New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-22
AN AID TO DISCIPLINE.
ONLY STRAIGHT REPUBLICANS WANTED.

The knowledge that several important amend
ments to the constitution would be acted upon had
the effect OF calling together o large number OF
the members of the Republican County Committee
at the monthly meeting last evening. The large
hall of the Grand Opera House was filled when
the vice-chaiman, John w. Jacobus, called the
committee to order. Prominent among those
present were Colonel J. w. Mason, o. F. G.
Billings. A T. Whitney, Henry @. Botty, ex-
Assembyman John p. windolph. A d. Williams.
Lucius l. Van Allen, Clarence w. Meade. Henry
Clinton Backus Leonard Ilazeltine, Scion Is
Smith. John Relssnweber. Sheridan Shook William
H. Townley, John Simpson, John ID. Lawson,
George billiard. Charles W. Taintor, W. H. Bella
my, l. l.. N. Hunt. Coroncrs Nusent and Eidman,
DIR. j. G. Morton, Henry Kropf w. H. Gedney,
Dennis Shea, Roben A. Greacen. John ii. Gunner,
w. II. Huber, ]. Thomas Stearns, and James K.
Duffy.
Scion b. Smith, chairman Of the Executive
Committee, read q call for the primaries to be
held on March TO elect delegates to the Repubh
can County Committee district officers and u
district committee OF forty members in each dis
trict. Nh. Smith offered the following resolution,
which adopted:
Hhereds. Tue Republican Club OF the City OF New York
has appointed a of twenty-five with
the regular associations OF enrolled Repubcans OF this city
the formation OF Republican clubs
Div districts.
Rrsolusd That this heartily approves of the
action OF said club promises its hearty Efficient sup
port in the work proposed
Th= NEW COMMITTEE To MEET.
Justice Smith moved that the chairman be in
structed TO call the new County Committee to-
gether on March 10 for organization. lie ex
plalned that this was Necessary because the pr
maries would have TO be held soon after, and 10
delegates to the Z. publican National Convention.
This was agreed to.
Action was then taken on the amendment offered
by Colonel Joel w. Mason at the last meeting OF
the committee. IT, was to amend the amend
ment to Article I OF the constitution adopted at
the last meetirg 10y striking out the words " n
words two-thrds" and by inserting between the
words members and expel' in the first line Of
the same amendment the following a." present and
voting at any meeting Colonel Mason said the
effect OF this amendment would he to require a
twc-thris vote Of all those present at meeting
Of the County Committee to expel. lie had the
secretary read the amendment rs adopted at the
last meeting 1t was AS follows:
To amend Art By adding at the end thereof follows
It may by vote OF majority Of It's members eypcl and
fou office officer OF the Enrolled Republicans
mite 10 any Asemiy District aod Nv amSr vote nav
ar am ma, aS any e DSt r.
I hy such G s 1e% e s uS e s s III amy amy
such vote h. taken eNcept pon the written Recommendation
majority ali the members o saii Executive Comm't,ee.
a as, % m hs et s@ 10 the
County Committee
Colonel Mason said that this would reunirc 30l
votes to cApel II was seldom that there was that
number Of members OF the County Committee pres
ent quorum was Isl. Iwo-thirds of that
number is I o. and this number could eXpcl. His
motion carried. On motion Of Colonel Mason
Article XVIII OF the Constitution was amended to
conform TO the change in Article l. by adding al
the end the words " present ana voting.
M HARMONY WITH DguocRArs.
Then the secretary read tho substitute for Article
~ no mt ofTn NV RclSpu-
weber at the last meeting 1t is as follows:
No person shall eligible FOR delegate TO the County
Committee. membership Of District Committee
officer Of the Enrolled Republicans nor for
any nominating convention nor for Enrolling
INSPECTOR OF Elections who Is not voter in the
City OF New-York who has been expelled from the
County Committee within year then last past
All for person holding such al Office sh1l
he null void and the person persons other than
hereby declared be Ineligible receiving the highest
number shall be deemed and returned elected
Any credentials given TO person not eligible under
this Constitution shall he null and void
The portion omitted from the prestn mt article
reads
And all Offices power OF appointment which Is vested
In any Democrat, any board body. majority Of
whose members Democratic In any board or body
whose members appointed BY Democrat shal be
considered as held under Democratic authority. But
no person shall nominated or Endorsed and
supported and elected to Office by the regular epuo
can party shall deemed be Democrat within the
m
person whose appointment vas originally made ny OF
under Republican authority and who holds over under
such appointment
MIR. Spooncr supported the amendment He
said that this Was apparently all Intention 10
remove u safeguard from the Constitution whlch
has been there since the overthrow OF the
Tweed Ring Ii looked as though an enor was
being made 10 remove barrier and possibly
bring In Republicans who would be suoserFlcnt
TO Democratic oficc-holders This might not
he the intention Of the mover OF the amendmeiit.
hut it would be open to that suspicion Inc
Republican party could do without such men:
lie regretted that one who had Vtovcn himself
a dsturber should have had himself interviewed
In a Democratic newspaper on TINS suDlect III
order TO have q fling at one OF their members
II nrcr,N Try, NEVER. he woult Z en- GO l. VIC
length Of having the person aimed at wlthdra"
from the committee rather than have ,he pro
Dosad amendment pass, to save him ana Otuers
Justice Smith said that this WIS one OF the
most dangerous propositions that could be onefcd
The clause referred TO had been In the Constitutlon
ever since 1871. AT that time the Republican
marty posscSsrd much PATRONAGE, ana vet II was
deemed necessary TO adopt such a cla'Le ln oru"r
70 prevent the Democratic leaders from insdl1s ,
gaining control OF the County Committee How
much more necessary VA; II now. when inc party
had no patronag to dispense and places could
be used as brides.
Is THE AMFNDMENT DANGERoUsf
G. W. Hamilton could not see that the amendment
WAS q very dangerous one. | ne party shouIu
not build up a wall around itself II was about
70 enter upon Presidential contest, when it
would need all the help ~ couiu Sel >, =, -,
John D. Lawson declared emphatically that INA
amendment was a bad one and should be voted
K Whitney-A straight Republican party
or nothing
An excited member sprinNng to his feet and
waving his hat. said That's II. Let Us be
| straight Republicans or straight Democrats" Tie
amendment was lost by a decided majority
Frank Raymond. the member who was alluded
70 by Mr. Spooner, is clerk In the City COURT
/ now composed entirely Of Democratic judges lie
is one OF the Republican leaders in the AAllld
District. lie said that the attempt OF the County
/ Democracy TO change the Constitution did not AFFECT
| him, as be was originally appointed by Republican
/ Judges and was simply holding over.
THE ARTON'S BP1TLTANT BAIL.