New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-13
PLAIN TO BREWERS
ASK WHITMAN POLICY
AND GET IT.
District attorney Tells Diners
He Viii Enforce Lozo and
Spare No Violotor.

torney Whitman, at the dinner of the
Lager Beer Brewers Board OF Trade.
which was held last night at Delnlon-
ico's. whether he was going to enforce
certain laws. Their question entirely
changed the tenor of the after-dlnner
speeches made later, and led to a scath-
ing arraignment by D. Cady HerriCk of
the impurity of New York politics. as
illustrated by the Aids investigation
1t served as a text for the addresses OF
Mr. Whitman. Mr.. HerriCk and Charles
a. Towne. who We're down on the pro
gramme to respond to the toasts THE
City of New York" The State of New
York" and Our Country" respectively
Il cannot understand" said Mr.. Whit
man, 'why any man, under the oath Of
office, should he asked to express an
opinion with regard TO the enforcement
of any law. There isn't man here to-
night who doesn't know the very brief
and very simple oath that the Dlstrlc'
Attorney of the County Of New York IS
obliged TO take. There isn't a man mere
who doesn't know what the State Of
New York imposes on every district at
tOrneY OF every COUIiNS III INC 0NNNNO-
Will Spare No Violator.
..Nov. gentlemen, I'm going TO be true
+o the oath of office which a majority of
nearly thirty thousand voters In TINS
citv has imposed upon me. l am gong
IN nreseut to the courts of this county
tho indictments found by the grand jury
of this county to the best of my ability
against every violator OF every law VI
the state, 1 don't care what law or what
,ioIator. and 1 know there isn't man
i'm this room who isn't with me- 1t ism
for me TO decide who shall go TO JAIL
hut if is for me TO see that there is one
man in office in the County Of New
Work. whose skirts are clean. who can't
he reached by any mar or any orsahl-
zation OF men. and that thaI man - '4'0
District Attorney.
Ex-Justice Herrick said that NOBODY
had ever asked him when he was elected
District Attorney in his county upstate
whether he intended to enforce the law
"Thev are not suspicious minded per-
sons up there" he continued, but down
here the, people seem to need some as
surance"
New York State just at present does
not present a pleasant spectacle TO CIVIL
zation." he went on. We can't consider
Il A great object lesson in sef-govern-
pent They say that legislation mas
heer sold for a price. and the people are
investigating now to determine for how
GREAT a price. Why. I even understand
that YOU people have contributed money
in the past toward legislation in your
interest. believe some legislation IS
pending to restrict the supply of money
YOU gentlemen can furnish for such pur-
poses Now If YOU have made any con-
tributions this year they will become the
subject of an investigation"
Sale of Legislation.
u-p to this point the brewers who filled
the be-nirrored room had greeted Mr.
Herrick's remarks with frequent out
bursts Of mirth. So he resumed:
NO. seriously, gentlemen, this subject
has become the subject of a joke. I
have heard Senator's and Assemblymen
on such occasions as this speak of the
sale of legislation III a jocular manner.
Year after year the firemen and police
of this city have sought legislation to
increase their pay and have taken up
contributions To help pass such legisla-
ton | have heard that the school teach
ers are doing the same thing. And yet
we have lain down supiney. knowing
this. and have returned To the Legislature
year after year men whom we knew
were receiving money.
1--WE all know that in the past gentle
men representing your interests and
other interests allied with YOU have
raised untold thousands to prevent leg
islation.
This is one of the few states of the
Union where legislation is to-day and
has been for the last nifty years for sale
Tor a price. Are YOU proud of IL? IL is
enough 10 make the resident of New
York blush for shame. The people II
this state have become suspicious of all
public officers. That is why they ask #
a man will enforce the law who was
elected 10 enforce il"
Mr.. Whitman had begun his remarks
by proposing toast TO Navor C;avncr
paving him an elaborate tribute as a
public officer working in the interests Of
the citizens. other speakers were Charles
\ Towne. Alfred ]. Tauev. who dis
Cussed Beer and Its Hum0rs." ana Fl
Il SchaTndnn, the subject Of whose ad-
dress was Inc Pioneers OF the Brewing
Industry