C.S. THOMPSON was a
magazine writer and a former newspaper editor. He worked for the Theodore
Roosevelt presidential campaign of 1912 with the Commission for Relief in
Belgium and with the New York State Women’s Suffrage Party. From 1905-1910, he
was managing editor of the New Haven Register and previously of the Springfield
Union. In 1920, he and a partner opened an advertising firm.
W. KINGSLAND MACY, known as
King Macy, was a political strong arm for the Republican Party from 1930
through the 1950s. He was chairman of the Suffolk County, New York, Republican
Committee from 1930 to 1934 and a delegate to both the national and the state
Republican Conventions for many years. His hold over the Suffolk Republican
Party was so strong that he was called “The Little King of Suffolk County.”
Macy was elected to the 80th and 81st United
States Congresses but was defeated for re-election in 1950. Thompson, a
partisan Democrat, had great concern over Macy’s power and felt that Macy was
manipulating the political process to achieve promotion of his self-interests.
This archive, c. 1930, details Thompson’s
secret campaign to influence elections and his attempt to be paid by the
Democratic Party of New York for doing so. Thompson offers a “Confidential”
memorandum assessing the situation (possibly a carbon copy), a “Confidential
Political Survey” and a typed version of his column in which he attempts to
expose Macy with his handwritten edits. All are on 8 ½” x 11” sheets.
In a memorandum marked “CONFIDENTIAL MACY MAKES A MONKEY OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC MULEY – FOR
1932,” he writes, in part, “For the presidential campaign of 1932 the
chairman of the Republican National Committee, and the White House look upon
New York State as a vulnerable point of attack. They base their opinion on
their ability to tie up the New York State Democratic candidate with the cry of
‘We don’t want Tammany Rule in the White House.’ “’Tammany’ is therefore a
welcome slogan for the Republicans…With Smith there is also their old cry of
Catholicism. With Roosevelt, it will be his poor health, the danger of sending
him to his death.
“…There is no need for Hoover to enter the
Ring. His purposes are best served through others. No doubt fearful of the
Democratic gain in 1930 congressional election, Hoover sees the advantage of
moving now to besmear the Democratic Party, instead of waiting until the summer
of 1932.
“W. Kingsland Macy is the stalking horse of the
White House…He at once set forth to establish himself as a crusader for honesty
and unrighteousness in politics.
“The opportunity for Macy to strike home his
blow for the White House came with the disclosure of court and police grafting
in New York City – under Tammany Rule!
“…Macy and Hoover and the Republican machine
have now disclosed their cards. From now until November 1932, not only New York
City but the entire country will be regaled with the mud of Tammany
investigations…
“Macy, a new comer figuratively, makes a monkey
out of the Democratic mule.
“What can now be done to save the situation for
the Democratic Party? My answer is to let the public know the full story of
Macy – who is, of course, only the errand boy of the White House. Macy is, I
find, vulnerable, not only in New York State, but also in his home district of
Suffolk County.
“There is a need of someone to investigate Macy
and his political career in Suffolk County. A man of reputed high ideals and
character, he is nevertheless open to attack…
“Macy is chairman of the Suffolk Republican
Committee. His treasurer is Otto H. Kahn. [Kahn was a successful investment
banker.] Recently their machine; the Planning Board, secretly introduced a proposal
for $5,000,000 bond issue -- $3,000,000 of which is to be spent for a bridge to
connect the mainland with Shelter Island, where Kahn is a big property owner.
Essentially it is a private improvement for Kahn. The proposal is to make this
bond issue without submitting it to the voters or taxpayers…Worse yet it
appears that Macy and his Republican friends blocked a projected state highway
on Fire Island (public improvement), through the influence of Kahn, a big
property owner on Fire Island.
“In the meantime, little or nothing is being
printed in Republican papers about the scandals of the Republican rule under
Macy. He himself has a financial interest in seven county Republican papers and
these papers are printing sickening, laudatory editorials on Macy. His use of a
newspaper press to laud his own acts and to satisfy his own political ambition
is an insult to the intelligence of the city, state and county. As a Republican
boss, he compels his henchman to support him with County advertising. His
payment of a political and social debt to his friend, Kahn, by taxing Suffolk
County farmers, would be repudiated publicly if it were publicly brought to the
attention of the White House…
“Obviously, the only thing for the Democratic
interests to do is to…furnish throwing stones at the opposition party. The time
to go after Macy is now. Macy is in the news already. He should be kept in the
news with every mention of his Democratic investigation [the Seabury inquiry
into police and court corruption].
“I am personally in a position to dig up the facts
but need financial support to do it. The first thing is to go after Macy in
Suffolk County. Then in New York state, then in Washington. It cannot be done
without funds.
“…In the Times this morning I read that he is
still working with Judge Seabury. Break Macy and you have broken the effect of
the Republican attack and investigation…
“Respectfully submitted, C.S. Thompson”
[Thompson hasn’t signed his name.]
In a one-page typed political survey, marked
“Confidential,” Thompson reveals the votes provided in Suffolk County, New
York, a stronghold for the Republican Party. He writes, “…Macy is regarded
within his own party as dictatorial and unreasoning. Already there is
opposition to him in his own organization…Macy is, however, well entrenched in
his control of all patronage and worse yet with a whip hand on the Republican
Press of the County…”
Thompson has written what appears to be a
column entitled “King Macy.” Filled with handwritten edits, the column attempts
to expose Macy’s attempt to slide through a bond issue that will favor Macy and
the Republican machine. Some folds and light toning. A couple of tears repaired
with archival tape. A very interesting look at how a newspaper writer attempted
to get directly and secretly involved in influencing an election and sought
money for doing so.
Wonderful assemblage of attempt at election rigging.
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