New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-14
HAS REORGANIZATION 4 F4LUREf

Two years ago the Republicans OF this county
undertook reorganization Of the party. There
was no oucstion as TO the need Of II. That was
conceded by everybody and denied by none
Indeed that was the most remarkable feature
or the movement: that while the necessity for
roorpanization grew out Of the abuses which had
been fostered by the political freebooters VINO
were in control Of the party machinery anu
while the ostensible purpose was TO GUST the
managers and throw down the machine, the
latter made no opposition, but were as ioud rs
any one else for change. The movement was
in the nature Of a popular uprising. Inc local
MANAGEMENT had become so corrupt ana WORTH
less. and the proofs of its treachery ana double
dealing were so patent, that no man had the
temerty to stand up for or defend 1t. Hence
came the singular spectacle which presented II
self to the political observer of that period or
practical unanimity in n great party as 10 the
necessity for reforming notorious abuses III lis
own organization, with the very men under
whom the abuses had grown up, the men who
had been their beneticiaries and lived by them
among the front ranks of the reformers 1t was
an anomalous situation For really so long as
these men were enrolled among the rcformers,
and TO some extent intrlsted with the work OF
carving out the reform, there nothing to
reform; nothing to work upon. The machine
had vanished There was nothing left for the
Anti-Nachlne Republicans TO fight. For all the
time they were denouncing the corruptions and
abuses of the old machine the authors Of them
were doing the same thing and taking an cx-
trcmely active part in devsing remedies and
initiating an era of reform
1t would do no good to dwell upon the differ
hi.b
equally sincere in their desire for change in
leaders and revolution in methods. Those
differences seemed at the time to threaten pcrna-
nent disruption of the party in this county
That they did not SO result was due entirely to
the fact that the main purpose OF the Com
mittee of Thirty and of the rival AntiMachine
organization was the same. They differed only
as to methods of procedure The objective point
OF each was a reorganization Of the party upon
such lines as would take the machinery of party
management out of the hands Of men who had
VIGOROUSLY and hagrantly abused their trust for
selfish gain and personal profit and commit 1t
to the keeping of men OF known integrity ana
high character who had the confidence Of the
entire party What followed is fresh In memory
and need not be rccted. Suffice it TO say that
the Republicans who were instrumental in set
ting on foot what was called the Ani-Machine
movement upon finding that the rival organza-
ton of the Committee Of Thirty was more in
favor with the majority OF the party In the
county and the State made graceful surren-
der and merged themselves with the latter. No
question has been raised as to their sincerity in
the original undertaking or their absolute loyal
ty to the party as reorganizcd under the auspices
Of the Committee Of Thirty. There is at this
moment but one Republican organization in this
county.
But this organization contains precisely the
same elements as the Old one, against which
there was such an uprising in 1888. The re-
organization which followed that uprising was
intended TO mean something. What was It's in
tent? Were any leaders obnoxious: -Obnoxious
as well to the Committee Of Thirty TO the
Anti-Alachine movement! Who were they?
Have they been deposed? Or are they now in
control Of the party machinery, Just as they were
before the party in this county, with absolute
nnanimity. to which they themselves did not
dare take exception. condemned them? Who is
running the Republican party of this county
today if 1t is not the same discredited gang
against which the party rcvolte1 in 1893: These
are questions which the Republicans of this
county-the Republicans who made the demon
stration Of two years ago and were in dead
earnest about twill do well 10 consider some
what seriously. Did Reorganization reorgnnize:
Did Reform reform: Reorganization and re-
form meant, If they meant anything change
in leadership and in methods that would com
mand the confidence of the party viii any one
who considers the events Of the late campaign,
the action Of the County Committee and the
shameless confession Of Mr. Lauterbach that
the committee was so dstrusted that il was
financially helpless, say that the uprising Of
1893 has been other than failure:
| But the most serious question for Republicans
is whether they are so easily discouraged as 10
make no effort to retrieve the mistakes Of the
past With all the apparent differences that
grew out Of the attempt Of 1903, and all the
disturbances that seemed then TO threaten the
party, the fact remains that more than 10000
Republicans enrolled themselves at that time
in the two rival organizations. The causes for
that uprising exist to-day, and II they were force
full and effective then in stirring devotion and
arOusing unselhsb patriotism, are no less so
now The machine politicians are In control
now just they were two years ago Their
power for mischief Is greater 4 full vote nj the
Republican primaries will turn them out. and
put In their places men who have the conf
dence Of the party. Shall We have a complete