New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-05
THE Duty or REPUBLICANS.

Thu nrescnt need of the great mass Of Rcpub-
,con voters in this county who are opposed to
tho domination of Bosses in the organization,
and orc kepnly alive to the necessity Of Il change
l., tho countv Committee which will demonstrate
hevopd all question that the party continues 10
favor good government and municipal reform
and entertains no thought Of retreat from lis
nos;tion last wear on that subject Is some fornu-
tod nan for concerted action. The tempta-
ton is strong TO act without deberat.on ana
unou impulse 1t is now perfectly apparent 'ha'
tho 1au,erbach majority in the County Commit
Tee prepared the circular OF insUucuoNs ioi .ic
80. onrolmont with one definite purpose. which
WINS 70 assure beyond doubt the perpe'ua'l"h I'll
their own control OF the machinery OF 'he county,
orponization 1t Is equally clear mat hot"i'h
standing the universal protest which was raised
against the specially iniluiious ana outrageous
Textures Of those instructions. the desperate pro-
crarrme was carried out TO the letter the empty
concession made by Mr.. Lauterbach regarding
the unconstitutional erasure or the haiheS vi
those who had ceased to be Republlcans not
benr regarded in the slightest degree u! TIE
norSons to whom the details OF the conspiracy
had been committed. The honest kepuohcahs
Of the county being confronted Win IN ehroi
ment so grossly dishonest and fraudulent UNI
even its authors do not venture TO DEFEND H. 1t
IS not strange that disposition should manifest
itself 10 repudate the whole proceeding ana set
on foot an entirely new and thorough reorganiZa-
tion If the party in this county Republicans
who favor this course Of action offer some SHOW
of reason for It in the admitted fact that lhe
Lauterbach cOnsprators are In cohtroi ol t'e
machinery OF the primaries, and the assumption
that they are desperate enough 10 dare COMMIT
any outrage or crime to effect their purposes
Much is TO be pardoned to the feelings OF anger
and Indignation which have been aroused by tue
bighhanded proceedings of the Lauterbach Con'
mittee But the hasty action proposed Woud
not be wise. For il is to be remembered, IN Inc
first place that there has been reorganization
of the party in this county within the last TWO
wears; that it had precisely the same purpose
as the one now suggested. to wit. to take the
machinery Of the county organization out or the
hands OF men who had prostltuted 1t to the
basest purposes: that through mistakes and mis-
understandings Of one sort and another the very
mon against whom the movement was directed
were permitted to put themselves forward and
eventually take possession Of it, and that they
arc now In full control. Any new attempt ut
REORGANIZATION must have the strongest provoca-
ton in order to Justify it in the minds of RepuD-
leans Of conservative instincts. who would
shrink from doing anything to disturb the mar
mony Of the party except as they were driven 10
il by absolute necessity 1t is also 10 be taken
into account that against the padded and fraud'i-
lent enrolments the statutes provide what, If it
be ayailcd Of by concerted action. may be s'illl-
Gent remedy. The penal code provides that any
person voting or attempting to vote at a politcal
caucus or convention without being entitled to
do So or who fraudulentlv or wrongfully does
any act tending to affect the result Of an cleo
ton AT such caucus or convention, shall he con-
sidcred guilty Of misdemeanor and punished
accordingly The law provides also that the III
spectors ut primaries shall he sworn. ana throws
around their proceedings the same safeguards
as are provided for elections. II through con
cer,ed action these provisions can be enforced
at the primaries on the 10Th Of this month, and
the Anti-Macline Republicans come out in full
force there can be doubt Of the result. The
Platt Lauterbach conspiracy will he defeated.
But il not? If the cunningly connected con
spiracv with its padded enrolment succeeds. ana
as the result County Committee is continued
in control which has so little Of the confidence
of the working Republicans Of the county that
It cannot in an important campaign raise more
than $500 for necessary expenses. what then
Well, let Us wait and see. Meantime, let no
effort be spared - use all the means afforded *
we'll by the statute laws as by an aroused public
sentiment. to defeat the designs Of these con
spirators within the lines Of the regular organ
izaton. Should fail there and fraud be tri-
umphant, one thing is absolutely certain; that
is. that the honest masses Of the Republican
party in this county, already on record against
the rule Of Bosses and the system of Bosssm
and pledged most solemnly to carry on the work
Of municipal reform, will not consent to be
represented by gang Of c0nspirators who Use
the name and fame and prestige Of the party for
selfish aggrandz"mcnt and corrupt commerce
with Tammany. We need honest rule in this
city more than we need political machinery.