New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-17
4 LEY PLAIN WORDS.

It is time for the discussion on the World
Fair bill to come to an end The deadlock at
Albany ought to be removed this week, and 1t
will be if our friends, throwing aside all
preiudices, listen only to the voice of reason
and commons sense. What is the situation?
Thus far all the committees appointed to
manage the Fair in this city are Overwhelmingly
Democratic. On the General Committee there
are five Democrats to one Republican; on the
Executive Committee three Democrats to one
Republican. Both committees were appointed
by Mayor Grant and by an elastic figure of
speech are supposed to be strictly non partisan
To complete Tammany's absolute control of the
Fair and its vast fund of S15,000.OOO, 1t
is necessary that the Board of lncorporatorS ap-
pointed by the bill now before the State Legs
lature shall have a Democratic majority. The
original list of 1913 names was supposed to in
clude sixty Republicans. Closer scrutiny, how
ever revealed the fact that only forty Repub-
Hcans were on the list, and that Tammany, hero
as elsewhere, was in a majority. What remedy
did tho Republicans propose?
They modeStly suggested that on this Hoard
there should be, not five Republicans to one
Democrat, or even three Republicans to one
Democrat-a course which, following the eX-
ample set by Mayor Grant, they would have
been amply justified in adopting. They simply
proposed the addition of enough new men to
give the Republicans a slight nominal majority
leaving the balance of power on the Board
practically in the hands of the MugwumpS and
independent Democrats. Was there anything
unreasonable or partisan in this? VIII any
sane man contend that a Republican Legislature
and Congress and President should turn over
the Worlds Fair to an INSCRIPTIONS Demo
cratic faction, with packed Democratic com
mittees and not retain the slightest check on It's
extravaganza or corruption? The mere state
ment of the case carries with it its clear and
emphatic answer.
The Republican party cannot shirll its re-
SponSibiliy in this way, The Republican Leg
islatuIe cannot turn over $4,000, 600 of tho
peoples money without check or restraint of
any kind to the successors of Tweed and his
henchmen. On this point compromise Is i'm
possible. The least that a Republican Legs
latue can do is to pass the bill as amended
in the Senate That is the only guarantee
the party can now give that the management
of the Worlds Fair, which every one acknowl-
edges should be held in this city, shall not be
monstrously partisan. The duty then of every
Republican is plain.
But what about the Democrats? Are they
really DESTROYS of having a non partisan Fair
here? There is a simple and practical way Of
proving their sincerity. 1t is not by holding
meetings of Democratic committees, or even
Democratic mass-mcctingS, called with the hopc
of bulldozng Republicans Efforts of that
kind will not affect the Republican position
one iota. If Tammany is really sincere let her
withdraw her opposition to the Senate bill.
In one single hour, if she gives the word. that
measure can be passed and signed and the Fair
"a non partisan Fair-secmcd