New-York tribune., 1891-02-21
WHA1 DO THE LEADERS SAY TO THIS

The Republicans of Syracuse and the rest oi
The county Of Onondaga received bad setback
this week They met tho enemy and the enemy
cot them. What happened is thus reported by
:. The syracuse Journal: 1.-The Republican
narty in the city of Syracuse and the county
of Onondaga in Yesterdays local elections eX-
norienoed severe reyerscs. The city with it's
normal Republican majority of about 1000
elects Republican city officers by close vote,
tho control Of the Common Council is lost and
the wards and towns return Board OF super
yisors standing 10 Democrats and II hepuo-
lcans" This is not pleasant reading tor the
Republicans Of the rest Of NeW-l ork. for' a.
though such local elections by no means deter
mine how those participating in them Will vote
when state or National issues are to the lore
vet undoubtedly they strengthen the party when
triumphs and weaken the party which Is de-
fcatcd. 1t is profitable, therciore to inquire
what lost us the election in On0ndaga, 10 the
end that the necessary steps may be taken to
nrovcnt the recurrence of an easily avoidablc
disaster.
1.-THE Journal argues that it was factiona-
ism that did the business for the Republicans.
and there is good reason 10 believe that lac
tionalism helped materially. For some time
the stanch and true Onondaga Republicans have
been seriously hampcred in their conduct Of
party affairs by the presence in their ranks oi
men who. although pretending 10 be devoted 10
EcpubicaniSm prefer rather to fight one another
tban 10 fight the Democracy. OF course these mcn
bv their divided counsclS did much to achieve
the recent defeat Bat is it not likely, never
thccss. that if Republican organization through
s No., la, hal hoo -
thorough and intelligent As it might have been
the fac-ionaStS would either have been
shamod into cooperation with their loyal breth-
ron or else would have failed to make any con
siderable impression upon the common result?
Assuming that this question admits of an Affirm
ative answer 1t suggests another, and to our
mind an exceedingly important qucstion-lS the
Republican State Committee as potent CON
scryatOr of the partyS welfare IN this great
Statc-this "piyotal' State Us the politicians
love to style i-aS it might be and ought to be?
II is customary for the committee to organize
soon after a State or National ticket is placed in
the field and work valianty until Election Day.
f. has accomplished a vast amount of good it
is scarcely too much to assert that many n hOtly
contested campaign would have ended with
Democratic success but for the assistance rem
dered by the committee. Still, the fact that the
committee does little or nothing, as rule, after
elcction-during the off mOnthS-depIiveS it OF
much Of the influence which otherwise it would
WELD. Why should not the committee meet at
prominent points in every section OF the State
at certain intervals TO study the condition Of the
party and to devise measures to advance its in
tcrcstSr Or if that plan is not feasible, why
at least should not a saaricd cOmmittecmln-at-
large or secretary be chosen whose duty it
should be to make the necessary tour OF OBJ
servation and inspection and report to the COM
mttcc for instructions? This suggestion, look
ing TO the employment by the party of such an
Official, has frequently been made, and has been
warmly indorSed by saGaciOus Republicans. 1t
is high time that it, OF something analogous to
it, was acted upon.
The history OF politics in this State during
the last few years admonishes Republicans of the
necessity of doing their best in every school
district if they would restore New-Yorl to the
Republican column, where it belongs. The
county. town and lesser committees are most
useful but there is room, there is an urgent call
for the constant services Of great central
body like the state Committee. representing all
the districts and clothed with a corresponding
authority and influence. The subject is one
which may well command the attention of Re-
publican leaders.
Our excellent friend Congressman Cummings
wants the House to tell the Car 10 respect the