New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-29

a precedent fraught with the greatest dangers.
1t may precptate civil in any of the
states"
Senator Grady at once sprang into the con-
test, and made it a rough-and-tumble fight
catch-as-catch-can He declared that the bill
told the whole story; it simply a contest be-
tween Hearst and Mcclellan, in which the indie
pendent candidate had had the poorest chance
from the beginning.
BROUGHT ABOUT BY MCCLELLAN.
This bin is necessary because OF the con-
duct Of the Mayor from the very beginning or
his term" shouted Grady. He said then that
he wanted no more than TO settle the contest to
the office Immediately. Yet he has taken ad-
vantage of every technicality. Democrats as
well as Republicans want to know what actually
occurred at that election. Democrats want
vtndication Of their conduct. The parties want
IL settled because until Hearst's claims are dis
rroyed his strength a martyr is greater tnan
the individual strength Of any other politician in
this state
..NcCleIlan has hid behind every barrier which
legal talent could invent. He has lodged every
time they have tried TO drag him into court
There is a sentiment all over the state that
Hearst should have his count, where the court
could throw its safeguards over all. You can't
drag an eel into court-you must have man
whom you could hold TO the position he took
am not persona grata with Hearst. He does
not think as well of / do Of him. and
I'd hate to tell you what think of him. yet
I am here asking that he be no longer per-
mitted TO pose as a martyr.
There is not member here but must be
disguised with the conduct of Mcclellan. 1t is
evident that Hearst should have his recount
before the term of Mcclellan has expired, yet
he has set UP barriers at law which would
carry the case far beyond the limits of his
term. 1 tell you you've got TO bubble to get
away from this bill. I'd like 10 the Repub
lican party fail pass this measure. I'd ask
no other issue. am not taking up the Gov
ernor's programme; I take up mans pro-
gramme. When Senator McCarren talks about
messages from the executive chamber. he for
gets that only living ex-President. Grover
Cleveland, was the man who established that
precedent. and that others only taking
leaf out Of his book,
Senator McCarren broke In to ask why Grady
did not support the bill last year.
Il didn't ask for IL last year because 1
thought George B. Mcclellan would be
enough to go into court" answered Grady, only
TO be met with McCarren's fiat
You never thought anything of the sort. All
this is tommyrot"
Answering question from Senator Cassidy,
Senator McCarren declared that twenty affi-
davits were on file with the judiciary Commit
tee telling how ballot boxes had been smashed
in a collision. the ballots spilled and picked up
from the gutter TO be put back into the smashed
boxes. The shortest cut to quick determine
ton Of Hearst's claim. he said. would be through
action OF the Attorney General This measure
would open litigation which would last ten years.
RAINEs ATTACKS BILL.
Senator Raines declared that he believed the
only purpose Governor Hughes had in urging
the bill was TO still the dispute the election
which has been raging for nearly two years
1.-The gentleman defeated by the returns" said
he, has posed martyr. If he had worn a
shirt Of fire. he would be thoroughly burned by
this time which would be highly desirable from
a Republican standpoint" Some Republicans
and others who claimed to be Republicans and
at least could be accused of voting the Re-
publican ticket once in four years. the Senator
went on. deemed this "a critical situation, and
urged this bill. Then he began a vigorous
attack on the bill itself.
This bill was not drawn at Albany" he said
1T is the product of some of the gentlemen so in
terested in a recount and is the worst drawn bill
that ever looked at. II off with fraud Cd
the face Of it, 1t is fraud for the specific pur-
pose Of preventing the bills reaching the Mayor
OF New York City. Yet the Governor decided il
was special act. it will have TO go TO the
Mayor. Another feature which will bear criti-
WINS,
hen and the Hearst lawyers is that nobody but
Hearst will have the right to select the districts
where recount shall be taken. Undoubtedly
he will take districts where he hopes gain adj
vantage. There is no provision whatever leav-
ing any discretion with the judge to what
boxes shall be opened If the petitioner desig-
mates the boxes. they may be smashed bear
patent evidences of having been tempered with
The operation of the bill in that respect IS some-
thing to be feared"
STILL went Senator Raines, there was no
doubt that most Of the citizens OF the state be-
heved, as did the Governor. that the foundations
OF government rested on an honest ballot and a
fair count, and when there bribery or tam
pering with election officials the situation de-
nlanded attention. Charges of that sort had
been made; those charges, he believed prompt
ed the Governor TO urge the recount bill in the
hope that ii would demonstrate that fair count
had been given, and the result shown by the re-
furns was the honest result Such a showing
would benefit the whole state, and for this rea-
son many Republicans would support the recount
bill
Senator Harte declared the bill was one which
tends 10 fool the people" and said he would
NOT be a party 10 such deception.
THE MAYORS POSITION
Senator Cohalan maintained that the only
question was one Of common honesty and that
the bill merely put into the case the provisions
of the Penal Code with reference to stolen prop
.erty IF Mcclellan is guilty of receiving stolen
goods, said he, every minute he occupies the
Mayors chair is disgrace TO every voter and
10 American manhood"
Senator Gilchrist said if the same conditions
had occurred in South American republic
there would have been revolution instead of a
recount. Senator Cassidy plagued him with
many questions about the Blaine and Tilden
elecuons. which he could not answer until SEN
ator Grady helped him He maintained though
that he was glad TO the Democrats auar-
reling, since when thieves fall out honest men
get their due" 1865