governor
odeu in his recent message
IF these views do not meet with the approval
# any citizen Of this city I wish he would let
ne know" said the Mayor For unless I
ceive some such notice intend very shortly to
throw all the influence I have in support of the
Governors position and recommendations"
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff followed Mayor
Low. He was received with great applause,
and said in part:
7 feel Ike calling the Senate 10 order, I see
so many OF them in the audience, and calling
their attention 10 the 1iickering and deadening
Of the red lights since Jerome took the road"
Nj Woodruff referred with satisfaction 10 the
part the Republican party played in the last
campaign, and declared that il cast 50 per cent
Of the vote.
We Republicans" said he. believe in the
organization Of party, and so would our
friends Cantor and Grout believe in that Of
their party If they had one. I feel like calling
upon the members Of the administration and
asking them what they are going 10 DO, and in
particular asking President Cantor how he IS
going 10 fix the street signs, so our friend
Jerome won't get lost when he is looking for
No. 40 Broadway. Also, I should ike TO ask
Jerome how he is going TO purify the city by
opening the saloons for ten hours on Sunday"
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff then took
direct issue with the position of Judge Jerome
on the excise question and the attempt TO ex-
clude the upstate influence from playing part
in the issue Of Sunday opening.
Controller Grout was the next speaker. He
said in part:
take great pleasure in being DeoeEa5tc g @ Con
dlo not Know II was Republican until Governor
shells and cornered her.
I don't care. however, about percentages in vote
What want 10 see Is the union Of all good citi-
zeHs toT decent honest city government, without
Fesar1 70 4 democracy or t.eIlu 1lcaIllsIa
pouring oil on The troubled waters l see the
City OF New-York." and he taIked about the Erie
canal. " oodrun was down 10 talk about the i've
friend jerome follows. Partridge had better look
a ou, GoEeInoT 4 OdelI VIII have TO be careful If l
liquor dealers any Sunday opening proposition.
I'd ind out what the people OF this city want
ano Z md Il out by a referendum. Then, II pub
G, IG seient ~ Iayored IL the weight Of the united
pie 10 Ieslslate n favor Of Sunday opening.
Controller Grout closed his speech with a state
nent Of conditions Of city finances. He made a
strong protest against the present system, which
forced the expenditure Of s., 100000 for interest
paid 10 money lenders for money advanced be-
fore city taxes were collected, and advocated
the collection Of taxes on January l instead Of
October /
District Attorney Jerome followed Controller
Grout- His subject was The Law and the
People" He said in part:
see Lieutenant Governor woodruff refers to
rec lights I am running wildcat. and I am
Observing any signal lights whether red or green.
Mayor Low refers 70 canals in his speech. Canals
uind irrigation suggests sunday opening
= was surprised that thrust from nv friend
Tlo-t ABOUT tylng Up 10 brewers and liquor dealers
an @ 9cL iying up 10 brewers or liquor dealers, and
ulstration- I might have 10 indict some Of
on q the oO oob5 Ve5 56 e3e g3eoa sa6, s IN the Ro
tenoerfoot's feet and making him dance.
I'm 70 call the Senate 10 order and cRai-
lenge ne 70 explain nv position on excise bur I
en- not Interested in demonstrating this question
DEMONSTRATING it me people Of the city OF New
rI, +! don't claim TO be right but am trying to be
stiIdgoe Of certain Senator who said when
ear 70 the ground cen n here said "tiiI
you hear the real sounds come down the pipe
believe 70 be true and right and / must judge Of
snon sns situation have sat by the cradle Of reform
toeKeo the cradle, sometimes violently the infant
have keen eve TO detect evil bur no idea Of how
% remedy II They rush 10 the legislature for
aEsehce not penal statutes. The fundamental need
which 6e peope is ed aS TesdT 555 Il to
81, j. believe The people Of New-York should have
Elature- I will yield readily TO any solution or
sFen 70 tentative one II won't do 70 say this IS
decent government. Il is a broader question that
n Esuhoay opening. II won't do for you, gentle
ne, members Of the Legislature. tell US, the
peope, your masters, you have got your ear glued
;. ne ground 10 see II some political advantage is
% De IA ned
o.s We ask you help US and if you fail We viii be
.oAseo 70 take issue with you larger issues,
70 subordinate the vital interests Of the people
- partisan interest
,sJJon force Us away from you We earnestly
v-.hs 10 efIace ourselves II you will only try and
- US relief. Don't force US 10 90 back into Tam
ssy Han, or feeI ar the end Of Office that,
ef having 10 Lake solemn oath before God and
~