New-York tribune., 1889-12-19
LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
NOT FEWER REPUBLICANS. But MORE
WANTED.
T. O. PLATT AND OTHERS STRONGLY DEPREcATE
THE ABOLITION OF THE PRESENT ENROL

| THE ABOLITION OF THE PRESENT ENKoL-
| MENT SYSTEM
| The members of the Republican County Com
| mittee will meet tonight to consider one oil the
most important matters that have come before
| them in long time. This is the new constltu-
| ton, which was recommended for adoption by
| the Executive Committee at the meeting OF thae
body on December 6. number OF changes are
| involved in the adoption OF this new governing
| law, but by far the most radical and Important
one, and the one that is likely to cause Lively
| discussion, is that which abolishes the present
system of yearly enrolment
| AS almost every Republican knows, the plan
of open enrolment was devised by the Committee
of Eighteen" in 1888. 1t has been in operation
ever since. BY its provisions any man may be-
come member of the Republican organization
who is qualified voter of the district In which
he proposes to enroll, if he has voted ut the I'M
| mediateIy preceding National and State elections
for the candidates of the party This is the funda-
mental test of the right of any person to be en-
rolled. 1t is also provided in the same section.
Article H. that if for any reason he was unable
10 vote at the last. Presidential or State election
it will be sufficient that his present general IN
tention is to act with the Republican party at the
next ensuing election" but "he must state that
lie will not during the year attend or take part
in the primaries or caucusts of any other political
organization"
The proposed new constitution does away with
this method of building up the party organlzaton'
and substitutes in its place plan that Is causing
great disturbance throughout the rank ana HE
OF the party. Briefly stated, the proposition Is
TO go back to the old system and make the party
as nearly like close corporation as can Wel dc
done. If the new rules adopted any man who
desires to become member of the local RepuD-
lican organization can do so only by having his
name proposed at the regular meeting of the dis
trict organization Then it will be announced
and referred to the Inspectors Of Election VINO
take the place of the present Board of Enrolment.
These officials are practically membership COM
mittee They will decide whether the proposed
! member is Republican, voter and resident
Of the district" No test is laid down for de-
termining his Repubcanism that is all left to
the inspectors to decide. \ man may have voted
| the Republican ticket since the war, but if the
inspectors decide that he is not orthodox in the
party faith that is practically the end OF the
matter. lie must remain outside, unless, indeed
he happens to have friends enough in the district
| organization to override the action Of the ln-
spectors, exceedingly remote contingency.
| Now. will the members of the Republican
| County Committee vote TO make such n change T
/ Not if they regard the advice Of some OF the
most sagacous leaders in the party, including
ex-senator I. c. Platt Speaking of the propo-
| -ition last night he said: " For the County Com
I1ttee to make any such change as that would
| be to commit a blunder worse than crime. why,
| it means the Transformation of the district or
ganzatiOns into clubs Of an exclusive character.
This Will never do. We want to make III easy;
| not hard for men to become Republicans and
Join the party. There should be nothing eXclu-
sive about Republicanism, here or anywhere else
II some district leaders find themselves unable TO
retain control of their organizations, let them
adopt some other than this to retain leader
shin or step down and out j don't think the
committee will make any such egreglous blunder
as to adopt such law
| Mr. Platt's sentiments were warmly lndorsed
| by other well-lxnown leaders who were seen.
These declared that the members of the party
| throughout tie city would reorganiZe the party
within thirty days if such change were made.
| "My idea of politics. remarked one OF these gen.
tlemen is not to keep out of my organIza-
| ton but TO get them in. We want more kepunh-,
cans in New-York, not less. it seems to me- Inc
proposed change is a mistake