New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-19
DEMOCRATIC NOMINA TONS.

The lily Democracy iCtlh hbuiS W ehNi De'N
experiences in running their machine" con.
yentions and cut aud dried conferences"
There is a general feeling among the respect
able people. who do most OF the voting th0ugh
they do not select the candidates, that some
show of decency AS well as of sagacity in NOM
mating candidates is due the public. But the
Democratic factions-even the new one winch
prides itself upon its eminent responsibility
do not recognize or at any rate do not ylelu
TO this demand and their present proceedings
in dividing the offices among the several
halls are about as shameless as their lottery
process of last year was audacous. That act
aroused the indignation of thousands of decent
Democrats. who resented the insolcnce of their
self-appointed leaders, and who voted with the
Republicans in such numbers that the large
Democratic majority of this city was reduced
to almost nothing-to 5000 on the local
ticket, while it was 10000 on the
National and $4,000 on the State ticket
After the election the factions accused each
other of treachery. but the figures conclusiyey
moved that n large force of Democrats re-
fused TO indorse the false union and the DIS
graceful method of nominating Mayor Grace.
There has been no public lottery TINS
wear: the halls did learn enough not 10
offer another such aflrOnt to the decent MEM
bers of their party. But still the present pro-
ceedings of the three factions are hardly less
shameful although not quite so public. They
are engaged in repeating last years move
ments but by different tactics. They selected
Mayor Grace's name ont OF dozen OF 30
which they had r;ritten down as mutually
satisfactory to both halls. This year one hali
names Mr.. McKeOn in advance; It's branch con-
Germ takes up the nomination ana III
dorses it, and the third pretends 10
have no alternative but to unite IN his
support. This is all "cut and dried
committee work. done before the conventions
meet And not only is the principal position
being disposed of in this way, hut conference
committees of the several halls are going
from one to another tO arrange for the ming
of the minor offices. The organs OF the party
report the proceedings of these committees
with details which show that they do not pre-
tend to secret deliberations. They do not seem
to regard it as at all improper to arrange
before any convention is held that
Irving Hall shall have nicholas Hlughton
for Alderman at Large" and james Flynn
for Marine Court Judge"; while Tammany is
TO name its favorites for Coroner" and Al
derman at Large" There is not even pre-
tence of submitting the choice to conven-
ton the subcommittee do the whole work.
How far the course of the leaders is to cost
the leaders the confidence of the better classes
of their party remains to be tested. We be-
lieye that q good nomination by the Repub-
hcans for District Attorney will demonstrate
that the party lines of the enemy are badly
broken. The disgust of last year has not been
wholly removed; and the present tactics are
not likely to lessen but rather to renew the
contempt of the voters for the trading pol
iticians. There is no National issue to
bind Democrats to their party on this
local fight. The contest is over an Office
which all parties concede and assert
is not a political one. The best way for the
Republicans to get votes from both parties is
10 name a better man than Mr.. McKeon The
Republicans will make a firm union on this
fight and will cast solid vote for the nomi-
nee for District Attorney. The Democrats will
do the same if they can, but we believe that
the processes which they have employed to
bring about a union on their candidate will
drive many of them TO support n better man
if the Republicans present him. That we can
and must do.