New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-12
"HONEST GRAFT"


cause should have its interpreter and poet and
Tammany has at last found one in the sage Of
the courthouse shoe cleaning stand. What
Whittier and Lowell were to the anti-slavery
movement Plunkitt is to the embattled braves
who rule this city. He interprets to themselves
and to the world their thought reveals their
point Of view and voices their better aspira-
tons. Some Of them, Of course, fall below the
standard set by his song. Their taste is for
rude stealing and dirty blackmail. Their ten
dency is to monkey with the Penal Code" But
Plunkitt, heaven born seer, tells them of s.
better way, warns them Of the dangers of those
who stray from the safe path to prosperity, and
In immortal phrases sings the glories of honest
graft"
'Honest graft?' That was stroke of genius
It is Illuminating TO the last degree. 1t carries
conviction. 1t exactly describes the undisguised
programme Of Tammany Hall. 1t perfectly
characterizes the administration which Mayor
Mcclellan has given us for two years, and
hopes to continue. Mr.. Mcclellan is a gentle
man. Nobody believes that he ever touched
dishonest penny, or that he would permit any
subordinate to touch a dishonest penny if it
fell in his way to know it. But Mr.. Mcclellan
stands for a theory Of government built up
especially to serve the purpose of the CRATER"
It is a government by, of and for honest
graft" and evidently Mr.. Mcclellan is con-
tent that it should be So We may for the mo-
ment dismiss consideration of the more vulgar
forms of graft which are carried on by mon
keying with the Penal Code; of the bribery
which permits high toned merchants who were
so angry because they couldn't do business
under Mayor Low to choke the sidewalks in
violation of ordinances; of the payments which
shut the eyes Of building and tenement house
inspectors; of the police blackmail, about the
York World makes some interesting state
ments. Dismissing such dishonest graft"
which even Plunkitt does not defend and tax
ing Tammany its own showing we have
vast machine organized for the production and
distribution of graft
The purpose of government under Tammany
is not to serve the people in general and give
everybody fair chance but to enrich the few.
The insiders must have the graft" and they
have learned that it is good policy in the long
run to make it honest graft" Accordingly the
powers of administration are used to get the
Murphy firm fat contracts 1t is all perfectly
legal, OF course! No brides are asked. But
franchises don't go through till the right con-
tractor for the work is discovered. Corpora
tons which have made suitable terms with the
unofficial boss get what they want from the
official representatives of the boss. The town
is full of opportunities for honest graft" for
special privileges conferred on favorites by city
officials TO the disadvantage of the public, and
still without any violation of the criminal law
And this is considered perfectly honest and
proper by Tammany. Evidence of it is passed
by without notice by Mayor Mcclellan as some
thing which it is no part Of his duty TO cor
rect Confront him with unacceptable evidence
that subordinate has been 'monkeying with
the Penal Code" and he would take action.
But complain that Tammany officials promote
honest graft" and he would probably be in
clined to ask you what you thought Tammany
was for. And he would be right Tammany is
for honest graft" 1t has been so avowedly,
and the people elected it because there was
widespread demand for honest graft" among
the public service corporations, the tenement
house owners the liquor Dealers the contrac-
tors and the pious merchants who could not rent
room enough behind the building line for their
business.
Now, we do not expect any Of these believers
In honest graft to go back on their own inter
ests. But how do the ordinary citizens who
have TO pay gas bills swollen by honest graft
to put up with inadequate transportation facili-
ties In the interests Of honest graft" to take
their cases before courts where appointments
are honest graft" TO stumble over boxes put
on the sidewalk by honest graft" to put I'D
with thefts because Of the absorption of the
police in honest graft" to work hard all their
lives while the power of their government is
used suddenly TO enrich Murphy and his friends
enormously by means of honest graft'-how
DO they like it? Honest graft was the method
by which Croker worked ''for his own pocket
all the time" Mayor Mcclellan was put in
power to furnish this honest graft" to those
behind him. He has done It with great dignity
and charm and personal cleanness. He has dis
countenanced any "monkeying with the Penal
Code" for which, as Plunkitt says, there is no
excuse with such rich graft" as is lying round
for the enrichment of the man skilled In "hon-
est grating"