The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-01-19
The 81 Don't" That Blasted
Great Expectations.
How Governor Hoffman's Refusal to
Prevent a Great Tweed Fraud
Utterly Ruined Political Flu
lures of Himself and Others.
BYE. ]. EDWARDS.

by 49, w FNih1Ss
One of the ablest Democrats OF his
time, a man, too, who possessed per
sonal magnetism that had gained for
him great popularity, was John T.
Hoffman. He was twice elected gov
ernor of New York state and before
his election as governor was mayor
of New York city.
Mr.. Hoffman was first elected gov
ernor in 1868, and it was then said
that this election would undoubtedly
lead to his nomination for president
in 1872. Governor Hoffman was fully
aware all along that influential poll
ticians of his party in the state were
planning the capture Of the Democrat
ic national convention of that year.
so that his nomination would be as
sured. and felt convinced that they
could, with him, carry the state OF
New York even though General Grant
was again candidate for president
These politicians of influence, who had
already brought about the election OF
Mr.. Hoffman as mayor Of New York
and as governor, were the leaders OF
the Tammany Hall of that day, and
their leader was William NJ. ("BossO
Tweed.
In the senate in the state legisla-
ture of 1871, which was controlled by
the Democracy, Mr. Tweed caused TO
be named a committee on cities whose
members he himself selected. He
was himself a member of that COM
mittee That was the committee
which had authority to report favor
ably or otherwise measures relating
10 the government of New York city.
shortly after the session began Tweed
offered q resolution which authorized
the commissioners who had authority
over the construction Of the new court
house il New York city to audit bills
Cured and to add the same to the tax
levy. which was then made up in Al
bany. 1t was the measure which made
the gigantic county. courthouse frauds
possible All of the wise politicians
realized that there was some impor-
ra0t iorer hchind his resolution, and
although some e~ort was made to
i 7ou4 ,aissible for the
county court horse commission to
audit peve"the ess tweed forced the
resolution through the committee by
four votes out OF FIVE
After that was done came the cru
cial and what proved to be the fatal
moment for Gov John T. Hoffman. A
senator went to Mr.. Hoffman and
urged him to use his influence to have
this measure defeated.
Governor Hoffman looked steadily
and sternly at the senator for few
moments. He took the resolution up
end read it over and over again. Then,
turning to the senator. he asked
DO you mean to impute dishonesty
% the county courthouse commission
ers of New York, who are sworn pub.
ic officers"
Tire senator replied that it seemed
10 him unnecessary to impute any dis
honesty since the measure on its face
vas dangerous grant of financial
mower.
'eain Governor HOFFMAN asked:
DO you mean to impute dishonesty
e4e public officers"
The senator was silent
Well" said Governor Hoffman, ris-
ing from his chair, 81 don't; and be-
~se don't, | won't interfere in this
measure"
How different his own history and
that of the Tweed ring would have
teen had Governor Hoffman said: Il
do impute dishonesty and I will in
terfere!" For by reason of this meas
IRE which the legislature passed and
Governor Hoffman signed, bills largely
fraudulent to the amount of six mil
lion dollars passed the county court
house commissioners, and it was the
disclosure Of these frauds that led to
the overthrow of the Tweed ring in
November. 1871.
Governor Hoffmans 81 don't" cost
him all his political future 1t cost
Tweed his leadership ard his liberty
and brought him to a prison cell. 1t
cost Richard b. Connolly, the comp
tro'er Of the city, his residence in
the United States--for he fed to Eu-
rope. And il cost \ Oakley Hall, who
was mayor Of New York when the
Tweed footing was gcing on, the Unit
ed States senatorship, which it had
no teen his ambition to secure.
Copyright. 1911. by f. J. Edwards. AL
Rights Reserved)