New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-08
CONCERNING SOME TIhE-HONORED'
Customs

We notice that an animated but good natured
discussion is in progress in some of the Repub-
lcan journals of Cayuga County touching the
nominations for the Assembly of 1891. One
of the newspapers which have taken part IN
the discussion is "The Port Byron Chronicle"
which lately remarked that If Auburn thinks
it would be wise to push man to the 'front.'
for Assemblymah and thus destroy time
honored custom, let her 60 ahead; she would
hear something drop in the future, that's all"
To this 1.-THE Auburn Bulletin" replies in effect
that the Republican politics OF Cayuga County
is characterized by three time -honored customs.
These are first, that an Assemblyman once
elected shall be renomnated; second, that a
nomination for the Assembly shall not be gwen
70 an Auburn man; and third-although " The
Bulletin" comedies that this custom is not 50
faithfully followed as the other two-that the
candidate shall be a graduate of the Board of
Supervisors.
In the contest in Cayuga County the Repuo-
lcans of the rest of the State take only the
general interest which they naturally take IN
ANYTHING which relates TO their party IL Is
none of their business, since they believe In
local self government, and besides they realize
that their Cayuga brethren are abundantE able
10 take care of themselves. But since two OF
the three time honored customs referred to
prevail in a great many counties besides Cayl-
"a. they deserve tho consideration which other
wise they would not command. They are Gus
toms more honored in the breach than IN the
observance for the simple reason that they
operate 70 prevent the best men from beng
nlaced In nomination. Let us not be misunder-
stood. An Assemblyman who has served ono
term at Albany deserves another, provided he
has served his district and the State faithfully
and well. and has developed al aptitude for
lawmaking So. too. service in the Board OF
Supervisors Is an admirable preparation for
service in the Legislature. But the trouble
with these time honorcd customs Is. as we have
indicated that they are used to set aside the
only rule which guides In the choice OF can
ddatoS. That rule Of course, is get the best.
whether the man selected is an old member or
a new member. whether he has or has not
served his county in the Board of Supervisors
All other claims" in a county ought always
10 WELD 10 tho claims of brains and trnsfwor'h
ness. The time honored custom of allowing
the north end of a county 10 name an Assem-
hlyman for two years and then transferring Tho
honor TO tho south end or the east end, or the
west end, may be agreeable 10 those respective
ends, bun il cannot bo counted upon 10 work
well for the country at large. still less for the
public at lasge. Let IN AsSemhlyman he given
a second or third term if tho county cannot do
better-and generally it cannot-hut not other
wise The function of the lawmaker for an
empire like New-Yorlt is ono of the most i'm
portant that can be conceived of, andno county
which has a proper conception Of what IT owes
10 the common veal will fail to ignore time
honored customs when it finds that they stand
in the way of the selection of the best men for
the Legislature.
The time is rapidly approaching for the hold
ing of the Assembly conventions. The session
of 1891 will he one of unusual Importance,
since the members elected will not only h.
called upon 10 make laws. but 10 choose
United States Senator 10 succeed Mr. EvartS.
1t would be public misfortune if any OF these
conventions should he led by n time-honorcd
custom not to make the best use of its oppor-
tunlties.