The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-02-25
HOLDING the LID DOWN
1ammany sitting on Top The He'll Be-
meath Roars and smokss-Basksr's


lying quiet in his den sucking his bot
tie as though he was as innocent and
harmless as cub three days old,
which seems somewhat of surprise
to DR.. Parkhurst. John Burns. in
one of his speeches in the English
parliament or on the musings, said
that New York was "heI with the lid
on" If he should come over here
now he would see all the Tammany
braves sitting on the lid trying TO
hold it down. They will continue to
do so until after the next presidential
election.
have had something to say at Off
ferent times in The Independent about
the immortality in the ranks of the
millionaires here in New York. but /
never dreamed that things were as
bad as they are. Some things have
come to my knowledge here that have
stunned me. One very distinguished
man, whose name Is household
word, said to me: Rome al it's worst
was a religious retreat Tor the sanity
in comparison with the very rich OF
New York OF today. But there Is not
a paper or magazine here that would
drop hint concerning the real con-
ditions. A few hints from an inde-
pendent press that could not be
hushed up with money would go far
toward stopping the degrading vices
that will eventually destroy the re-
public il things go on as they are.
The worst thing about the whole mat
ter is that this state of aifairs is
known tn every member of the upper
classes; there Is not one among them
that dare to protest-not even among
the ministry. There Is condition CT
terror here. The whole population is
cowed That comes about by the abb
sOlute control of The press. Not only
are bankers, brokers and merchants
at the mercy of little ring of less
-tban twenty men, but also every
q clergyman, school teacher, stenog-
Ifapher, clerk and day iaborer in the
whole Of Greater New York. I don't
know how long this state of affairs
will continue. 1t seems to me that
anon someone will arise and establish
Some kind of an organ, either maya
zine, daily or weekly paper, that will
give expression to the protest that
thousands here who have been forced
to bow their knees to Baal, because
there is no way for them to give
voice to a protest. The men who will
do that will not only accumulate
fortune, but they will have the graft
tude of redeemed people.
In some respects New York is like
a whited sepulchre, which indeed APP
pears beautiful outwards. but within
is full of deal mems bones and all
uncleanness One of it's most noted
millionaires is living with another
mans wife, but that d ,es not in the
least bar him from the society Of the
400" A woman was arrested the
other day for stealing large amounts
OF goods from department stores. She
explained that she was the victim of
a mad passion for riding in an auto
mobile, but her husband was too
penurious to furnish the money for
the pastime so she had formed this
habit of stealing goods from the de-
partment stores. She was excused and
went home. A girl was arrested for
taking pocketbook left on counter.
1t had small sum of money in it and
very costly diamond. She left the
diamond. On trial it was shown that
the girl had lately been discharged
from hospital and she told the mag
istrate that she had that day secured
work, but that she was so hungry and
weak that she feared that she could
not do the work without something to
eat and had taken the money to buy
food. An officer, casually in the court,
said: This Is only one of many
cases have seen of girls and women
who work. work, work for 50, "a, IS a
week. Only heroines could endure
the privations that many working
girls suffer in this city and resist the
temptations that are thrust at them"
This girl was sent 10 Jail. Such ~
the hell on which Tammany Ia trying
70 hold down the lid. A free press has
been destroyed by being purchased
and no protest Ia allowed 20 be made
The situation Ia like that In the old
Mark Twain days ON the Mississippi
slyef--a nlEEer sitting on the safety
valve and the furnace filled with dry