New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-08


became apparent. The County Committee assem-
bled and at once resolved that In view Of the ex-
IRENE urgency OF Mr. Palmer's canvass IL would
be desra BILE to aid him by choosing delegates VINO
should declare their loyalty TO him as soon as pos
sibe Primaries were ordered TO be held on the
second day thereafter July 25 at the very height
OF midsummer dulnees and nearly a week in adj
vance of the meeting OF the State Committee
which was TO call the convention and apportion
the representation unit by counties
SNAP CAUcUsEs SPRUNG.
The primary elections OF 1894 had been held in
the latter part of August. on notice ample
enough to bring out the vote of both the Barnes
and anti Barnes elements in the organization.
This year the anti-m.chine Republicans were
taken completely unawares and had but two days
a; the most in which to prepare for contest
The Barnes forces were. of course. warned In ad-
vance and able TO muster their full strength in
the caucuses AS matter of course. they car
red the day, and the Assembly district con-
ventions which have since met completed the
Barnes programme by choosing solid Plat del
ega ton go to Saratoga.
The complete character of the ambuscade set
by the regular" organization may be judged
from the fact that the great majority OF the del
egates acting in the various conventions. some
doing double triple duty. were almost I'M
known locally even the political mercenaries
OF Mr. Platt's clustering lieutenant. As prom
inent local Republican who heartily condemns
Mr. Barness successful effort TO take snap
Judgment at the primaries. said the other day:
IL was a delegate to the last State Convention
at Saratoga / have been active in party affairs
for many years and have been delegate In all
sorts Of local Republican caucuses ard conven-
tons Yet never even heard OF the great ma
jorty OF the men whose names ! seq In the lists
of the snap delegates They the kind or
representative Republicans, suppose. that MI
Barnes keeps hidden ordinarily under his polit-
ica coat-tails
The carrying through of the SNAP" election
scheme Of July % not unattended by serious
local opposition. The state. the new Repup-
lican newspaper. which began publication here
last month assailed most vigorously in its col
umns the underhanded and arbitrary methods
pursued by the so-caled organization leaders.
II also did valuable service in Investigating the
vote cast at the alleged primary elections. ana
demonstrating that of the lO436 Republicans IN
this city who voted for Mr.. Morton last fall FOR
Governor less than 20 per cent participated in
the delegate elections of July % The Legality
and validity OF the snap caucuses are, or
course denied by all shades Of anti-Platt ma
china Republicans. II is somewhat uncertain YET
what will be done in the way OF discredting ana
| repudiating .he work Of Mr.. Barness cut-and-
dried conventions. II there appears TO be reas,
enable probability of obtaining an lmpartidi
hearing at Saratoga a contesting delegation VIII
undoubtedly be sent 10 the state convention.
| Some of the local Republicans feel shy. however.
after last years experience about experimenting
with the tender mercies of Mr. Patts commit
| tees on credentials. 1t Is likely that mass
meeting Of Republicans will be called SHORTY 70
protest against the Barnes snap elections, ana
the future course OF the anti-machne leaders VIII
| be guided largely by the character or the re-
| Spouse made by public opinion TO this very just
and well-fOunded remonstrance
AN o1rrGRowrH OF THE BOSS SYSTEM.
| Such reckless and rulnous leadership as that
which Mr. Barnes Is permitted to indulge in In
Ia,,,o rcfv 70 no
| innate weakness and rapid decay OF Mr.. Platts
once formidable State machine. Deputed party
management like that of Barnes is the reductio
| ad absurdum OF Mr.. Platt's system OF personal
politics Mr. Barnes's efforts at political dicta-
ton like those of an awkward and unfinished pu-
| pil. dscredt the whole political school whose
principles he attempts to put in practice. As the
owner OF two local newspapers. in whose success
| or rather in whose continued publication Mr..
Platt Is understood to have pecuniary interest,";
II NAV be that the party boss cannot well aHord
| to depose his present lieutenant here. But Mr.
Barnes's leadership for four or five years past
| can scarcely commend itself even 10 Mr.. Platt as
a profitable political investment. ana its continual
ton here will inevitably invite some serious re-
| Elections on the TiOga statesman reputation LOT
| political acumer
Mr. Barnes has the nconvenient habit OF ex-
posing in all their nakedness the purely personal
and selfish aims of the Platt school OF politicians
| At the last session OF the Legislature no polder
nor more persistent lobbyist Knocked at the doors
! of committee rooms for personal legislation; YET
none obtained less at great cost OF public ex-
posture and contempt. In all his nights allke-to
| reOrganze the local police force to capture the
| patronage Of the Albany penitentary or to sad
| die upon the State unauthorized Dllls Tor useess
public printing-he openly betrayed the personal
motives behind his appeals, and yet was surprised
| to find his drafts for Republican sympathy ana
| aid unhonored Thus because he could not die
| tate all the appointments Of the Mayor, whom
| reform movement had carried into power In 1894.
| he declared war on this Republican official. and
sought to deprive him In various ways OF the APP
pointive powers conferred upon him by the city
| charter. Although the city Board OF Police Com
mssionere, with the Mayors aid was sure to be
controlled by It's Republican members. Mr. Barnes
| pushed through one branch Of the Legisla ture a
| bill robbng the Commissioners OF their power,
throwing the management OF the local police INTO
the hands of a new board 10 be chosen by the city
! Aldermen This scheme was found to contem-
plate the virtual transfer OF all authority over the
| Albany city police to Mr. Barnes himself, and 1t
never got through the second chamber
In seeking TO create new Board TO govern the
| Albany penitentiary Mr. Barnes again pursued
his tactics of trying to GUST one Republican off,
cial set of officials to make way for appointees
| OF his own His penitentiary bill became law
| but II was so amended before passage as TO make
| II comparatively innOcuous.
AN EVIL ALLIANCE FOR PROFITS.
| In the manipulation OF printing contracts Mr.
Barnes has followed the well-established machine
custom Of forming alliances. whenever conven-
| lent with political enemies. In company with
| the management Of The Argus the local DEM
ocratic organ he undertook to publish belated
| journal of the proceedings of the Constitutional
Convention of 1894. the last portions appearing
| some time In the winter and spring Of 1895. As
| the convention itself had voted its disapprova
| Of supposed contract for this printing. very
substantial claim for compensation could be ad-
vanced Yet THE Journal" and THE Argus
| struggled in combination to get bill through
| the Legislature indemnfying them for this use
| less and Unauthorized work. This effort also
failed deservedly, after drawing hot fire OF
| criticism both within the Legislature and with.
| out
The dangers and disadvantages OF such lead
ership' are only too apparent and Its destructive
] effect Is perhaps more pronounced in the secret
and arbitrary direction OF local party policy than