New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-01
THE CASE OF 1BRAHdM GRTBER.

TIE CASE OF ABRAHAM GRUBER.
1t would probably be difficult to find more
active and energetic friend Of Good Government
on the whole extent of Manhattan Island than
Abraham Grnbcr. Good Government, that Is. as
Mr. Grubcr understands it. Perhaps. upon re-
Election. pretty much everybody IS In favor of
Good Government and hardly anybody is op
posed to it. 1t would certainly be difficult to
find any one who would admit that he desired
bad government The existing differences on
the subject arise, no doubt. from divergent
views as to what really is Good Government
Tp in East Fourtecnth-st. there is decided
conviction that Good Government IS Only attain
able by the continuance of the same instrument
talitics which have given us III" sort OF govern
mcnt we have had for many years win boSS
to keep the machinery running ana apporuoh
the places under II. They differ in this respect
from the 1.A 900 voters who rose mp last No
vembcr saying they did not think it was good
and were tired of il. The East Fourteenh-St.
people however. believe that Tammany Hall Is
rs a matter of fact a Good Government club.
and have no desire to join any other. ON III"
other hand there are Republicans probably
more than cnou..h To fill all the offices in sight at
any one timc-whoSc idea of Good Government
is practically the same. except that the machin-
cry should be run by an irresponsible Republic
can Boss who should apportion all the places 10
Republicans of his own choosing.
Mr. Abraham Grubcr belongs to the latter
class Being that kind of Good Government
man. it seemed natural and proper for him -
enroll himself in Good Government Club Il. BE
ing simplc-mindcd and sincere. we'll as active
,l,,, Il mai
the avowcd hostility of the club to the existing
system of municipal government could he car
ricd 50 far that it's continuance would bc OPP
posed after that eminent advocate of Good GOV
eminent. Mr. Thomas c. Plat. was placed 1T
the head of it in the room Of Mr.. Richard
Croker For to Mr. Grubcr's mind II was clear
that the substitution Of Mr. Plau for Mr. Croker
with all that such Il change implied, would ac-
complish all that the most urgent advocate OF
Good Government could desire II was his in
tense longing for Good Government. with Mr.
Plat conducting il and parcclling oui III" places
under IT, that led Mr.. Grlbcr 10 rush with All
the fiery arlor Of his nature into Good Govern
ment Club Il. From his blissful dream OF Il
career Of the highest usefulness 10 the cause "i
Good Government under Mr. Platts direction.
Abraham Gruber was rudcly wakcnel. II must
have been with a sinking heart that h. discov-
cred disposition on the part Of the club To OPP
pose Mr. Pla,ts far-reaching plans of reform.
This disposition Mr. Gruber. in whom the spirit
Of inquiry was now thoroughly reused. traced 10
the inSidious influence Of the Rev. D1. Park
hurst. whom Mr. Gr1Ibcr knew 10 IN man of
evil habits and perncious example. In those
circumstances what did Grubcr do: Many
man similarly situated would have rushed i'm
petuously into q club meeting. arraigncl The or
sanization for It's insincerty and hypocrisy. ana
demanded back his initiation fee ana dues. on
penalty Of lawsuit. That was not Abraham
Gruber's way He continued 10 pay. without
ever attending meeting. and Is now a. he
proudly remarks-siX months ahead on dues:
noble record But he exposed ParkhrrSi 10 The
Legislature and the world in n printed pamphlet
Trouble ensuel. Good Government Club
rose up, as one ight say, 'on lis ear. Anu
although Grubcr. according 10 his own state
mcnt has never attended a meeting OF The clnb
and consequently could not be considered. strict
IL speaking, Il nuisance. they sen. him lorna!
and official request to resign with a reading be-
tween the lines that the club did actually con
slider him c0nstructivcr a nuisance. The emo
mistook the character Of Abraham Grubcy If II
supposed an invitation TO resign would move
that gentleman from his indomitabl" purpose
and fixed resolve particularly when the invita-
ton was unaccompanicd by the return 81 SIX
months dues paid in advance Mr.. Grubcr says
he will not resign. II makes no dfcrcnc" with
him how unanimous the club is in lis request
that he shculd 90. He is quite rs unanimous III
his determination 10 sta. Thus the matter stood
AT last accounts. 1t is not too much 10 say that
the relations between Abraham Grubcr ANA
Good Government Club Il are strained No on"
can tell where it will end. Ordinarily member
Of club receiving request 10 resign. with
broad intimation that the club considered him
nuisance would quietly withdraw. Bur Mr.
Gruber doubtless looks upon ii more in the light
of high principle than of mere club etiquette.
He is the only statesman Of any distinction who
has not broken faith with Mr. Plat. and as such
is one Of the most picturesque figures in current
politics. The public mind can hardly he SAID to
be as yet seriously disturbed by the encounter.
but the outcome Of it will be watched with the
greatest interest