The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-02-10
Il DON'T Blasted Expectations

sured, ana 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 M. Glossy
Tweed.
In the senate in the state legisla-
ture of 1871. which was controlled by
the Democracy. Mr.. Tweed caused to
be named committee on cities whose
members he himself selected. He
was himself member of that COM
mittee. That was the committee
which had authority to report favor
ably or otherwise measures relating
to the government of New York city.
Shortly after the session began Tweed
offered resolution which authorized
the commissioners who had authority
over the construction of the new court
house in New York city to audit bills
without limitation of expenses In
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-
tant joker behind this resolution, and
although some effort was made to
limit the amount permissible for the
county court house commission to
audit, nevertheless 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
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
and read It over and over again. Then.
to the senator. he asked:
do you mean to impute dishonesty
to the county courthouse commission
ers of New York. who are sworn pub
lie oficers?"
The senator replied that It seemed
to him unnecessary to impute any dis
honesty since the measure on its face
was dangerous grant of financial
power.
Again Governor Hoffman asked:
DO you mean to impute dishonesty
10 these public offlcers?"
The senator was silent.
WELL" said Governor Hoffman. ris-
ing from his chair. Il don't: and be-
cause don't, l won't interfere In this |
How different his own history and
that of the Tweed ring would have
been had Governor Hoffman said: Il
10 impute dishonesty and I win In
.erfere!" For by reason Of this meas
IRE. which the legislature passed and
Governor Hoffman signed, bills largely |
fraudulent to the amount of six mill
ion dollars passed the county court |
house commissioners, and It was the
disclosure of these frauds that led to
he overthrow of the Tweed ring in |
1871.
Governor Hoffman's II don't" cost |
linn all his political future. It cost |
Tweed his leadership and his liberty
md brought him to prison cell. It
cost Richard B. Connolly. the comp
roller Of the city, his residence in
he United States-for he fed to Eu-
'ope. And 1t cost A. Oakley Hall, who
vas mayor Of New York when the
Tweed looting was goirg on. the Unit
ID States senatorship, which 1t had
ong been his ambition to secure.
Copyright. 1911. by e. j. Edwards. Al
Rights Reserved)