New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-16
THE BEST Is THE CHEAPEST.
4, b.C, BEST UatmeaI
ALREADY STEAM COOKED.
GREATER NEW YORh.
THE ARGUMENT FOR REsUBMIssroN OF THE
QUESTION TO THE PEOPLE STATED BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF LOYAL
f.ITIzENS or HROOKLYN

PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF LOYAL
CITIZENS OF BROOKLYN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you allow me to state certain Iao'S
bearing on the proposed consolidation of -horA
and Brooklyn which may not now be clear in the
pubic mind?
When the ballots on that question were counted
in November 1884, 1t was found that the CITY OF
Brooklyn. 1t was when the act AUTHORIZING '"e
vote passed. had rejected consolidation by loof ma
jorlty. The suburbs of Flatbush, New-Utrecht ana
Gravesend, annexed to Brooklyn but five months
before. voted heavily In favor OF the scheme lhat
with the town OF Fatands there was In all h'nsS
County 277 majority for consolidation Tine vote o'i
consolidation G2 iO2 below the registration ana
H,o39 less than the vote for Governor On'~thr" VI
the registered voters silent about IT,
By the terms OF the act authorizing TINS Daho' T."
merely an expression OF opinion Chapter w.
Laws 1890: it could decide nothing. as the Legs
laure cannot delegate It's powers To the people anu
thus IT differed essentially from the vote taken me
same day constitutional amendments, which WAS
by Jaw decisive The ballot consolidation was
opinion only and the Legislature was as free 10 act
after IT before, save for the moral effect oil the
vote.
At that election thousands Of citizens present al
the polls could not vote because of the time taken
to handle the peculiar multiplicity OF ballots, nine
teen to each voter There had been no such fu.i
people as its gravity merited More than enough
voters to reverse the result have stated that they
voted under misrepresentation The people We're uh-
prepared to pass finally on so vital matter an"
assured officially that their ballot was al
vsory," rot final. The most that can be sara q
the result of the ballot taken Is that it was inde-
cisve Believing that the vote did not express the
true opinion of the people of Brooklyn, the League
OF Loyal Citizens was formed: it resists consolda-
ton the basis OF that ballet and wishes 10 secure
for the Of Brooklyn an opportunity to express
their will after full discussion OF the subject from
all sides
The Consolidation Commission had before the cleo
ton stated that mo consolidation would result until
further action by the Legislature prescribing meth
DDS. terms and conditions" However, they nitro
which united the cities without giving to the Peo-
PIE any Ghanis TO Pa eeon Was an eXpresson Of
opinion" after the election became verdict, al
though member of the Consolidation Commission
publicly said that If consolidation had obtained but
20 per cent OF the votes cast. they would not nave
accepted that conclusive.
The work of the League of Loyal Citizens In
opposing this measure found such strong support
in BROOKLYN that in few months POO persons sons
10000 signatures were received, but from loWo 70
made that the roll should be correct and it has
always been en- and is TsS o b dse 70 IS R
many thousands greater than the total vote IN
sodation biz was beaten in the last hours Of the
late session by having referendum amendment
In the campaign just closed the League Of Loyal
Citizens (being non-partisanl took no part in the
foris to securing a legislative delegation that
would favor the resubmission of the main question
earliest convenient time, pledging Itself to ae-
cept as final the result of such resubmission. 50
Senators and Assembymen from Kings County
twenty four favor resubmission; two favor the re-
ferring the terms of charter II prepared, 10 me
people. and the remaining two VIII accept the
fon so o. that the legsaors from Brooklyn are
nearly a unit the subject Without the aid
and against the wish of the League of Loyal Cit
zens the consolidation question was brought INTO
.didates for that post was an avowed advocate or
immediate consolidation ana an 3hicer 81 the con
vass openly and vigorously The other two candi-
counted the first named candidate was In the mi
no-ity Of about 1900 on the total vote cast Tor
Mayor. -,
voters of Brooklyn have never expressed their
mature judgment on constellation ana urges that
they he allowed TO do So rms Is rs po iltoh before
the coming Legisla ture and 1t Is approved by many
moderate consoldationists in this city 1t IS not OF
the genius OF our institutions that the majority OF
277 votes given In time Of peculiar partisan heat
and amid environment that made 1t especially
hard for the voters to express their VIII on a
purely municipal subject, and in the absence OF iuH
discussion. should irrevocaby fix the political fate
of the fourth city In the Union.
BY giving elective officers fixed terms. by re-
quiring that Constitutional amendments snail pass
twice oftener under the scrutiny OF legislators
or of tho people we have admitted the principle
that the mature and sober judgment of the people
on their official servants and on their institutions
is to be sought most carefully. Is IL not tyranny
and wholly un-American to insist mat the rate
of Brooklyn has been irrevocably settled by a
majority CT 277 in a total OF over l2ScO taken amid
the conditions that existed? ,
The feeling in Brooklyn. from It's chief magis-
trae to the humblest citizen. Is earnestly strongly
i'm favor of resubmisson, and they VINO would
refuse this must needs take care lest their sins re-
'U'" anu p'"''' WILLIAM c. REDFIELD.
Brooklyn, Nov. 10. 1895.