The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-09-09
WHO is TO BLAME IN PHlLADEL.
PAIA?

The disclosure OF gross frauds in the
registration OF voters in the City of
Philadelphia. recalls a charge frequent
ly made in certain quarters against the
foreign element in the population of
our large cities. 1t has been stock
argument with some people that the
foreign population is responsible for
the irand in our municipal govern
ments. We have been told time after
time that the Irish Catholics of New
York City constituted the bulk and
backbone OF the Tammany organiza-
ton. IT is true that there is large
Irish Catholic population in the City
OF New York 1t is true that hereto
lore the bulk OF that population has
been allied with the Tammany organ
ization. The reason for this is patent.
Tammany has been the regular Dem
ocratic organization of the great city
Tor more than 100 years The Irish
Catholics have attached themselves in
the past to the Democratic party for
the reason, that it stood for equal
rights and that it was opposed to the
llnow-notl1ing idea i'll all its phases.
Tammany has at different times been
guilty of gross faults. but on the whole
the organization has given the city OF
| New York good administration and
the purposes of the organization out
side OF the political side. have been ex-
trcmely good.
1t is not our present purpose to JUS
tiiy Tammany nor to account for the
political preferences OF the bulk OF the
Irish Catholic vote OF the Metropolis.
We wish to call attention to the dan
gerous ground upon which those stand
who attempt to fasten upon Catholics
the faults OF municipal government
| Philadelphia is the one great city OF
the United States in which the Catholic
population is comparatively small: it
is the one city OF the whole North in
which the foreign population is greatly
in the minority: it is the city par ex-
ccllencc OF the American. 1t also has
the unenviable reputation OF being the
worst governed city in the whole
country. Recent investigation has
shown that there are at least 10000
illegal voters upon the registration
lists who have voted year after year.
The names OF persons long dead are
still upon the lists. and someone
always appears to cast their vote. 1t
is said even. that the names OF dogs
aud other animals have been registered
and votes cast for them. Nothing OF
the kind ever occurred in the City OF
New York. even i'll the palmiest days
OF the Tweed ring 1t is found that
the residence Of Israel w. Durham,
the Republican city boss of Philadel-
phia, is in another county from that
iii which he votes, and the same is true
of other prominent office holders i'll
that city.
| Following the course OF reasoning
employed by the enemies of the Irisl,
Catholics. we would be led to the con-
clusion that the American Protestants
Of the City OF Philadelphia were re-
sponsible for the disgraceful political
situation i'll that city. This, however
is not truc. 1t would be unfair to say
that the good people of the City OF
Philadelphia. out OF choice. maintain
a grating political ring in power. The
situation in that city is due to lack
OF interest on the part of its gooc
Scitizcns. There are enough good peo
ple i'll every city to out-vote the bat
ones. The difficulty arises from the
} fact that the good people sleep while
) jthosc who thrive upon vice are active