New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18

only that but thev are vested with authority to
decide the place in each election district where
the officers shall sit and receive the enrolment
where the primaries shall be held and. further
more selec. persons to act enrolling ot1cers
and Inspector, OF election In bre; the Ike
publican machinery in each Assembly uis'ric'
was turned over TO three of Platts henchmen
TO DO with they pleased. PROVIDED they maze
1t solid for the Boss The plan decided on
last week. ana 1t is already in process OF execu-
ton. The Republican committees. or many of
them at least. met on Saturday night and pro-
ceedcd 40 act in accordance with the instruc-
lions of Lauterbach. II seemed a shocking pro-
ceiurc TO the majority Of reputable Repubil-
cans but apparently most Of them took it for
granted rs being all right and n accordance
with the constitution
NOT IN ACCORD WITH THE CONSTITUTION
Well it is nothing of the kind. 1t is not only
unwarranted by the organic law OF the Repub-
ican County Committee, but ii is in fragrant
violation Of it. The whole proceeding is IN
authorized and consequently void Lauter-
bach and the Committee Organization have
no more constitutional. right 10 act as they
have done than they have TO help themselves
to the gold in the Sub-Treasury vaults The
basis of their action is that the election district
boundaries have been altered. But Article NNl
Of the constitution provides expressly that IN
case boundaries of any election district shall be
changed the association i'm such district shaiI re-
main unchanged until the close of the year. But
officers of the association for the year sue
cteding the change snail be elected at ne
annual election in December by the persons
whose names are borne upon the roll or rolls
of the ola district. and who shall reside within
the limits OF the new district. and such oth RS
as may properly be added thereto in accord
ance with the provisions herein contained
Is there anything said here about Committee
of Three TO look after such work? Is there any
thing In this provision &c warrant the appoint
ment of any man by he County Committee TO
perform the task? 1t belongs TO the Election
District Association entirely
This Committee Of Three is directed to strike off
the names OF those who. in its Judgment, have
ceased to be Republicans" Article XIV. of
tine constitution prescribes the eligibility for
membership in these election district associa-
lions any man who declares that he is a voter,
Republican and that he desires To promote the
success of the Republican party and intends to
act with il at the next election has right to be
enrolled. And after such declaration. Article
NXV expressly declares that 1.-The said person
shall. if unchalienged. be permitted 10 sign the
roll which shall contain the said declaration and
thereupon shall become a member Of the associa-
ticn."
The only grounds for challenging shall be that
the applicant is not voter. that he is not
Republican and that he is not a resident OF the
district" And yet in the face Of these pro-
visions Mr.. Lauterbach's subcommittee nave
already. in all probability. cut off hundreds of
Republicans simply because they believe them
10 be unfrieudly 10 Plat.
NOT ENTITLED TO THE POWER
Again-and this is one Of the most outrageous
features of the whole scheme-these sub-com-
Inlttees are clothed with the power Of revision
Article XXVI Of the constitution confines this
power entirely to the election district associa-
ton. Here is the exact wording of Il:
The association shall in the month Of June In each
year revise he roll by striking thereiIOia me names
OF all members who have died or have removed
from the district have ceased to be KepuDcdnS:
But no name shall be strucA off except IN case OF
death or removal from ne dlsirct uh "Ltei r
cient nroof maj man has removed from the district
when AT least two notices sent by the secretary
have been returned undehverec.
Striking off names is serious matter. ac-
cording to the constitution, even though Lad
terbach thinks otherwise. ,
AS If Article ky we're not strong enough
the following AUTHORIZATIONS.
The association shall have authority to add 10
or in any manner change the roll or voters eAceP'
in the constitution pToV-Heu.
In Lauterbachs circular Of instructions 10
the chairncn Of these subcommittee. he says
that they will designate the places of meeting
in each election district for such revision: heic
Is another open violation Of the consttuuoil' ioI
according TO Article XVIII, each association
shall have a permanent place Of meeting; ana
such place Of meeting shall, where lcsslp.e' DE
within the election district" The County COM
nittee has nothing To do with II. It's power 10
designate these places is set forth IN Article
Nv. which says that during the month OF
June i'm each year the County Committee snaii
designate the places where all conventions shail
be held during the ensuing year. and snail give
notice thereof TO the election district assocla-
tons" This has nothing to DO with the election
district associations meeting place. Article
Xxi emphasizes this point. "All elections Of Of
fCers Of district associations, 1t declares, or
for delegates 10 conventions. shall be held at
the places designated as the meetng-place OF
the respective associations" the associations
decide upon their own meeting-place. and no
subcommittee appointed by Lauterbach can
have anything TO do with it,
TO KEEP THE PLACE DARK"
But this is not the worst of it. Upon these
subcommittee is bestowed the power of select
ing these meeting places and the County Com
mittee does not prescribe any time within
which such designation shall be made. nor is
provision made for making public where these
Ineeting-places are. All this information is
lodged with the subcommittee. and the way
that committee proposes to act in the matter
was set forth with refreshing candor by one
OF the leaders whose name appears in the list
OF members Of these subcommittee He ic-
Clared on SATURDAY that he would send a postal
card TO every register voter in his election
district To the effect that if the recipient We're
Republican and sufficiently interested to desire
10 be enrolled. he might call to see the chair
OF this subcommittee at a place to be
specified on Saturday, November g. at
y. IA, when the chairman would then inform
those who called upon him Of the place where
such additional enrolment" would be held.
these Sub-COmmif apprONSI
this declaration. ana subscribed 70 IL IN
article Of his political faith. The committee
will simply cat off all the Republicans It is
necessary for them TO cut off TO insure con-
troll Of the district. and will keep the places Of
enrolment a secret SO that member Of he
party can go on the rolls whom they do not