New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-29
oNr MoRE EXPLODED SOANDAh.

7r,a roc,-Iassness and MISREPRESENTATION char
acteristic of the attacks of the Democrats upon
tba state administration are perfectly Illus
trsted bv the wild charges which have oesn c4I-
culated concerning the Black River Canal ne
Democrats have proclaimed that they nau ols-
covered u great scandal In the maintenance Oh
that little used section OF the States water
way. and have published pictures OF deserteu
Jocks and a dismantled dredge. The employees
If the State who tended swing bridges over this
canal which we're seldom turned. were surely
..grafters'' on whom the administration was
wasting the peoples money! terrible Ihing
# wasI An abuse so palpabie as TO make the
voters THRUST the Guvernorship TO the Judge
Ross whose only known qualification for this
high Office Is the fact that by the confession or
his own supporters he disgraced the other hlSh
Office in which he has been tried!
But behold how this scandal evaporates into
thin air as soon as the truth is told! Section
No Of the Black River Canal is indeed praeti-
callv useless for commerce. But ii did not
take the Democrats to discover it. Superin-
tendent BOYD and before him Superintendent
Partridge. recommended its abandonment In
stead of trying to keep II as an instrument or
patronage, both of these faithful officials sought
70 close II down and relieve the State of all the
expense Of which the Democrats complain. But
the constitution happens to stand in the way Of
its abandonment The Democrats. who make
such boasts Of devotion TO the constitution. ought
in common decency to give their opponents
praise Instead Of blame for respecting the con-
stitutional requirement concerning the Black
River Canal. notwithstanding the expense. Until
the constitution is changed the State admins
tration has no option In the matter. 1t must
maintain the canal for traffic, though not
single boat goes through. 1t must take care of
the States property like the swing bridges and
keep them manned as the law requires. 1t can
not lawlessly abandon them, or fail to open them
to the few boats which now and then. having
a legal right to go by. wish to do so. Neither
can If turn away and allow irresponsible per-
sons to meddle with the apparatus. The Of
acIals would fail in their duty and be subject
20 the condemnation of the Parker Constitution
Club il they were TO set up their own notions
against the constitution and Iawlessly discharge
the State employees The canal Is being main
tained in accordance with law. and nothing more.
The abandoned dredge Of which so much is
made became worn out two years ago. and since
then no dredging force has been employed on
the section. Notwithstanding the Democratic
walls about this force which cannot work. 1t
cannot indeed, and has not worked for two
years and ii has not been paid either.
This is just one more of the falsehoods on
which the Herrick campaign for reform" is
founded It is difficult to keep track of all the
false accusations put forth by the Democrats.
but so many Of them have by this time been ex-
posed that any fair minded citizen will be on
his guard. especially at the end Of the cam
paign when the time for refutation is short.
Campaigners who viii circulate such malicious
untruths as have already been exposed cannot
be trusted In any way.