New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-06
WHAT REGULARITY MEANS.
soME OF THE QUESTIONS AFFECTING
LOCAL REPUBLICAN DIFFERENCES.
ARGUMENTS MADE BY THE ANTIMACHINE AID
voCATEs BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE
OF THE STATE COMMITTEE.

When the subcommittee appointed by the Repub
lcan State Committee announced that the hearing OF
contest for regularity In this county would not be
publfc. IL assumed by the counsel OF the Re'
publican Organization of the city and County OF
New-York that nothing would be given 10 the press
They were consequently surprised TO learn late In
the evening that copies of the chief argument OF
the Bliss side, that made by John Sabine smith,
in the hands OF the reporters Tor pubhcation
The arguments Of Mr.. Montagninl and those of the
other counsel Mr. Grasse. Mr. Gedney and eX-Judge
Angel were oral and stenographer was al
lowed in the room the advocates OF the Mholland
side could only give to the newspaper men few
scattered points from memory. The result was an
injustice the set forth This will readily
be from a comparison of what is given below
and what appeared print the morning after the
hearing.
Mr.. Montagnini's effort is considered one of ex'
ceptionai logical strength and clear presentation
Judge Gedney spoke excellently; Mr.. Grasses adj
dress of the best that he ever delivered.
and ex-Judge Angels brief speaks for itself Mr..
Montagnini in discussing the Brookheld committees
claim Of regularity. made. among others, the fol-
lowing Introductory points:
The RepgblcSn 9rganzation Of the city soy and NJ,
claim for recognition upon the broad principles
publican electors OF this community; that it came
into existence when there other Republican
efficient representative and trustworthy organza
ton of Republicans in the county, and that 10 1t
party in local; State and National elections.
orno T eXpTessV 1sced by heir Counsel Mr.
Smith upon the narrowest technical distinction or
regularity and succession. asserted to have been OBJ
tanned by strict compliance with the written con-
stitutlon. and to be in alleged accordance with as
We are told that Mr., Brookhed's County Com
mittee is the body which. reorgarized and con
tinuinG under revised constitution has been the
recognized legal authority in Republican politics
and holds by right of succession all the power and
authority that at any time belonged to the old
recognized by State conventions for years as the
c S21es ana IN GI"s sga when on
antagonists covet is of no intrinsic value 1t Is
body Sgsn MeH the vast majority Of RepGbcans
otherwise organized, when no essential differences
of form and technical bubbles cannot avail before
the express determination OF majorities.
ESSENTIALS OF REGULARITY
Party regularity is not political asset which
once acquired may be passed successors or
assigns by form of conveyance 1t does not at
tach as an appurtenant to the records or archives
any particular body. 1t is not like that spiritual
succession known TO ecclesiastcs. where. by the
laying of hands and breathing of PRAYERS. power
and dominion conferred in perpetuity. NO.
attends alone a commission from the people ana
is distinguishing mark of sanction ana represent
tation. 4 political organization is regular when
II responds to and enuncates the Will OF It's CON
stituents and is recognized as so doing by orean
cations having purposes in common a Republican
organization Is regular When and only W It II
can prneipie5 and has that 4G
cannot, therefore be conferred by a body upon
itself it must come from outside itself The cry Of
10 renIezvous kna1es and herd fools for their
The only regniary that true ever
and agreement with those economic and huinah-
pary aHs or WheTe the and
preccdents of regularity when Wings united with
slavery and rebellion persisted? What became OF
regularity when Conkng combined M the Gt htne
and excluded every regular from the State Con
years Of neciency and treachery the disaster
Of 1892 and the disgrace OF 1893 where DO Patter-
sUn TVS to sknk Behind the shield Of regary
from the chastisement Of an outraged party?
THE PARTY IN THIS CITY.
Previous to 1884 the organization Of the Repub'i-
can party Of this city was represented In Its Cen.
tra Committee. We viii not 90 into the history OF
the party beyond that year.
Beginning in 1888 and consummated in 1884. re-
organization was undertaken resulting in the adcp-
ton Of a new constitution. which, with some moI!h-
cations was practically that which existed at least
until January g. 1894. Analogy will be attempted
between that reorganization and the one alleged
TO have been lately made by the Committee OF
strki2g and vital differences The Republican
County Committee constitution of 1888 Is PRECEDED
by a slight sketch Of is history the secohu para
graph OF which IS follows:
The Central Committee with the consent OF the
State Convention appointed committee CONSISTING
Of eighteen members for the n purpose 81
Republican County Committee. and the Assembly
ton and the primary depository Of political power
Note that this organization was undeftsken %tsn
vision-of the state Convention. The reorgan zatI9n
NOR any appeal or question as to It's regularity
raised In every respect. therefore, 1t compiled with
the people recognition. both before and after. by
the State party organization. Even under tneSe
there can be precedent as the question OF regu-
larity was simply never raised. II may be true
oIfhn oh We do
as attached to the old Contra! Committee attached
inittee then created But +; was not because the
old Central Committee empowered or directed the
making OF the new organization. but solely because
that new organization had the approval Of the Re
publican electors of New York City and was ad-
United to fellowship by the state Conventl0n II
was nevertheless a new organization-not The ola
one under new as af% aad 1Toba
ton. The previous unit Of ORGANIZATION seems 70
from the who.e body Of Republicans. The new
plan. by taking in the entire electorate OF dis
ton OF that entire body. formed a new unit OF or
, ganizaton. and thereby formed an entirely new
party organization.
THE NATURE OF REORGANIZATION.
This Illustration shows clearly what reorganiza-
ton u.s. In politics It is equivalent or should be-
TO remaking 1t Is not the putting on of a new suit
of clothes but the upbuiding OF new flesh and
blood Where an old organization exists first. re-
organizing is the dsintegratiOn Of the old organ'za
ton. and then the combining OF new units into
a new body The individual voters OF new organ-
zation may be compared to bricks OF a structure
that has previously stood You take down me oid
new house. When the Committee Of Eighteen TOOK
down the old structure Of the Central Committee
organization and with that and other material
built up a new organization represented by the
County Committee it was new political structure
accepted because unopposed -,
The Committee OF Thirty undertook the same
work They did So however, without the consent
or knowledge of any authority beyond that Of the
County Committee OF 1893 The Republican or
ganIzation then existing had been. stated made
By direction OF the State party given In convention
and committee and had been accepted by that party
and approved by the people. But the Committee or
Thirty obtained consent from the state Conven-
ton nor did they submit the question Of reorgdni,