New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-29
TAKING DECISIVE STEPS.
A DISTRICT TO BE READ OUT.
TREACHERY MUST BE ERADICATED.
STRINGENT MEASURES RECOMMENDED By TIE
REPUBLICAN COUNTY CAMPAIGN COM.
MITTEE WHICH MEET WITH

ff-PUB BLICAN COUNTY CAMPAIGN COM
MITTEE WHICH MEET WITH
WIDESPREAD APPROVAL.
striking proof of the strength Of the feeling
against John J. O'Brien and the With
Congress District machine" was given
yesterday by the Republican County Cam
paign Committee, when il decided by
unanimous vote in favor OF recommending tho
expulsion Of that entire district organization from
the party. Every member of the committee, ex-
cept Mr. Meade, was present, and not one raised
single objection to the course proposed, but on
the contrary, favored il most heartily. The re-
port OF this committee will be submitted to the
County Executive Committee on Wednesday night
and to the general committee on the following
evening. There is every reason to believe that
the recommendation Of the Campaign Committee
will be sustained and acted upon by the county
organization.
The members of the Campaign Committee are
Colonel Cruger, Justice Solon B. Smith, Sheridan
Shook, Commissioner Charles N. Taintor, State
Senator Van Cott, Frank Raymond, John W. Jaco-
bus, A. r. Whitney, Clarence w. Meade and SEQ
retary w. H. Bellamy. NJ Meade was unavoids-
bly, absent, but his sentiments are understood to
be as strong as those of any Of the rest against
OBrien The meeting was held at No. 1,I27
Broadway. Its special object was to prepare the
usual report as to the manner in which the local
campaign had been conducted. and the details Of
the management of it. OBriens case, or rather
that of the With District, came under
this review. IL was ascertaIned that U'Brien is
not really member of the party. When the
organization of this district ordered last year
he and Barney Rourke attended all the meet
ngs where the re-enrolment took place, but nei-
ther of them offered to register their names. OF
course this will make no difference with the COM
mittee. It's fight is not against Brien or Rourke
or Brodsky personally, but against the whole dis
trict organization.
THE ACTION CONSTITUTIONAL.
This, the committee decided, could be expelled
under Article l of the County Committees con-
stituon, which declares that the central organiza-
tion may, by a vote OF two-thirls of its members
present and voting at any meeting, expe and re-
move from office any officer of the enrolled Re-
publicans, any member of the Executive or
Finance Committees, in any Assembly district,
and by n similar vote may supersede and abolish
any Republican district organization, and may di-
rect a new enrolment of Republicans in any As
sembly district, new election therein to fill
any vacancies caused By such action To be
sure, it under this provision that the With
District was expelled last year, only to como
right back again under new enrolment that
held Immediately a1terWar1 his Ulmc now
ever the County Committee will be in no hurry
about recognizing that district II will build
up the party there in due time, but on a solid
foundation, no matter how long it takes 10 COM
pletc the work All the members of the
committee expressed entire satisfaction at the
action taken We could not do anything else"
said Sheridan Shook, land represent our own
views and those of the Republicans of this city.
If we can't have district organizations that can
be trusted. then let get out of politics alto
gether.o Similar declarations were made by the
Others
The remark made by Mr.. Jacobus in The
Tribune yesterday, that the party should not be
satisfied with simply expelng O'Brien's gang
from the county organization, but should also
throw OI5rien out of the position he holds
Chief of the Bureau of Elections, was emphatically
indorsed by the members of the committee and
by Republican leaders generally throughout the
city.
great many people seem TO think that this
will be almost impossible task to accomplish,
owing to the equal political division of the Board
of Police Commissioners. IL is also asserted with
remarkable persistency, by those who ought to
know better that both Republican Commissioners
are SO strongly attached to OBren that they
would not vote for any man TO succeed him.
This is a mistake. Mr.. French and Mr.. McCiavo
were both willing vote for the candidate on the
eligible list having the highest percentage in the
Civil Service examination. but Mr. Voorhs would
not vote with them. He wants Colonel Gilon,
of the Board of Assessors, simply because the
colonel is Democrat 1t remains TO
be seen whether Mr. Voorhis as
representative of the Reform County
Democracy will be willing TO assume the respon-
sibility for keeping O'Brien in office, when the
Republican party repudiates him.
RATHER CURIOUS RUMoR
In this connection may be mentioned curious
rumor that was floating around in political ci1-
cles last evening. 1t was in effect follows:
As is generally known, Mayor Hewitt placed the
Bureau of Elections under the Civil Service rules,
the law, he claimed, giving him the discretionary
right to do At the examination which was
held, OBrien came out first on the list. Not being
a veteran, howeN er, he was declared to be lnellg
BILE, and Mr. Mott being the next highest became
first on the list. OBrien took the matter into
court claiming that the Mayor was not justified
Service rules. This case has not yet been decided
Now this rumor has 1t that In re-
vass in the With District, Mayorelect
Grant will rescind the action of his predecessor
by taking the Bureau OF Elections out from the
Civil Service rules, thus making OBrien eligible
for the office. Ii, as is now asserted by leading
Republicans who ought TO know whereof they
speak, neither of the Republican Police Commls-
sioners will support O'Brien any longer, 1T is
difficult to see how such an action on Mr.: Grants
part would help O'Bren in any way. Mr. Voor-
hees it is said especially interested in the
report for like every County Democrat in office.
he is the sharp lookout for Iammany tricks
A friend of Commissioner McClave said last night:
know what / talking about when L say that
John O'Brien holds morg gage Mr. McClave
Mr. French. Both Republicans, and Will them
selves loyal TO tie party In oustng o'Bren The only
question is 10 set succeed him satisfactory
TO three OF the Commissioners II will be- probably.
somewhat difficult thing do, but hard many
seem think one thing IL certain, that when the
Republican party formally decides that John Brieu
kicked out, neither Mr. McClave Mr.. French
will attempt TO oppose It's wishes matter what their
personal feelings toward o. Bren may be may have
hoan fully with