New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-23
REPUBLICAN, ENROLMENT.

nuhlican County Committee on Thursday night
was not different from the general expectation
II was not supposed that Mr.. Lauterbach would
relent or that the committee over which he
nrosides with such devotion and self-sacrfce
| would exhibit any evidences Of change OF
beart The business In which these gentlemen
are engaged will go right on. For, whatever
NAV be said of their purpose, and however
reprehensible their methods. they do deserve the
credit which belongs to untiring industry and
steadfast devotion TO the end in view. They
mean TO continue themselves in the control Of
the machinery of the Republican organization in
this county and to keep Edward Lauterbach at
the head Of IT, The plans adopted for the re-
enrolment and the instructions issued to the
unconstitutional subcommittee inrusted win
the work. had that end. and that only, distinctly
| and Enthusiastically in view. SO much was plain
to the weakest wayfarng man. But their zeal
carried them too far when they authorized their
Illegal subcommittee to revise the rolls and
erase from them all WHO had, according to their
standards, ceased to be Republicans. Whcn
the Republican misrepresentation MI Lauter-
bach SO vigorously denounced-called attention
TO this feature of the instructions 1t aroused SUCH
| general Indignation that Mr.. Lauterbach MIN
self smelled danger in pursuing that particular
| line of policy SO a concession was made 10
public opinion and the appearance OF fairness
by eliminating from the Lauterbach Instructions
the direction to erase the name Of any enrolled
Republican who in the judgment Of these sub
committees. had ceased TO be Republican
But this forced concession should not be per-
mitted to deceive anybody. The patent fact re-
mains that the re-enrOlment Is absolutely IN the
hands of men whose avOwed object is to reduce
instead of charging the enrolment, and whose
| purpose ii Is by any means, fair or 1oul, 10 re-
tain control Of the county organization Ihey
have been forced by the indignation when the
publication of their actual intent has reused 10
amend their procedure. All the same they WILL
| 60 far MS they are able conduct the reenrolment
upon the lines laid down in the Lauterbach IN
structions Either by erasures or additions they
will undertake to effect their purpose They
have all the machinery in their hands, and i'll
the majority of the districts can do with ii as
they please. At the hour Of this writing no pub
LEGATION has been made of the places where Re
publicans wishing to do so, can enroll them
selves. Even if lists should be handed in to the
newspaper offices ut a late hour, so that they
NAV appear in some OF the morning papers
!
will be too short for the mass of Republican
voters to avail themselves Of the information.
II only remains then for Republican voters TO
exert themselves TO the utmost today TO dis
cover where Mr. Lauterbach has permitted
them to enroll and this evening in the limited
time assigned for the purpose see TO it that their
names appear on the rolls. We hope every Re
publican will attend TO this duty. In full en-
rolment Is the only hope that now remains for
the defeat Of the Lauterbach usurpaton.
Meantime, that there may be no doubt as 10
the methods to which Mr. Lauterbach and his
associates may resort for the purpose they have
in view, we call attention to the significant cir
cumstance that Mr.. Lauterbach, in the course
of his heated and perhaps injudciOus remarks
on Thursday evening after boastng that he was
prominent and active in the reorganization
movement OF the Committee Of Thirty, did not
hesitate to say that the rolls had been padded
This is precisely what The Tribune in its oppO-
sition to the Committee Of Thirtys plan said
would be done by men Of the Lauterbach stripe,
who thrust themselves into that movement and
were permitted TO nestle into positions Of trust
for which their known character and previous
records disqualified them. The Tribune pointed
out the mistake AT the time but In the heat OF
the factional controversy its warning was disre-
garded. Mr.. Lauterbachs confession is some
what unexpected, but ii at least vndicates our
Judgment at the time in a matter which occa-
stoned acrimonious discussion We have no
| disposltion to revive unpleasant memories, but
Mr. Lauterbach's admission suggests the reason
able inference that the men who padded the
rolls of the regular" organization less than two
| years ago would no: scruple TO do the same
thing now that the hold upon power which they
then obtained is again threatened
One other admission Of Mr.. Lauterbach in his
speech on Thursday evening deserves special
consideration. 1t was that he and his commit
tee being confronted with the necessity for ex-
pending $1,000 year. were only able to raise
a maximum sum Of $3.50. "All our appeals" he
said. with touch Of pathos mingled with indg
| nation-"all our appeals 10 men. members of
"the par.y. rich beyond the dreams OF avarice
"men who should be interested in keeping up the
organization and building II up for the good Of
the party-all such appeals went UNDECIDED.
As. indeed why shouldn't they: These men
without political ambition, and only anxious for
good municipal government and the fufment
Of the partys expressed desire for municipal re
form, knew very well that Mr.. Lauterbach and
his associates were exerting themselves TO the
utmost TO defeat all measures OF reform and
discredit as far they could reform admins
tratIon Why shouldn't they refuse appeals foI
contributions to be used in defeating the pur
poses they had at heart? Mr.. Lauterbach com
plains Of 1t. He should not. And he certainly
should not make this lack Of confidence in him
self and his associates ground for being con
tinued in Office. 1t should rather be the best Of
reasons for his resignation and the election Of a
new County Committee. What the Republican
party of this county needs now more than any