New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
PEtSONABLE PROPOSITION.

u
The protest which we print in another column
with the signatures annexed or weli-kho"n ne
publicans against the holding or the hepuoi'.
can primaries on December 10, under the cali o'
the County Committee. deserves serious cop-
slderation not only on account or the high char
actcr of the signers and the weight OF lHHu'
ence which their names carry, Dut more esp
cially because their memorial offers the only res
sonable and practical solution OF the difliculties
If the existing situation. The Tribune has mere
tofore set forth with distinctness that could not
he misunderstood or mistaken the convicuoh
(which IN its Judgment is entertained by ma
iority of the Republicans Of this county that the
enrolment under which the primaries are 10 pe
held is false and fraudulent; That IL Is laise III
so far as it purposely omits the names OF hepuo-
licans legally entitled to participate III the pr
marlcs, and fraudulent in that II contains 'he
names Of men who are not Republicans ana con-
seouentlv not entitled either to vote at the prl-
maries or TO be included in an apportohmeht
which is vital to a just and honest expression OF
the vii! OF the party. II has also set lor'h III
language unmlstakable the conviction OF 'he
same majority Of Republican voters that the
action of the County Committee in arranging
the details Of the enrolment ana the conuuct vi
the primaries has been that OF band OF pohu-
can consprators plotting to perpetuate their
own control OF the machinery OF the party orshhi-
zation. and that the essence of that plot mas
been in placing such limit upon the time al
forded for enrolment and for contestng the
legality of the enrolment as to forbid any OPP
portunity for fair investigation.
II Is contended that the present County Com
mittee I'm the first instance usurped powers not
granted under the constitution, from which
alone II derived It's authority; and In the second
Mace that in ordering the preliminaries for the
primaries II violated the spirit OF the consutu-
tlon and acted in purely factional spirit with
the unconcealed and openly avowed purpose OF
perpetnatng it's own control Of the county or
ganization. II is alleged on the other hand that
tho feature of the original circular Of instruc-
lions issued by Mr. Iauterbach as president of
the County Committee, whereby the power to
erase from the original enrolment the names oi
those who in the Judgment Of Mr.. Lauterbach's
committees of three had ceased TO be Repuo
licans" was, in Difference to the clamor or oppo-
sition which 1t aroused. annullec and not acted
upon. AS to the further claim that in many uis-
tricts the rolls were padded and that they do not
represent the actual Republican vote In these
districts the Lauterbach consplrators III the
County Committee say in an Offhand way That
there was as much padding on one side as on
the other, and that there are so many complaints
and contests and the hearing OF them would
render necessary so extended trial, there
l., not time enough TO adjudicate them all
before the time set for holding the primaries
on the 10th of December.
But this is a matter so vital to the interests
of the organization in this county that 1t should
not be so dismissed 1t certainly should not
be 50 dismissed by the men who are charged
with engaging in a conspiracy In which the
time limit for the enrolment in the first place
and for pursng the enrolment afterward, before
the primaries are held is an essential element
That under the charges, is a part OF the con-
splracy and cannot be entertained as palliaton
or pretext This is too serious business to be
so tossed off No emergency demands the hold
ing OF the primaries on December 10. No cleo
ton impends. nor is there any pressing need for
the immediate selection Of County Committee
especially none If a County Committee is to be
chosen 50 utterly untrustworthy in character
and so useless for results that in the midst Of
a campaign it cannot raise more than 5000 for
necessary expenses. There need be no hurry in
electng tnat KIM OF committee. Inc less tlIle
they have to handicap the party the better
The only need for haste in the matter is in the
necessities Of men who seek to use the name
the influence, the prestige and the power Of the
party for personal advantage in the control Of
patronage or in the lobby of the Legislature
1t may be important to Mr.. Lauterbach and the
corporations he represents that he should be able
to appear at Albany as the president of the
Republican County Committee. We undertake
to say that it is somewhat important to the Re
publican party that he should not; or that if he
does it should be by the deliberate action Of the
party and not by fraud upon its honest voters.
The request made for postponement Of the
primaries is based upon well-known, notorious
facts, and is entirely reasonable 1t is backed
up by men In whom the Republicans Of this
county have entire confidence. II Is not too
late for Mr. Lauterbach and his coconspira tors
to postpone the primaries and make at least
show Of fairness. Will they do it?