The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-12
LINING UP AGAINST CASSIDY.
0J-EFNS DEMOCRATS TO MAKE ~
SrIFF FTGHT AT PRIMARIES.

lrgA Hard Task to Overcome Popular
Fear of the Boss Who Yields SO Much
Power Meanwhile borough Employees
Gamble In the Onicial" Poolroom.
The feeling against Cassidy's rule Of
craft and loot In Queens ia beginning to
;ake tho form of organized opposition to
bis denomination as Borough President
Se1t fall. II he liant removed from Office
before that time The Queens county
democracy. which does not train with the
machine. and which has gotten all stirred
tip over the manner in which the borough
ia being neglected will hold a meeting
in Arlington Hall. Long Island City. to-
night. at which steps will be taken 10
tlt iIp a stif fight against the Cassidy gang
m the next primaries. II IA proposed 70
EXTEND the organization to every election
district IN the borough. Committees viii
he appointed and workers assigned TO the
various districts in order that no time may
ie lost IN getting the opposition in motion.
Joe Cassidy is a slick duck said ono o.
ire leader. Of the Queens county Democ-
y1cv and II we want to beat him We must
take time 10y the forelock That is the
,eason We are starting In ri this early
,av 10 organize our forces. The trouble
with the people over here is that they are
afraid vt Cassidy He has got more power
than any other official in the city govern
niont. and he isn't bit particular how he
uses il when his own personal interests or
the interests of the gang are concerned.
Hes got every oftlceholder in the place
under his thumb. and the corporations are
scared Of him. too. for his power to annoy
them and do them harm is almost unlimited.
IA far a. could be nscertained the con
diton Of the public service in Queens has
rot improved particle since the Com
miseiouers OF Accounts under Mayor Low
made their famous report on tho Cassidy
INSTRUMENTATION. The payrolls In the
Public Works Department are still loaded
with the names OF heelers and ieutenants
Of Cassidy, who draw from S. to S. a day
from the city treasury, but who never do
stroke Of work for the municipality. As a
matter Of fact practically every hanger -on.
tout and runner for the poolrooms OF Long
Island City ia carried on the borough pay
rolls They are all Ca ssdy men. of course.
One visiting the Official poolroom in
Borden avenue any afternoon might easily |
mistake it for the seat of government in the |
borough There is no work done TO speak |
of in borough headquarters after p. NJ. |
At that hour the entire clerical force, with |
tine exception of one or two flock TO the
-ofoial' poolroom and spend the rest Of
thr day playing the ponies or doping out |
the races.
President Cassidys love Of horSehesh-
~ long rangc-is well known, Being n
sport, Ee is not averse to getting bet down
once in a while himself, but ne y said never
10 take a flyer in Long Island City, pre-
sumsbly on the principle that there is
neither profit nor fun IN betting against
yourself. With the borough employees,
however II i different and they naturally
90 their betting at the handiest resort.
IL is also considered a matter OF official
etiquette, as well as good policy, 10 make
their bets in the official poolroom- In
this wav the money Is kept in the hands Of
friends win or lose. In the matter of cock
Sighting il il different. because the official
birds OF Queens sometimes get licked by !
their WeStchester opponents, and then the
money goes 70 Mike Carney and his friends.
President Cassidy's devotion 70 this noble
aport is almost equal to his fondness for the
ponies. He is said TO own some Of the
finest game cocks in the State OF New York.
and thew are housed and cared for under
The most approved modern methods. Some
time ago a cock fight was raided in Vest
chester county and a prominent politician
barely escaped capture along with tho rest
of the sports who were looking on and
handling the birds The name OF the poll
tioiau was never revealed.
While the ofiiccholders are spending the
pest part Of the day in the official pool
room their pay Is going on Just the same
ard the ogrrhurdened taxpayers Of Queens
IRE getting the wrong end OF the deal "a
Usual
\ striking illustration of the way the
public funds are used was given Tuesday
Iu Grand avenue, Astoria. In that thor
oIghfare there j. a row of twelve brick
fol-7s in front OF which are eighteen shade
trees. II is supposed TO be the duty OF the
owner of the property TO care for these
trees Tuesday eight employees OF the
borough were busy trimming these trees,
live NJ them are down on the payroll as
'pyuners The other three we're foremen
The taxpayers Of Queens are beginning
- scent deal ia the proposed establish
mem of several small parks in Queens.
n inr common belief over there that no
-HD4 parks can he established unless the
.al gets rake-uT The usual method in
.uei cases Is 10 send petition to the local
hoard which If composed Of President
e--icv and his two Aldermen. The mat
ny is oNeG 10 shmber for a while, thenit
l. Iuu"Wced that the board has acted
f. nfuhy aud selected certain site for
III" uark When II comes 10 buying the
It. 81.