The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-31

substitute or specific for lack OF votes.
when In doubt" say these enlightened
leaders, TRY the Philadelphia plan. 1t
has never been known TO fail: IL succeeds
where oil other remedies are Intellectual"
The Philadelphia plan. though novelty
in Philadelphia. Is an old story here. 1t
was tried In 1880. and discarded as useless
a few years later by the organization.
which had temporarily adopted 1t. There
arc In New York thirty Assembly districts;
there ore 1,O49 election or voting precincts.
The contemporaneous New York plan. used
by Tammany Hall and by every other
sagaciously conducted party organization
hereabouts. Is to adopt the Assembly dis
trict as the pivot Of political construction.
and to set up the head Of the Assembly
Committee as tho district leader. He chooses
his lleutenants, who look after the detailsof
election district organization. That Is the
New York plan
The Philadelphia plan starts with tho
voting district and seeks to set up 1,043 sep
arate committees. each independent OF all
others. and each having its own officers.
enrolled membership. and meeting place.
The objections to this system are practical.
In some election districts, especially in the
lower part OF town. there are either no Re-
publicans, or 80 few that they cannot COM
ply with the requirements OF the plan. 1t
would be absurd. for instance, for two Re-
publicans. acting as enrolling officers in an
election district where there are only three
Republicans. to supervise the voting OF the
odd Republican. and his choice OF n chair
man, vlce-chairman. secretary, treasurer.
and 30 on. That is the first difficulty. The
second is one Of expense. The maintenance
Of q political headquarters in an election
district involves in year an expenditure
OF about $500. For the whole 1.043 election
districts this would entail an outlay. with
incidental expenses added. OF nearly $780,
600. At the recent election the Republicans
OF New York had great difficulty In raising
$50 900 for the essential requirements OF the
campaign: and where an additional half
million could be obtained. no Republican
has yet undertaken TO Indicate.
Theoretically a call to all Republicans to
present themselves at certain designated
enrolment places, at n specified time. would
be good plan: but who would be there to
pass upon the Republicanism of those who
accepted the invitation How could IL be
determined How could the good faith OF
those presenting themselves be assured
What Union League reformer could read
the heart and fathom the convictions OF
some mischievous and careless east side
JOHNNY DUGGAN. or west side BILLY THE
KID. who might desire to have his name
inscribed as fellow partisan with CoRNE-
LIUs N BLISS or JOSEPH II. CHoATE Col.
GEORGE BLISS IL present could call down
the offender but how could he be in l.0I3
places ut once. especially IL engaged stimuli
taneously In unearthing confusing. and
confounding JOHN ERsTwHILE MILHoI-
LAND2 1t is prepostcrous. 1t couldn't
be done.
The Philadelphia plan, which ia now. 80
to speak. on the hands Of the Republican
committee OF thirty. won't work. 1t is not
applicable to the tumultuous and improved
politics OF New York. 1t may do in Phla-
delphia. where Republicans are numerous.
and where there is usually one family in each
house. and no more; but in this throbbing
metropolis. it is destitute of advantages.
except as a Requirement for the weary or
a diversion for the heavy hearted. Genial
JOHN MILHoLLAND. Col. BLISS foe. Is OPP
posed to this plan OF election district enroll
ment but his opposition won't kill 1t. Not
at ALL 1t will die OF its own impracticability
and the hardness Of the New York climate.