The Irish standard., 1907-02-09
Since the organization of the board

since the organization of the board
Of aldermen it has been trying to elect
Recorder, each party having its own
candidate, and the result was a pro-
longed deadlock. The New York World,
realizing what kind of men the Hears,
Leaguers in New York are, planned
trap for tho Municipal Ownership al
derman. A rumor was allowed to go
abroad that the votes of these alder
men had financial as we'll as political
value. The World" with the Coop
GRAFTON OF tho District Attorneys ONCE,
caused one of it's reporters to open
negotiations with Alderman Clifford OF
Queens County for the votes Of him.
self and ten of his colleagues, coming
to terms, it appears, at the rate Of
500 per vote and an extra $500 for
expenses. The votes We're delivered to
Il Republican, Judge Cowing. accord
ing to agreement. The $1,000 was paid
over in marked bills and Clifford was
arrested with the money on him. The
result is that he will be prosecuted
and his ten colleagues will have a
chance Of explaining, their connection
with the affair to the grand Jury.
These are the sweet specimens of re-
formers that were connected with Mr..
Hearst and his campaign in New York.
How would the citizens Of any city
fare if they should turn over the gas
plants, electric light plants, water
plants, traction companies, telephones
and other utilities to such an outfit:
Yet what else could be reasonably ex-
pected from the character of the peo-
pie who, in different portions of the
country, make up the great bulk Of
the noisy shouters for Municipal Own
ership:
The New York Tribune regrets that
it has not at hand the ''magnlouuent
pronunciamentos" with which the
Hearst party invaded the arena. 1t
says:
And now, after so brief a period,
VIC have for the total achievement OF
this magnificently promising move.
ment one Holster under arrest and
ten others explaining with desperate
embarrassment a conspiracy of cir
cunlstances of which they are the VIC
ie ,Y,.aS, <y,f <<
city put on 80 soon an ancient leer.
1t almost impels cynicism. 1t is strange
that it took the country so long to
appreciate the political possibilities OF
independence. No one appreciated what
could bo done with independence until
tho great political emancipation came
out of the West. He taught indepcnd.
ence, practical politics. and VIC all
know what success he achieved over
it's ancient enemy-regularity.'
Mr.. Hearst and his newspapers have
been telling us for some time what the
Municipal Ownership people would do
with the party bosses. 1t has been
particularly popular with the Hearst
papers to cartoon leading Democratic
and Republican politicians in prison
stripes. 1t looks as though the clothes
will fit the men whom Mr.. Hearst and
his money placed in office in the city
of New York. Isn't it too bad that
the New York World, a representative
OF the plutocrats, and Mr.. Jerome. the
versatile District Attorney OF the city
of New York and particular enemy
OF Mr.. Hearst, should have played
such q low game upon the representa-.
tives of the common people. The in
cident shows what cheap lot OF
grafters the necessitous gang are that
have in recent years followed Mr..
Hearst like lot Of sea- scavengers in
the wake Of Il ship. The breed is the
same in New York. Chicago and San
Francisco. We are far from saying
that all the grafters have cong1egated
in this party, but it is apparent that
some OF the cheaper ones have done so:
those whose methods are so awkward
and vulgar that they never even get
d chance in any other organization,
Let us pray for Il deliverance from Mu-
nicipal Ownership in the hands Of
those who are now its supporters.
THE CONGO CASE.