New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-02
~ INEFFICIENT MINORI1G.

II was lately pointed out III 'hcS' 'oI"ni''
that the minority members OF the last Legs
laturc Democratic Senators and ASscnblymen'
mazda q disrraceful record. 1t was shown that
tbov wore handed together to defeat the reform
loo;slotion of the session that their votes on
srcb LEADING measures as the original thorough
going Ballot Reform bill, the lllgh-Li~ DILL
the Local Option bill and the Prohibition
Amendment bill were cast IN the ncGitlVc IL
WAS further shown that the one meas ire OF the
session whose passage was most desired by the
saloons had in them Jealous supporters. Again,
il was shown. to complete the record, hat they
not only fought Republican measures providing
for the promotion of the public veal along non
nartisan lines but that they declined TO present
alternative bills. In a word. this DEMOCRATIC
minority was revealed rs charactcrlcSS and IN
efficient: charactcrlcSS because It's voe ana IN
Guence were thrown against worthy hlllS Oh
the first general importance presented by the
Kcpublicans; inefficient, because it originated
no substitutes to take the place OF the lcglSla-
ton against which ii arraycd itself 1t was
an anti reform minority II ana not even as
sumo to be anything else and very proper!
lis chief leader was ASScmblyman chcchai'
whose connection with the ceiling scandal con
ycted him of being an unfalthiuI public SER
want.
II is n serious Indictment and Democratic
organs would break It's force if they could. 1t
is interesting 10 notice "Thc Albany Argus
attempt 10 whitcwash these precious statesmen.
II attcmptS 10 show that the thirteen senator's
and fifty six A>scmbl ymcn had no rc>ponNi-
bity: that nothing could rightly be expected
of them. "What on GARTH are H. words
E" had the Democratic minority to do with legs
laton?' The question is based upon queer
conception Of the function of the minority.
The Argus" would appear to bee labounc IN
der the impression that This body of men. sixty
nine strong. had rcht>-minouticN always IN
s>t upon their r.eht,-but have no duties.
The fact is. however. that the Constitution, to
which this organ Of the Democracy j. fond OF
referring. makes no distinction between the OBJ
legation Of majority and minority lawmakers.
The organic law provides that members Of the
Legislature shall swear before taking their
seats that they will discharge the duties of then
Office 10 the best of their ability. i does not
proyidc that members of legislative minority
shall .hirls responsibility with the ducrv. " " hat
on earth have We - do with legislation
There are minortic, and minoritlc> liner"
is the minority which aims only Ia cmharra~S
the majority which look, AZ all measures com
ing before il from the point Of Wow OF narrow
selfish parti,anship, which meyer seeks 10 con
serve the common welfare, but ever seeks 10
make point against itS political opponents.
This is a iaCtiOuS mInorlty-it Is little better
than a nuisance. There Is another SoH OF
minority. While icaou, of lis own prcrog1-
riyc,. IT is public spirited enough 10 cooperate
with the majority for the passage of whole
some measures in which there are no politics.
When measure responding 10 a great popular
demand i, presented. it either supports
it heartily or. failing a. do that brings
forward an alternative measure cmhodying H.
own dissenting views. II is needless to add
that the mnolity of 1890 at Albany was not
of this sort
If the Hendricks High License bill had re-
ccycd the support of half dozen of the fifty
six Democratic ASscmblymcn it would have
passed But no not single member of the
minority would give his vote for that most cN-
ccllcnt measure. But says - The Argus" the
minority had 30 share. were not consulted in
any way, in the framing Of the bill. This
is peculiarly thin nonsense. The minority was
adequately represented ON the Excise Commit
tee. to which the bill was referred, and was
afforded full opportunity 10 amend il. The
trouble was that the Democrats, being con
trollcd by the rum power declined 10 take any
share in a High License bill. They preferred
10 stand we'll with the saloons Of the State
rather than with the great mass of the people
That sort of minority is a public misfortune
and public disgrace.