New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-15
THE NEW POLITICAL MACHINE.

The persons who have taken control OF the
Good Government clubs combination nave lSsueu
an Address 10 the People from when II appears
that they are earnestly endeavoring to construct
a compact and dcspotic political machine. there
has not been much doubt on the subject since
they nut a straight ticket in the field but noDou!
has felt quite sure that they might not make d
disingenuous attempt TO conceal their purpose
when they got ready TO issue the address WHICH
they were known to be preparing 1t Is to the'r
credit that they frankly disclose the ambition
which they cherish Having convinced them
selves that there is room for a new municipal
marty and that they are exactly fitted TO direct
,ts activities il was desirable from every point OF
view that they should make their opinions ana
intentions known without unnecessary delay. IL
woud not haze suited their disposition to call
their acts ana belongings 10y familiar names
and they were not bound 10 do so. To set form
the facts Enthusiastically was enough ana ms az
It seems TO us they have done; not merely by
nominating candidates and issuing a puDhc
proclamation corresponding to the customary
platform, but by establishing political mead
quarters, engaging stump speakers ana Deglh-
ming an eager search for recruits. II may he
that the machine which they are thus diligently
fabricatng will not 20, but they evidently think
II will They admire II very much. and are hope
fully waiting for the trial trip.
Perhaps not everybody will agree with us In
characteriZng This enterprise OF the Good Gov
eminent clubs as ingenious and straightforward.
II may be said that persons in the very act OF
forming a political party and building ma
chine for its use ought not 10 have been quite
so savage in their denunciations of party ma
chinery But Of what use is it TO be thin skinned
and 10 audible? The Good Government man
ayers in this part Of their address were not re-
ferring TO their own machine, but TO other ma
chimes which they do not approve OF. Ihey OBJ
yiousy thought that 1t would be waste Of time
70 explain the difference between old machines
which nominate candidates and open head
quarters and conduct vigorous campaign ana
fry as hard as possible to win, and a new ma
chine which merely dominates candidates and
opens headquarters and conducts vigorous
campaign and tries as hard as possible 10 win.
We think they were right 1t would have been
a waste of time Those who cannot see the dis
tinction at n glance would have been just as
| blind after the most elaborate explanation II
seems 10 us perfectly characteristic OF the Good
| Government managers 10 assume as matter OF
| course that nobody will confuse their opinion
| of themselves with their opinion OF other people.
There Is another quality in The Good Govern
ment address which admire Though ex-
! tremey severe in its condemnation OF all po-
| ltical machines except the one from which IL
emanates IL is considerable and merclfnl toward
individuals. 1t explicitly declares that the Good
Government managers do not impugn the mo
tivcs Of the Committee of Fifty or even The
Chamber OF Commerce. Nothing could be falrrr
than that There Is no telling what might have
| happened II w. Harris Roome Isaac ii. Klein
j. Noble Hayes and Alfred Bishop Mason had
impugned the motives Of Charles Stewart Smith