New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
DANGER OF A STRAIGHT TICKET.

THE PRESENT SITUATION IN NETWORK DEMANDS
A UNION WITH OTHER REFORM ELEMENTS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The time not being far distant when the
Republican party will be called upon to decide
whether 10 advocate and maintain a straight or
a union ticket 1t becomes necessary to survey the
field and conjecture, at least. the effect on the
marty of the one course or the other Viewing the
election of last fall at this time. 1t seems
more than probable that If the party had then put
up a straight ticket 1t would have been success
full But the wise heads thought otherwise. and a
union ticket became the order OF the course Last
fall there was a deep political background com
binaton of significant causes, which would nave
enabled the party to carry to successful issue
straight ticket And what were those Significant
causes?
l The people had become heartily tired of the
weak and vacillatlng policy Of the National Adj
minstration They had lost faith In the Demo-
cratic party to administer the Government Tor the
best good OF the people. 1t will be remembered
that previous the Inauguration OF Mr. Cleveland
in March 1893 the commercial interests OF the
country were prosperous and In healthy hhahcia
condition. Merchants and manufacturers were run
ming their business TO the full. and the wage
Garner was receiving liberal wages. What followed!
Within three months after Sir Cleyeands inau-
gural address a terrible strlngency usurped every
department of trade and commerce from the At
lantlc to the Pacific Curtailment became neces-
sary 10 the manufacturer. and MS action touchea
the business pulse of merchants. large ana Small
2 In this metropolis hundreds OF thou-
sands OF people had reached the csnVlcuoh '"a'
the deep-seated corruption and canker'ng influences
OF Tammany Hall had well nigh Slapped the NE
blood OF the community; corruption staiKed III
high places ragged in many departments or the
city government. almost to the extent IL dio i"
ancient Rome. when all things were Tor s sac,.
Offices honor, virtue and life itself. lhese laS.S
efi ted BACKGROUND
stood glaring and rampant when the to'hVnru's
best citizens OF all parties, commanded matt anu
Tammany Hall received blow such as It had NOT
constituted the spring and lever which emboldened
the people to rise in their might ana oSerthr COW
The sordd corruption: and these would nave have en- n
abled the Republican party last fall to carry TO
victory sraight party nj, mck ertb while fairly sue
cessfu detraeted from u the Bar slate of ar
necessary for the party TO form a union WIN Win
combination to do the best that can be done TO
secure for the Republican party such OF the juc
possible. carry the county by as great numerical
vote as was cast for Mayor Strons-l5i,eo Divide
Il is Evident that straight Republican ticket in
mis- e ms fan would deter w0 many wh 1sw have
sharply that considering TIE comparative is ,h
oppo e no" who allied themselves with Republicans
would incline to doubt the wisdom OF such reform.
They would drop back to their earlier affiliations
support union ticket Since the prevailing opinion
to be that. I'm the main. the boosted reform
OF last fall from a hundred and failed
TO accomplish the benencent results anticipated.
and voters have lost faith TO extent. In the
methods adopted IL cannot but be disastrous to the
future veal OF the Republican party to at
tempt TO stem such a tide with a straight ticket.
BETTER coaiesce with the Hottest elements of the
position, and, perchance, they may be leavened so
that a year hence. or two years hence. straight
Republican ticket may be practicable and carried
TO victorious results. But not now.
The dstrust OF the people In the virtue of e.
FORM In the unwse or improvident bestowal of pa
tronage, In the dual position OF the heads OF the
several departments Of the city gOvernment-these
speak In thunder tones against the policy OF
straight Republican ticket this fall.
JOHN FREEMAN BAKER
New-York. Sept. G. 1895