Evening star., 1932-01-10
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Tammany has long been an object OF
comment of the newspapers of this
country. Fifty years
Bargaining ago it was particu-
BY Tammany. sion. The star Of
January 3, 1882, says:
1.-The people of New York, without
regard to politics, are thoroughly dis
gusted with Tammany and its piratica
conduct. The organization Is main
that of obtaining political spoils-anc
1t Is not at all particular as to the
methods employed in attaining thai
end. Tammany has got to be guerrilla
in political warfare, without any fixed
principles, not protesting allegiance tc
either Of the two great parties, but
striking at both or either whenever an
opportunity to capture a little patron
age offers. The organization Is in such
bad odor that neither political party
can openly acknowledge alliance with 1t
The present attitude of Tammany in
relation to the organization of the
Legislature may, happily, lead to the
final extinction of the organization. The
few Tammany members OF the Legisla-
ture hold the balance Of power in that
body, and they are apparently deter
mined to make this advantage bring
them the highest possible price. In a
conference with the Democratic mem
bers the Tammanyites made no con-
cealment of their sordid schemes. They
offered their votes in support of a
Democratic organization of the Legtsla-
ture upon certain named conditions,
which comprised the major part of the
officers to be elected. The Democrats
refused to pay the price and the Repub-
licans in the Legislature have publicly
declared that they will not enter into
any sort of bargain or trade with Tam
many. Another deadlock of the Legis-
lature, with political spoils as the OBJ
jective point, is threatened at time
when the public business Of the State,
which was neglected by the last Legis-
lature because Of a political fight, Is
calling for attention. If the Republic
cans and Democrats are wise, they will
avoid a prolonged contest over the or
ganization and strike Tammany hard,
perhaps q fatal, blow at the same time.
They can effect an organization upon
some compron ise basis and go ahead
with the public business. Then the
Tammanyites will be utterly powerless
and insignificant Their followers, fall
ing to receive the rewards they ex-
pected, may grow disguised and join
with the other citizens in New York in
putting it beyond the power of Tam
many to disturb and embroil the poll
tics Of the State hereafter"
The placing Of Guiteau in the dock
did not improve his conduct in the
Guiteau's Right trial for the
To Seat in Court. % ident Gartield 81
He continued his interruptions of wit
nesses and counsel and his 1mpreca-
tions upon all connected with the case.
The suggestion was mace that ne De
removed from the court room alto
gether. but that was deemed to be i'm
possible under the law. Inc star OF
January 5, 1882, says
"The question has been raised as to
whether Guiteau's constitutional privi-
lepes would be violated by removing him
from the court room during the argu-
ment, he having been confronted with
the witnesses against him. Mr.. Tag
CART. the assistant district attorney, ex-
pounded the law on this subject to
Star reporter this morning. Cooley In
his work on Constitutional Limitations
provides that in cases of felony, where
the life or liberty Of the prisoner Is
imperiled, he has a right to be present
and must be present at the trial; that
in ~ capital case the accused stands
upon his rights and valves nothing,
and the record must show affirmatiyely
that the accused was present. The
same author also remarks that II tne
prisoner should claim the right OF ad-
dressing the jury it would be difficult
to confine him to the record. Wharton
in his work on criminal law makes the
same general assertion, but In ADDITION
holds That the prisoner by obstreperous
conduct may waive his right to be pres
ent and could not complain if he thus
compelled his owS removal. The fact
is observed Mr.STaggart, that there
has been nothing in the way Of prece-
dents to guide the course in this case
1t is a new field altogether That the
sxaument forms part Of the trial Is not