New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
TO-DAY'S REUNION.

Tho weekly reunions in this city Of Republican
Stote Senators and Assemblymen who find it
necessary to consult Mr.. Plat as often as once
a week as to what legislation is needed to carry
ont his ideas of reform have grown thin in num-
hers. but not vet fallen into innocuous desuetudc
II is understood that there will be one to-day
4 small and select gatherng-at the usual place
We take leave to lay before them one or two sus-
gestions,
And. first. we desire to call their attention to
the fact that this is large town very looSe!
governed: that under the existing police system
10 the defects in which their attention mas mere
,ofore been called, the laws are not rgdly en-
forced on Sunday. and as consequence Gehue-
men from the country are exposed to temptation.
Il has been something more than whispered mat
on account of these temptations, and the sus-
ccntibility TO them of statesmen who are not en-
,irelv superior TO the frailues of poor human
nature It has sometimes happened that 'he use
fitness Of the legislature has been impaired by
the absence from its deliberations of some emil
nent lawgiver who has unbent himself with so
much zeal that he was obliged to go INTO retire
ment for several days before he could regain
wholesome equilibrium for his stomach or 'he
natural level of his head. There are objections
to this sort Of thing originating In the DOMAIN
Of morals, which 1t is hardly worth while 10 urge
upon the superior minds of statesmen VINO hapit
ually dismiss such considerations as sicNy
carnations from the brains Of gang OF REFORM
ers" but II occurs to us that viewed pureiy H.
a business question the practice OF eetuhs 30
drink on Sunday as to disable one for duty for
the rest Of the week is objectionable IL ISM lar
10 the State which pays for the statesman scr
vices. or to his constituents who have lhtrusteu
their interests to his keeping. And there may DC
times when it would have the effect to stop 'he
wheels of legislation for lack of quorum. Ihat
would involve unnecessary expense 10 the tA-
MAYER We hope then, that no offence VIII Dc
taken If we mildly suggest That the statesmen
who have come down from Albany TO imbipe
wisdom at the fount be little careful about lnl'
bibing other things.
Another thing If we have rightly understood
the purpose Of these Sunday gatherings, II mas
been to promote harmony in the Repuohcah
party OF the State by keeping in close touch win
Mr. Platt who has been deyotlng all his energies
now for many months to the hcrculean task oil
keeping the party together against the united
efforts Of Governor Morton Mayor Strong the
Committee Of Seventy and $4,000 voters TO dis
rupt and destroy it altogether. If 1t be cohccdeu
that the success and perpetuity OF the party are
absolutely dependent upon the Legislature Delhs
in entire harmony with Mr.. Plat, and the legis-
latjon of the session being in exact accord win
his wishes and plans, the purpose was certainly
nraiscworthv But it seems to us that these
statesmen have too readily taken that for grant
ed. We can easily see how, N view or Their
relations to Mr.. Plat reaching back to that
centlemans contributions to their campaign e1-
nenses Of the State Committees funds by his
personal check they may have erected him into
an Overshadowing importance TO when he IL
hardly entitled. If they are only actuated by
sense of gratitude for past favors 1t Is not mex
plicable that they should subordinate all other
considerations to that one. But practical poll
ticians are usually 0bservant OF existing condi-
lions and prudently provident for their own
future From this point Of view these gentle
men seem TO have overlooked certain things In
the present political situation, to which we take
| leave respectfully to call their attention.
Mr.. Platt had the opportunity to put himself
| in accord with what any one who had ordinary
powers Of observation, and was not blinded by
| selflove, could see was the prevailing and over
whelming sentiment of the voters Of this city and
| State lie did not do Il. On the contrary he put
himself and arrayed his personal following IN
opcn antagonism to il. For the last three months
he has been emphasizing his hostility to the
measures OF reform demanded by this universal
public sentiment and widening the breach be
| tween himself and followers and the mass Of the
| party. At this moment he is at odds with Gov
| ernor Morton, with Mayor Strong, with the Com
| mittee Of Seventy, under whose auspices we
elected a Republican Mayor, with the bestknown
and most influential Republicans in the city and
State. and with all citizens Of this town who de
| sire delivorance from the abominable system Of
| misgOvernment under which they have been OPP
pressed More than that, the entire press Of the
city with single exception is arrayed against
him-even the newspaper which he counted on
controlling having been driven by his unreason-
able exactlons and fatuous folly TO abandon him.
Is it possible that all these are In the wrong and
! Mr.. Platt alone is right as TO the duty Of the
Legislature and the nature Of the legislation
which this city needs? Is 1t party harmony these
| gentlemen are seeking? Have they observed the
| number and the character Of the men against
| whom Mr.. Plat has set up his individual will
| Have they contrasted them with Mr.. Platt's fol
| lowing?
On the whoe-and with this suggestion we
drop the suh1ect-would not the stateamsn who