New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-10
TO-NICHT'S PRIMARIES.

There will be no poStponement or the RepuD-
ucan primaries With lifted eyebrows, and the
daZed look with which one listens incredulously
to some monstrous proposition. Mr.. Edward
Iauterbach has announced that postponement
would be unconstitutional. The provisions OF
the Constitution relating 10 the time and man
per of enrolment have been glcefully disregard
ed. TO be sure. but no that some of the most
prominent and influential Republicans in the
organization protest that the enrolment Is gross
" and palpably false and fraudulent. and ask
for a postponemcnt Of the primaries in order
that an investigation may be had, Mr. s-alter-
bach answers. with great soemnity: "Oh, no;
I'VE couldn't think Of it. 1t would be IN viola-
"tion of an express provision of the Constitu-
"tion" These Republicans say that IF fraudli-
Tent and bogus rolls are used at the primaries
there must follow fraudulent ana sham or
"ganzation. which will be dscredited by all the
people and will be useless for all purposes, eX-
"cept as a machine to elect spurious delegates
from this city to the political conventions to be
"held during the coming year. But Mr.. Lauter-
bach under whose administration and by whose
connivance these gross and palpable frauds were
made possible, if not directly ordered and super
intended says there is now no remedy for them
although in the opinion of thousands OF good
Republicans they will discredt the organization
and make it absolutely useless for any good pur
pose
The answer, we are free to say, was not I'M
expected 1t could hardly be supposed that the
conspirators who had been for months perfect
ing their plans and had brought them to the
edge of success by crowding into the shortest
possible space before the primaries all the en-
rolment preliminaries, would permit the whole
plot to be mperlled BY postponement OF the
primaries, the sole purpose Of which was to
afford an opportunity for investigating and pos
sibly defeating all their plans. Mr.. Lauterbach
knows his Constitution by heart. The provisions
Of 1t which initiate against his designs he calm
" disregards or roughly walks over those which
serve his purpose he has at his tongues end, and
when need is mouths glibly. He has used his
office consistently and constantly ever since he
assumed 1t in antagorism to what may be called
as it is generally recogaizeG-the better ele-
ment-and the overwhelming element ii Is too
of the Republican party of this county. His
record in this regard is fresh in memory ana
easily recalled. 1t began with manifestation
of factionalism which amazed and disguised the
more intelligent and discreet Of his own fac
ton, and has So continued until now it Is cul-
mfnating In a series Of the most hlgh-handed
impostions and usurpations that ever ended the
endurance of patient party and broke the rule
of Boss. The protest is disregardel, and upon
the technically sound but disingenuous pretext
of constitutional inhibition the request for post
ponement Of the primaries IN the interest OF
honesty and fair dealing is denied
So the primaries called for tonight win go
on under the false and fraudulent enrolment, an
investigation of which has been refused What
then? There Is no question as TO the duty OF all
Republicans in the existing conditions. Reserv-
ing all their rights, they should in the first in
stance, as The Tribune has constantly advised,
assert their privilege of participation in the pri
maries No less important Is II that they should
follow up that action by seeing TO it that their
own votes are not annulled and themselves
practically disfranchised by the admission Of
non Republican false and fraudulent voters
Against these the statutes furnish a sufficient
defence. if their provisions are invoked by the
ordinary method of challenging the right Of the
voter No means should be left untriel TO de
feat the plans Of the conspratorS. which, if sue
cessful. WILL in the language of the protest, re-
suit in "a fraudulent and sham organization
Twill be useless for all purposes except as a
machine to elect spurious delegates from this
"cty to the political conventions to be held this
year" There is no question in the minds Of
thinking men as to the attitude of the masses
Of the party toward these conspirators and the
plot they have devised for perpetuatlng their
control. There ought to be no question 10
their readiness, and even eagerness, to make
their position known and their influence felt.
1t is fight against intestine foes. who have
been permitted to intrench themselves within
the citadel Of power. 1t calls for a united pur
pose. for earnestness and enthusiasm, and with
al for some sacrifice perhaps, Of time and per-
sona convenience. But the cause is worth it
and the fight is on. Let no Republican forget
or neglect tonghts duty.
SOTrND SENSE on BEHRING SEA CLAIMS