Ex Cathedra

New York, 1895

In common with the voters of the county and the people generally, THE FARMER has always supposed that when the people elected the members of the board of Supervisors, that the persons so chosen were charged with administering the duties of the office, and that the provisions of the statute which direct that they (the Supervisors) "shall appoint a clerk to serve during their pleasure, and until his successor is appointed, and shall fix his compensation," mean what the words state. It seems, however, that in this the people are mistaken. That while they supposed that the persons who took the constitutional oath of office as Supervisors were really the Supervisors, and had the power to select their own clerk, that this is not the case, but that, as matter of fact, the Supervisors are mere individuals to do the will and take their orders from the Republican County Committee and Boss Youngs. That the Republican County Committee and the Boss so believe is a fair inference from the actions of the gentlemen who constitute the committee, as if they did not so believe, and if they were not correct in their belief, they certainly would not have the temerity to issue their orders ex cathedra, as they have done, substantially with the pains and penalties of excommunication from the Republican party if the gentlemen who were elected Supervisors presume to disobey.

The question thus fairly presented is interesting, and its outcome will be watched by the independent voters and by the people at large. THE FARMER does not believe that the members of the board of Supervisors, elected upon the Republican ticket, have yet reached that period of senility when they will accept dictation from the Republican County Committee and the Boss in the performance of public duties. THE FARMER has too much respect for the Republican members of the board to believe that they can be capable of sacrificing public interest and public welfare at the crack of the party whip or the cry of a horde of hungry office seekers.

If Mr. Seabury is removed as clerk of the Board, he will be removed not because of his incompetence, as there is no other person in the County so well qualified as he to perform the duties of the office, but simply because he is a Democrat, and in response to the demands of the Republican County Committee and the Boss. While it is possible, though not probable, that the Republican County Committee can enforce its demands so far as the Supervisors themselves are concerned, and while from the Democratic standpoint it is desirable that they shall be able to do so, we believe that such action will be but another nail in the coffin already preparing for the burial of the Republican machine in Queens County.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 26, 1895, p. 4.