New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
HOW ABOUT THE PRIMARIESP

HOW ABOUT THE PRIMARIES?
In letter TO the Editor, printed in another
column Dr. f. 4. Bottome, of No. IL West One
hundre,l-and twenty -sixth-st., expresses wha has
no doubt been in the minds of great many Re
publicans relative TO their own duty at the COM
ing primaries and how they can best discharge
It. This letter is one of many of a similar char
acter which have come to this office within the
last few days. We hail it as very encouraging
sign that Republicans like DR.. Bottome, who
have not been in the habit Of attending the
party primaries for the reason that their atten-
ton has not been called to their importance, are
beginning to inquire with some earnestneSs now
when they do attend them they can make their
attendance and their votes effective for the caus"
of municipal reform and the defeat of the con-
spirators who are aiming at the control OF the
Republican County Committee with reactionary
designs 1t is not easy TO give specific answer
10 the question propoundei The Information
sought is. how the voter in any election district
who wishes TO express his opposition TO the pres
ent Lauterbach control Of the County Commit
tee and his desire for change can do H. How,
in other words can he find out whether the Anti
Machine men in his district have agreed upon
list Of officers for the district association ana
delegates to the Assembly District Convention,
which will eleci delegates 10 the County Con-
vention the last named being the body which
chooses the County Committee:
BY this process it will be perceived the indi-
vidual voter is distant by two REMOVES from
active participation in the choice OF the County
Committee He votes for delegates to a body
which will choose other delegates to the conven-
ton which takes final action. To effect his pur-
pose he needs to he sure that his district deIe-
gates are in accord with himself in the first
place and then that they will in their turn choose
DELEGATES TO the County Convention who will
carry ont his purpose. 1t may be said, in pass
jng that this feature of the election district sys
TEN adopted in the last reorganization is yet in
the stage of experiment. And its success IS by
no means assured. That. however, need not be
discussed at this time. The present question is
how the voter IN any election district can make
his influence felt at the primaries And the an
swer is that he cannot make il fetthat is, he
cannot vote intelgently and effectively unless
he has some acquaintance with his fcllow-Re-
publcans il his district and has either con
tributed 10 some previous concert Of action on
their part in the selection OF delegates or learned
from those in whom he has confidence what con-
other answer 10 the question propounded.
The theory of the election district system, as
we understand it. IS that the Republicans in each
district will make an effort to know each other
and work together the election district being
the unit Of the organization. 1t is not ques
ton, as we have already said. whether It can be
carried into successful practical operation. The
active politicians, who are in politics for busi-
ness and for commercial purposes, fall naturally
together and easily combine. Their opponents
lack the cohesion furnished by a common selfish
motive, and fail to appreciate the necessity for
cooperation until after the traders and Bosses
have perfected their plans, when it too often
happens that the danger cannot be averted. To
answer OH: correspondents inquiry specifically
we should have TO publish the names of the Anti
Machine candidates for delegates in 1872 dis
trcts, which is manifestly impossible. The best
we can do is TO advise all Republicans 10 bestir
themselves in their OWE districts find out. If
possible. who can be depended upon TO oppose
the Lauterbach conspiracy, and vote for them
at TUESDAYS primaries This is the plain duty
Of all Republica Is who take an interest in the
preservation of the good name Of the party and
are opposed to committing the control Of its
organization in this county 10 a parcel of con
spirators whom the party dare not trust with
money enough to defray ordinary campaign ex-
penses
The Tribune Is no: overconfdent Of success
against the cunnngy devised schemes of the
Lauterbach conspirators But r has advised
from the beginning. and continues TO do SO, that
all possible means TO defeat them should be ex-
haused within the present organization, not
wlthstanding the great odds against the Anti
Machine Republicans growing out of the present
Lauterbach control. If then fraud should APP
pear TO be triumphant. the duty Of the great
mass Of Republican voters in this county who
have once put themselves on record against
Bosses and Bossism will be plain. Submission
to result obtained by fraud is not to be
thought Of