New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-29
COMMENDED TO Mr.. COCHRAN.

| COMMENDED TO Mr.. COCHRAN.
The heading of q news article in The Tribune
yesterday designated Mr.. Bourke Cochran faIse
assertion that ire insurance rates have risen
greatly within the last two years as lie.
That was a blackguaTdly word to employ under
the circumstances, and we regret its use. We
regret particularly that it was used in relation
TO Ny. Cochran, inasmuch he himself has
drawn indecently on a copious vocabulary IN de-
nouncing his present opponents, and we should
have greatly preferred TO retain the advantage of
a striking contrast We apologize, therefore, for
calling an egregious nisstatement lie, without
much hope that Mr. Cochran will apologize for
his reiterated designation of the fusion leaders
and advocates as the degenerates"
Mr. Cochran has evidently been deeply In
censed by the charge that he was willing TO
sell his oratory 10 the fusion cause in this cam
paign and had actually been hired for large
price by Tammany. We give him the full
benefit of his indignant denial that he has re-
ceived money for his speeches in behalf or
Tammany. But he should have RETAINED from
utterances calculated to create an impression
that The Tribune invented that story and gave
il all its circulation. What we did in the article
printed last Saturday morning to which be has
angrily referred, was TO publish current re-
port, which we expressly described as such,
print the afternoon before and was repeated by
several morning newspapers simultaneously
with its publication In The Tribune. II was a
report, moreover, which was pretty generally
credited for reasons which Mr.. Cochran, In his
calmer moments, surely has discernment enough
to appreciate When his present excessive heat
has passed off he should be willing to confess
10 himself that it was utterly natural to sup
pose he must have accepted q pecuniary COM
pensaton for adopting a course so amazing
and so abhorrent There was no process OF
logic by which to account for unpaid devotion
on his part TO Tammany this year. If by a
long series Of political somersaults Mr.. Cochran
had not accustomed the public to associate him
with the class of men whose services IN the line
Of campaign speaking are procurable on cash
basis, the circumstances Of the present cam
paign were such as almost of necessity TO sug-
gest the idea which he resents.
Mr.. COCkran's assaults Bryan In 1896 were
unbridled, and he voted for Mckinley In 1900
be Topped over and gave Bryan his support
For years after Tammany had raised him from
obscurity or something worse he was its darling,
but at length, owing to causes Of which Mr..
Jerome seems 10 have knowledge, he incurred
Crokers disdain and became an enemy of the
organization. In 1897 he cheerfully voted for
General Tracy but two years ago he had got
whom Tammany was trying TO mask its In
famies Until within few weeks. as he now
acknowledges, he disapproved every single
thing that Murphy was doing, but in obedience
TO his creed that non-partisanship in local poll
I tics is a heresy, he suddenly embraced Muir
ply and all that Murphy stands for. The
fervor with which Mr.. Cochran attempted on
Tuesday night 10 give an appearance OF moral
consistency to this harlequin record justifes
in crediting his assurance that now, as always,
his speeches are gratuitous; but It would be a
piece Of monstrous audacity for anybody TO pre-
tend that there was no excuse for the contrary
impression commonly entertained last week.
The newspapers having got on his nerves, Mr..
/ Cochran said at the Brooklyn Academy meet
ing on Tuesday night that he did not much care
whether they supported Tammany or not That
is fortunate for his peace OF mind, inasmuch as
the newspapers are almost solidly united In
their support OF the fusion cause. The World"
The Herald" THE Brooklyn Eagle" 1.-The
Times" The Evening Post" The Staats-zei-
tung" and The Brooklyn Citizen" are all Dem
ocratic in their political convictions and inter
ests, showing only now and then an indepen-
dent streak. They are all anti-Tammany in
this campaign. The World" and ''The Times"
in particular, whose Democracy when political
issues are at stake is uncolored by a trace OF
ing as strong and skilfu fight for good gov
eminent any municipal campaign has wit
messed
Has Mr.. Cochran any reasonable warrant for
assuming that the wellnigh unanimous voice Of
the newspapers denouncing the things he pleads
for does his side no harm? Our observation Of
municipal contests leads US to believe that such
a union Of forces naturally ntagonistic in most
electoral campaigns means great deal for the
cause they advocate. There a similar COM
binstion two years ago. and its relation to the
result has never been disputed. We have al
ways supposed that Mayor Strong owed his
election largely TO such support In 1897 Tam
many was enabled 10 resume its career Of mis-
rule because fits opponents fought one another
and so made its minority Of the votes sufficient
TO elect its candidates. Mr.. Cochran will find
nothing in that experience to encourage his tenn
porary delusion that the newspapers are a
negligible quantity, The fact is that when they
are united as they are united this year. there
is an immense outpouring Of votes on Election
Day TO maintain the principles for which they
have appealed 70 the public mind and conscience.
|
up TO" TIE VOTERS.
IF ha Nav NJ Dor,