New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-02
DEFENDING UPON THE COUNTRY

chairmen OF their respective county organiza-
tions
DEFENDING UPON THE COUNTRY.
Il am opposed TO any system which selects COM
mitteenen solely on a basis Of population. Take
the first plan mentioned in this circular. that OF
representation by Assembly districts The six
big cities Of the State would have seventy-sx
members. That Is a working majority OF the
committee. The six cities are apt TO turn up
regularly with bouncing Democratic maJorites
on election night. Now. is II fair to nave the
Republican majorities which rule In the country
districts overrued In the partys councils by the
!. tail end VI the Tammany Mclaughlin amt
Sheehan machines?
matters when he comes 10 the city, but ne has cut
mis- eyeteeth in politics and no such proposition
~ that Is going 10 meet with favor among the
great multitude OF up-country Republicans
do not want 10 be understood casting aspersionS
on the great body OF Republican voters In the Dig
cities. who help 10 neutra.ize the overwhelmlhg
Democratic vote Of those localities. but isn't IL a
fact that many ~ the Assembly District Organiza-
lions In NewYork city have been in the past little
else than Tammany puppets. and wouldn't
state Committeeman selected by such an or
ganiZatiOn be equally servlle - Tammany?
COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS DO THE WORK.
In the second place. the county organizations
are practically the only working organizations
We have We have no good and thoroughly
districts nor By Senate districts. nor by Congress
siDnal districts What has been the course Of
the state Committee as at present organized! :!
Why, they assemble. organize. do a little routine
business and adjourn. And all the correspond
ence during the campaign is carried on with
the charmen of the county committees, not
with In. individual members OF the state Com
mittee. The work is done through the county
committees.
Il remember one particular campaign whore
the powers that were couldn't get any satisfac-
tory Information as 10 the condition OF things
throughout the state. suggested Gaining the
chairmen OF the county committees TO New York.
That was done. and in two days we learned
more from them about what We were trying T.
ct than could have gotten In month
through the State Committee.
Again. the appointment Of state Committees
men independent of the county organization
created jealousies The county men do the work
may be- The county committeeman not only
knows the facts about his county. but he Is
responsible 60 extent that VIII make MN
truthful in his statements at headquarters. The
present state committeeman is not only uncer
tain in his grasp Of the situation but apt to be
loose in his estimates. He reports everything
prospcrous and a big aJOrity secure. but when
election night comes the majority Is the other
way Now II chairman of the county Com
mittee INDUCED in any such freaks OF the ifnag-
nation as that IN his capacity as state COM
mitteeman. his local organization would turn
MIN down hard when the news got back home.
MEN. NOT FIGUREHEADs, NEEDED.
"In short we want organization that snail
be composed of workers-men who have their
fingers on the party pulse-and not hgureheads.
who guess at impossible majorities We want
an organization that represents the great BODY
OF true Republican voters. as well as the centres
Of Democratic strength. That organization can
be obtained by making the counties the OASIS
of representation and following the plan nave
outlined The objection that the county chair-
men could not spare the time from their local
duties to attend to State Committee matters Is
nnsvercd-nrst by the fact that they are really
the main reliance OF the state Committee now.
as before stated and second, by the fact that
the active officers Of the committee. those whose
duties would be absorbing. can be selected from
outside the county members, under the provision
for members at large. which Is an important
feature of the plan | have outlined. All the
nlans outlined In the circular Of the Republican
club except the second, have the objection that
they give the Democratic cities overpowering
weight
When asked his views as to the prospects OF
th. party this fall Mr.. Miller said "Oh. We
are coming out all right for one reason. II for
no other ard that Is that the people are not
going To do anything that can by any possible
construction be twisted into an Endorsement o.:
the Administration at Washington"