New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-05
THE REPTBLICIN STATE CLUE.

An important step was taken ut Albany ycstcr-
day in the incorporation Of the Republican State
Club of the State Of NewYork toward bringing
into practical cohesion and working form all the
elements Of the Republican party Of the State
which favor reform In the methods of party
management and oppose the prostitution OF the
machinery Of organization to the uses OF self
appointed and irresponsible leaders for purposes
of self-aggrandizemcnt. The need Of such an or
ganlzation has been apparent for n long time,
and spasmodic and sporadic efforts have hereto
fore been made in that direction. The two at
tempis to reorganze the party in this city under
the auspices Of the Committee Of Thirty on the
one hand and the Anti Machine Republicans on
the other though working at cross-purposcs and
antagonizng each other 10 some extent had
really common purpose. They were simultane-
Gus manifestations and outgrowths Of general
revolt against the system and the methods by
which few active and energetic self seekers
had gained control Of the party organization and
machinery and habitually used them for corrupt
and selfish ends In the course of events which
followed each other In rapid succession after the
two movements were set on foot 1t appeared
that, notwithstanding the overwhelming prcpon-
dcrancc in the party Of the advocates Of reform,
the BOSSES" Were so strongly intrcnchcd. were
50 united and compact. and had wi;hal such ad-
vantagcs in the resources Of power corr'iptly
gained and their long experience In political in
irigucs. that their overthrow was a much more
serious task than had been supposed.
The succession Of events during the late ses-
sion Of the legislature by which IT was made
TO appear with startling distIncincss that one
man with no official responsibility whatever was
able through his hold upon the machinery OF
party organization 10 obstruct the VIII and al
most defeat absolutely the avowcd purpose ~
the overwhelming majority Of the party. served
70 emphasize the situation while demonstrating
with sin more clcarncss the magnitude II the
task The lesson 81 experience In the city and
the State was plain 1t was easy 10 see that
numbers, however great II unorganzcd. undiscl-
plined and incohcrcnt. might easily be over
matched by n small. but compact. thoroughly
organized and wcll-disciplincd force Of practical
politicians fighting desperately for what Is TO
them no barren ldcaliiy. but n very concrete fact.
their own means 81 subsistence: for sclfprcscr-
walton. In such circumstances men fight dcs.
pcratcly And This is precisely the situation
which the great mass Of the Republican voters
Of the city and State. who believe IN and love
their party and have an honest pride In lis rec
ord have had 10 confront. Conscious II their
superiority In numbers. they have been made
painfully aware that their lack Of cohesion and
organization Of common mcctirsplacc and
basis Of union. and Of the enthusiasm. determine
ton and fixty ~ purpose which result there
from. has put them at disadvantage.
The newly incorporated club meets these con
dltions and answers the need. Its purpose L..
very briefly and plainly stated, ''to promote
"pcrmancnt good government in the State If
New York by maintaining and psrpciuaiins the
'fundamcnlal principles II the Republican party.
land 10 dnusc among the masses Of Repub
"lican voters Of the State proper sense OF indi-
"vilual responsibility for the party's organized
action" In this last clause Is The key 10 the
situation, and the kernel Of the whole matter.
When the masses Of Republican voters are awak-
ened 10 a sense of individual responsibility for
the pariys action there will be no danger that
POSSES" will control. or that their methods VIII
| find favor The basis Is broad and catholic. the
purpose undcniably patriotic and wise, and the
list OF incOrpOraiors, containing, as 1t does. the
names Of prominent and influential Republicans
from all parts Of the State. including the Repub
lican Mayors Of cities who were elected upon re-
form platforms, gives the assurance Of Il future
of usefulness to he party and the people in the
| field ii has chosen.