New-York tribune., 1895-09-12
THE FIGHT STILL on.


THE FIGHT STILL on.
With the control Of the Republican County
Committee and all the machinery OF the organ
izatiop in their own hands. and considerable IA
miliarity with the methods Of Tammany in the
conduct O., elections, 1t would have been strange
indeed If the Platt faction, led by Mr.. Lauter'
bach. had not secured an apparent majority al
tho primaries on Tuesday evening The result Is
very much such as WIS anticipated by inteli-
gent observers. who realized the enormous ad
vantages on the side Of the faction in control OF
tho comfy organization, though by no means SO
unfavorable to the Reform cause as many were
led TO fear on account Of the absence OF so man!
Rerublicons from town and the Indifference or
forcetfuness Of others. The Platt-Lauterbach
factions are undoubtedly claiming more than
thev will, be found entitled to, though when the
final summing up is reached it will very likely APP
pear that they have by trckery, sharp pracuce
and downright cheating succeeded by safe
margin But until the conventions TO whlch
delegates were elected Tuesday night have met
and acted, the actual truth OF the SITUATION VIII
not no definitely known The causes which led
up TO the results Of Tuesdays primaries may be
easily traced to mistakes in methods manage
who were animated by a sincere purpose, and
who have given generously OF their energies
their means and their time for its accomplish
ment. 1t would not be profitable to discuss
these causes now But there is comfort in the
reflection that the friends of Reform are not OF
the sort of stuff to be discouraged at repulse
on the skirmish line They will profit by the
lessons Of experience, and with increased ardor
keep up the fight.
Meantime let us look over the field and see
what are really the losses and the gains Every
body knows, Of course, that the chief signlncahce
| attaching TO what seems to be an advantage 10
the Platt- t-Iauterbach faction Is that 1t VIII De
| claimed as the first outward and visible sign OF
A reaction within the ranks Of the party wnlcn
contributed most TO the Municipal Reform move
ment last year: reaction against that move
ment, and against the Reform so far as IL mas
proceeded The manifest elatiOn OF the ram
many organs and their eagerness to exaggera'e
It's importance indicate with sufficient clearness
that such is their Interpretation OF II. NOR as d
matter of fact do the practical politicians who
worked the machinery and played the game
make any secret Of the fact that they give II the
same construction. The men who accomplished
the result are those who have not only opposed
the present municipal administration win the
utmost yrulence, but who antagoniZed al ever!
step every measure of municipal reform whlch
was proposed during the last session OF the STATE
LEGISLATURE Their attitude was well known
then. From that their present purposes may
be readily inferred. They represent the reac-
tlonary faction in the Republican party. Is 1t
then the logic Of the situation, assuming that
this faction has actually achieved all that IL
claims in the results of the prmarles-is IL the
logic of the situation that majority OF the
Marty has grown tired Of or disgusted with, the
task of oyerthrowing Boss rule and putting great
municipal reforms in operation: Who be-
| eves 1t!
| Nav. more Who believes that this reactionary
| faction even IL 1t has actually accomplished all
that II claims by such means as 1t has used, VIII
dare announce its purpose openly and take the
| field without disguise as the opponent OF Re-
| form? The chief work Of the Republican party
this fall, II 1t would be consistent with itself
| and It's record and honest in the fulfilment OF
| its promises is to elect Legislature which will
| 60 forward and complete the work left unin
| ished last year. 1t must choose candidates Tor
| the Senate and Assembly as 10 whose action III
| this regard there can be no shadow OF doubt
| And however much the Platt-Lauterbach faction
may desire a different class Of legislators, they
will hardly dare take the risk Of forcing them
upon the party. For the feeling upon this point
| is no less intense now than 1t was last April
when our esteemed contemporary The New
York Press" speaking Of certain machine nom
nations said If their grip upon the local ma
"chinery in their districts is so strong as 10
make 1t impossible TO prevent their rcnomina
..tion. then Republicans ought 10 vote for thciI
democratic opponents, good or bad AS be-
tween n bad Republican and bad Democrat
"the safer thing for a Republican to do Is ia
| tyote for the bad Democrat" This may not be
| good party doctrine, but our contemporary clear
ly foreshadowed the view which great many
Republicans would take In The event Of such
nominations for the Legislature as the Platt
Iauterbach faction might make If the leaders
should insist upon reacionary policy
So the Reform element In the party has really
lost nothing Of serious consequence by the re
suits Of Tuesdays primaries. 1t has, on the
contrary gained experience and has learned, i
| is to be hoped. something as TO the need OF con
stant vigilance. And the fight for Reform anc