New-York tribune., 1896-01-04

THE ENROL UENT INIES7IG ITION.
The first practical step in the direction ~ a
careful and thorough inquiry into the methods
and practices which controlled the last enrol
mcnt Of voters and ;he conduct of the primaries
ly the Republican County Committee has now
been taken. so long "a the charges Of fraudu
lent enrolmcnts on the one hand, and Illegal and
unauthorized crasurcs of honest Republicans on
the other. by which the rolls were padded dis
honestly for one faction and with equal di>hon-
esty cut down 10 the prejudice II The other rest
ed upon improved assertions however univcr
sally believed. or even upon the cynical admiS-
sions Of The author, of thc frauds. It could hard
" be said that they were sufficient 10 warrant
such an uprising of the party a. would be- nrces
sary to purge and purify its local infringement
and rescue /. from the corrupt hands into when
II has fallen The eminent Republicans Wh"
took part in the meeting az The Windsor Hotel
10 consider the matter and take some positive
action have entered upon the task with business
Judgment and practical good sense. Without
wasting time in deClamai' on or the discussion
of formal and useless protests they have gone
straight 10 the heart Of lh" matter, and appoint
ed "A committee 10 make thorough and cNhlu-ilN"
inquiry into the facts. The names OF the gentle
men who took part in the meeting give the A.
surance of absolute honesty Of purpose. rs well
~ Of ununestiOncd devotion 10 the Interests "f
the party and there l. ihd further assurance in
the personnel Of the Committee Of Investigation
that the inquiry will be thorough. honest and
searching.
That there were ~ alleged. irregularities show
ing culpablr negligence. open and iagrant Viola
tons VI law conclusive of fraudulent purpose.
conceamcnts, cvasons. tricks. dcccpionS, all
sorts Of dishonesty and in some cases resort I"
violence. in the preparation Of The rolls. ana the
conduct of the primaries il universally believed.
Indeed II has been practically admitted by some
Of the more brazrn Of the cnnsplratprs whose
hardihood and cyncism call 10 mind the Tam
many con spirators Of an earlier day who. when
caught red handed. simply said, with lcor:
Well what are yOu going 10 do about IT, But
there has been. and continues to be-, a doubt IN
the minds Of many Republicans rs Ia whether,
upon the whole. the irregularities and frauds
wrr. sufficiently extensive. or can be SO proved,
IS 10 vitiatc the enrolment. This. If W. cor
reclly understand the object of the Windsor
Hotel meeting. l. the purpose of The invc>iiga-
tion which has now been set on foot. What j.
needed j. facts instead Of unsubsianliated
CHARGES proofs instead OF assertions. And how
ever strong may be it's present convictions rs
10 the facts IN the ease. The Tribune frankly
admits the necessity for Il thorough and impair
tal investigation. and pending that action. IS
willing to give the Lauterbach faction the al
vantage OF its present position and all doubts
that may arise
1t may not be practicable or perhaps possible.
with The limited facilities ~ The command Of the
Il, ii. ,ltit..
demonstration that the enrolment frauds and
the dishonest management Of the primaries were
SO widely distributed and universal to
make the whole proceeding in a majority Of the
districts q scandalous farce This will not be
necessary IN order 10 vtlate the enrolment and
election 1t will be enough to prove clearly and
Enthusiastically the prevalence of fraud in many
districts by the connlvancc. II not by the cx-
press direction. of Chairman l.aulcrbach and his
associates in the County Committee. Indeed. If
II is found upon inquiry that these men have
in single instance set out with a deliberate and
preconccyed purpose 10 defraud the Republican
voters in any district Of their right OF honest
representation in the councils Of the party. that
circumstance alone Is sufficient 10 disfranciDse
and disQuafy all Of them from holding any
position Of honor or trust In the party certainly
from holding the highly responsible positions
they now occupy executive officers In the
county organization The Republican party Of
this county Is arrGy"d against dishonesty in
politics OF all sorts no less In lis own conduct
and management than In that Of the TammaDy
Democracy. Without that vital principle ii has
neither cohesion nor force II cannot afford to
wink at dishonest methods In the conduct OF It's
own primaries which IT habitually condemns
and denounces in the practice Of the Tammany
Democracy. Ii will not do II. II 1t shall ap-
near upon investigation that the late Repub-
lican enrolment and the primaries were honestly
conducted and that the Republican County
Committee Is innocent Of the charges which have
been so freely bruiied. there ought 10 be. and we
believe there will be no further demonstration
in opposition to Mr.. Iauerbach and his aSso-
ciates. But II +, appears that Mr.. Lau'erbach
and his associates have been guilty OF any OF the
crimes agains, an honest enrolment ana honest
primarlcs which have been charged. they VIII