New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-19
GENERAL BINGHAM AND T4MMANY


If Mayor Mcclellan were a candidate for re-
election General Bnghams article on why
was Removed" in Evan Norden's Magazine
would be of immense public consequence. ii
could not then fail TO have great influence in
the campaign. As things are, it only confirms
with certain concrete evidence the general inn
preston which has prevailed regarding the
Mayor The public long ago interpreted for
itself the contradictions which appeared in his
official conduct and it is ready 10 believe that
he appointed General Bingham with instruc-
tions TO keep politics out of the Police Depart
ment and then himself at times sought 10 intro
duce politics into that department II knows
that he is a man of good general intentions who
frequently lacks the firmness TO persist in them.
But as the Mayor is soon to retire from the
mayoralty, probably 10 private life. General
Binghams article will chiefly help the Judg-
ment Of history. The Mayor and his weak
nesses are not an issue.
The enemy is not the Mayor. but Tammany.
and the nearest General bingham gets 10 Tam
many is in his picture Of what Percy" Nagle
did. with the Mayors apparent connivance, to
diSorganize the discipline OF the police in the
precinct in which Maggie is politically active.
Here is the former Police Commissioners pict-
ure of what happened:
He INag1el had the police of the East 126th
street station demoralized. Some transfers had
been made there by order OF the Mayor pre-
sumably at Nagle's instigation. OF this full adj
vantage was taken. The result was that disci-
pline ceased TO exist and the policemen feared
Maggie more than their superlors. III ms orders
conflicted with police orders IL was dollars TO
doughnuts that Maggie was the one obeyed
In general the former Commissioner says that
policemen live in fear of the district leader
when pull" is working at Police Headquarters.
Experience has taught them that if they dis
please the local powers they are apt to he
transferred 10 a distant precinct" Through
the influence of these petty bosses policemen
who show independence get extra tours Ot
duty unpleasant details and the like" General
Bingham, 10y adhering firmly 10 his determined
course Of keeping politics out Of the department,
succeeded pretty completely in putting an end
10 the control Of district leaders over the force.
But his vivid picture of the rapidity with which
one precinct became demoralized when the
Mayor, with am ambition TO control Tammany
Hall. was interesting himself in Percy Nagle's
contest for a district leadership unpeGsantly
suggests what will happen all over town If the
people turn the administration over 10 Tam
many.
General Bingham evidently intends 10 aid
the cause OF good government by putting at
the service of the community what he knows
about Tammany from HIS experience as Police
Commissioner. In this present article on his
removal he has shown what evil can spring
from the acts of n Mayor who is only occasion
ally i'm sympathy with Tammany and whose
ideals usually superior 10 those of the
ordinary Tammany Mayor The ordinary Tam
many Mayor is about equivalent To Mcclellan
ar his worst The ordinary Tammany Mayor
does not seek out n courageous and Independent
person and give him a commission 10 keep
politics out of the police. The ordinary Tam
many Mayor busies himself in strengthening
the influence of district leaders in the depart
ment He orders captains who show dispo-
sition 10 do their duty without regard 20 politics
sent 10 Wakefield or TOttenvIlle. lie supple
ments the efforts of pull" to introduce demora-
Zation everywhere. The city may appreciate
the ordinary Tammany Mayor from General
Bingham's picture of his difficulties when Mayor
Mcclellan forgot his better intentions and
plunged his administration into politics.
As the former Commissioner proceeds with
his Illumination Of the conditions he should
keep close to concrete facts, OF which his years
Of experience must have given him store We
have never seen New York moved by general
descriptions OF the evils within its confines.
1t knew well enough that there was a profitable
alliance between the police and vice, but only
the vivid and concrete illustration Of II brought
out by the LeXow investigation moved II 10
reform. The brass check revelation in Mr..
JerOme's speeches Of six years ago spurred the
public as ge4eralizations about die extent
and misery of ''red light vice could have done.
Locked up in his memory General Bingham
must have many concrete, pungent facts which
may be Of vastly less importance than the num-
Der Of cadets" in New York and their relation
10 Illegal voting or than the estimated grand
total Of graft but which may give flip to
the conscience of this town that no familiar
congratulations can impart.