The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-06
The FactionaI Fight in New York.

A remarkable statement has been
issued to the public by President Ed
ward Lauterbach of the New York Re-
publican County committee. 1t con-
Germs the fight of the Platt faction for
partisan mastery over the Strong nom
partisan municipal administration: and
makes detailed charges of an astonish-
ing character. One of these charges,
bluntly summarized, is that before last
falls election a friend of Colonel
Strong. Phillips by name, agreed, osten-
sfbly in Strong's behalf, that if Mr..
Platt would permit him (Strong) to be
nominated for mayor, Platt could have
what he wanted in the event of Strong's
election. Upon this condition, Mr..
Lauterbach says that Platt graciously
gave his consent to Strong's nomina-
ton; but Strong now refuses to deliver
over the spoils. A second point in the
statement is the impression which it
conveys, mainly by inference, that
Colonel Strong knew of Phillips over
lures to Platt and shared in the deal
The significance of this point is that it
tries TO make Mayor Strong out trick
stersnd a liar, while Mr.. Platt is depicted
as a much-abused martyr whose only
offense has been unselfsh loyalty to
Republican principles.
This, in brief, Is Lauterbach's story
Mayor Strong has hitherto explicitly
denied the existence of any bargain
whatsoever between himself and Mr.
Platt. His word Is as good as Mr.
Lauterbach's, If not better than It,
Therefore we shall adhere to the belief
that Mayor Strong is in the right; a be-
lief which is strengthened by the stand
ing and the public character of the men
who stand out as the indorsers Of Mayor
Strong, these men being literally the
most eminent and trustworthy group
Of citizens possible of collection in all
New York. Tn an issue Of veracity be-
tween Mayor Strong, who most GER
tainly is not using his official oppor-
tunities for the furtherance of private
or personal purposes, and Mr.. Lauter-
bach, who is largely a political and pro-
fessional creation of Mr. Platt, and con-
sequently in honor bound TO fight for
his creators political preservation, with
ruhtoI, ia idantiGa1 hi f,,t, l. IL
as a politician and as a practicing at
torney, we must decline to believe
Lauterbach and continue to believe
Mayor Strong. This, 1t seems to us,
should be the position of all persons
impartfally interested in Gotham's bat
tile for a reformed system of munich
pal government; and the plea of party,
SO lachrymosely raised by the Platt ele-
ment, should be considered only so far
as party organization helps along good
municipal government, and not step
further.
But the chief trouble with Mr.. Lau-
terbachs statement is that 1t says too
much. 1t virtually asserts that before
considerable number Of the respect
able citizens Of New York can obtain
the assistance of the Republican party
in New York City in a work of public
reform, these citizens must first arrange
terms with and promise spoils to one
Thomas c. Platt: that before they can
secure the nomination to office of one
of their number, they must first cry Mr..
Platt's mercy, sue for his all-potent
consent and admit him as the senior
partner in all their deliberations and
public movements. Mr.. Lauterbach in
genuously speaks of this necessity not
only as absolutely essential, but as a
kind Of proper duty expressed In the