New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-06
TIGER AFTER MORGAN.
TRIES TO STOP HIS YORK.
Worried OUer Loss of Votes Through
Citizenship Frauds Investigation.

Alarmed at the inroads which George w. Nor
gan, state Superintendent Of Elections. has
been making on the number of naturalized
citizens who have been voting on papers IL
legally obtained. and fearing that many Tam
many braves would, perforce. not vote this year
II the work were continued, Tammany Hall took
a hand in the proceedings yesterday. In two
cases lawyers representing the Tamnany Hall
law committee appeared and tried TO prevent
Mr.. Morgan's investigation OF their clients
papers Last night Charles H. Knox. chairman
Of the Tammany Hall law committee. sent TO
the Superintendent of Elections a letter telling
him that he was going away beyond the power
OF the metropolitan elections law. and was act
ing Illegally in deprivilg citizens Of their papers
In the crusade which Mr.. Morgan and Joel NJ
Marx have been vaging there have been LOO
papers seized and cancelled. while 65T voters
have been convicted of having obtained their
citizenship papers illegally. rests are being
made at the rate Of from fifteen to twenty day.
This has removed many Tammany men from the
registration lists. and this is not year when
they can be spared. Therefore. from now until
election Tammany Hall intends to harass Mr..
Morgan.
The first notice Superintendent Morgan re-
ceived OF Taumany's attitude toward the purg
ing of the registration lists came when. on adj
vice of his lawyer. one Antonio Colonesi refused
10 be sworn when Ar. Morgan wished to interro-
gate him as to his naturalization papers.
Colonesi was prompaly arrested and spent
Tuesday night IN the Tombs. Yesterday morn
ing he was arraigned before Magistrate Bar
low the complainant being James @. Stevenson,
a deputy superintendent. who said that when
Mr. Morgan ordered the Italian to take the oath
he refused Herman J. Witte appeared for
Colonesi. but Just before the examination Abra-
ham Levy and Robert Luce. representing the
Tammany law committee. appeared
Magistrate Barlow held the italian in $500 bail
for Special Sessions. Later the prisoners coun-
sci obtained a writ OF habeas corpus from Jus
tice Leventritt. directing the warden Of the
City Prison 10 produce Colonesi in court this
morning. and a writ of certiorari directing Su-
perintendeut Morgan and Magistrate Barlow TO
produce all papers and dispositions in the case
Tammany Hall intends to make a test case Of
this Deputy Attorney General Cornelius F
Collins viii appear for MI Morgan. and some
one from the District Attorneys Office will rep
resent Magistrate Barlow
Late yesterday afternoon one SlIverman. who
had been subpenaed TO appear before Superin-
tendent Morgan. with his papers. came accom-
panied by John T. Dooling Mr.. Rnox's partner.
Dooling TO Mr.. Morgan acknowledged the legal
right OF the superintendent TO conduct an in
vestigatlon, but contended that the person be-
ing investigated should be represented BY
counsel This 1Ir. Morgan denied. despite the
protests Of Dool!Es. who advised SHERMAN 10
refuse 10 answer any questions he didn't like
Silverran's papers were regular in every re-
spect- 1Ir. Morgan said last night.
Donng contends that my deputies could , exam
right 10 cause these persons 70 appear az my
by deputies told him that nv deputies could ex-
anime witnesses al their homes, or anywhere else
and my chief deputy alone are enpowersd to ad-
minister oatas, but told DooAns that y the VII,
could administer the oath. compelling them 70 tss
tfy under risk % perjury and then have the ex-
Why" SAYS Dooling, y could tie you up IN
Try IT,. told him, Then made him this prop
osiuon; Tel your district leaders 20 advise their
papers 70 my Once Ny men viii examine them
quickly as possible. II ! md that the papers are
III do my utmost see that the men obtain iumu-
MY [ 52s rgH7s as G9ogerate Win ne and
proposition admit seem 70 suit Dooing
Last night Mr.. Knox IN making public the let
ter he was about 10 send TO Mr.. Morgan. dilated
on The trouble 20 which the citizens were being
put.
But you don't suppose that Superintendent
Morgan IS deliberately making trouble for
them?' asked a Tribune reporter
I'm not supposHg anything" replied Mr.
Knox, trihe hurriedy What want 10
is said IN the letter"
The letter said
Many subpoenas have been issued 70 which your
name has been affixed with rubber stamp, re-
curing The appearance Of the person named therein
before the SJaue Superln tencent OF Elections for
the metropolitan elections district az his office
on the second floor OF the building, No. II Park
Row, a a witness against John Doe; upon
the face OF such subpCenas IS stamped Bring cit-
person named n the subpoena az the head OF the
stairway the second floor Of No. II Park Row
he is asked for his naturalization papers and they
are taken from him he is kept waiting a long time
and is then sworn and examined. not by yourself
your chief deputy, but by one OF your subOrdi-
mates, proceeding which IS not only unauthorized
by the statute, but absolutely unlaWTul and illegal
The citizenship papers are not returned, but
retained by your suborcinatea- Under the Metro
poltan Elections law. you have the authority to
inspect and COPY such papers. but no provision OF
I that law authorizes you TO retain possession OF
I such papers. Only you and your chief deputy have
the power to swear witnesses and 70 ask proper
law. NstUralized citizens entitled to the same
protection other citizens: their citizenship papers
are their most precious possession: These you are
taking away Illegally, and making them waste
their time and deprving them OF one ar more days
wages.
slim emphasized the fact that election officers IN
lawfully interfering with the rights OF electors are
liable 10 prosecution under the Penal Code You
and your deputies election officers. The Tam
many Hall law committee VIII, as far as lies with.
IN its power, protect the rights OF electors. and
you strict accountability for tha OF your
self and your Eubordinates.
NAME HERBERT PARSONS.