New-York tribune., 1896-01-04
THE ANTI-MACHINE PROTEST
A STATEMENT BY WILLIAM BROOK
FIELD.
WORK or TIE COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION
INTO THE ENROLMENT AND PRIMARY
ERA.nS PROMPTI.Y BEGIN.

INTO THE ENROLMENT AND PRIMARY
FRAUDS PROMPTLY BEGUN
The new movement of the Ant.-Machne Repub-
licans the subject of great deal OF inquiry
and comment in the city yesterday. There was
strong desire to know exactly what the purposes
OF the prominent Republicans who met at the
Windsor Hotel Monday and Thursday evenings
were Ex-Commisisoner William Brookfsld. who
has taken leading part in the movement, said
yesterday:
There is disposition in some quarters to char
acter!ze the movement merely personal warfare.
This il not true OF 1t has 1t been true at
any time. 1t far beyond that 1t is an at
tempt to correct abuses that have demorazed and
degraded the Republican organization OF the
county until it has lost the confidence and respect
Of all who believe in ordinary decency.
The men who making this contest for wha;
Is right. In politics are factonists. boilers
traitors. They Republicans who believe In
regularity. organization jority rule and leader
ship There among them men who have held
high places in the Republican councils Of the State.
and they have not changed their views and they
stand for the same sort Of kepublicanism now they
cid then II Is true however. that they have been
and unwilling to approve dishonest
methods in order that any man set Of men may
control the county organization for selfish personal
interests. Most Of them ask for nothing and want
nothing but the privilege of helping the Republican
party win Victories. coupled with the desire for an
and work without feeling themselves humiliated.
They feel that It IS Of ttle consequence who goes
as delegates to conventions provided they are fairly
chosen or who is chairman OF committee II he
be honest and capable.
"They do not believe in organization the basis
OF which is fraud matter who commits ii. And
they will submit to any so-callei majority rule
whore ishonesty becomes necessary TO obtain il.
mo one denies that the present enrolment is
fraudulent, and the conventions called under II
have been the most dsgraceful ever held IN the
city. Ans organization formed upon garng a
fraud had no title TO existence and no one Will
owe aleganre TO IT, If the men who have received
control by unfair means inss, upon retaining ii,
nothing is eft but II resist and oppose it to the
end.
II believe that there those who will undertake
the work and refuse 10 listen to all appeals for the
sake Of regularity. where regularity has no place.
Already the old warning is sounded, dissensons
may defeat rs but II falls tbs time upon deafsned
ears. II the Republican party stands for
to approve the low debauchng and absolutely
dishonest methods adopted in this county during
the last year deserves to be beaten.
Il have been something of observer Of political
events In TINS city for some time. and never within
my recollection have Republican politics been upon
low plane Those Of us who have been
taught to look upon Tammany's methods some
thing to be abhorred must now, in all fairness. re-
main speechless until get own organization
where it stands at least for cleanliness.
surely 1t is not much to ask that the present
enrolment Of the Republican organization be purged
OF fraud under the direction Of men who in
way responsible for the present bogus roll II that
doEe properly ami fairly. and The will Of the
ma ajlriy thus ascertalned. dissentors might then,
with some degree Of propre;y be called bo.ters, but
What effect VIII this movement have upon the
candidacy OF Governor Morton for the Presidential
nomination."
Il do not think that It will have any bearing on
that question la To why there should b.
any struggle for the control Of the delegation from
this STATE. inasmuch the whole state Is EoN
pledged to Governor Mortons candidacy"
The committee of investigate selected at the
meeting OF prominent Republicans at the Windsor
Hotel Thursday evening TO investigate the fraudu
trris ana OF Violations OF INC laws regulating pri-
maries displayed intensity Of purpose and prompt
and plunging at once into the matter in hand.
The committee met in The Office q PAU d. era
ent these being John Sabine Smith. chairman. Mr..
CraIath. BENJAMIN Oppenheiiner. John $ Wise and
RI" Rinance Committee have placed ample funds
N the disposal OF the Committee OF Investigation
for ID" prosecution OF their work
As to the results OF the committees labors yes
tcrday. Mr. Crayath said last evening: The com
mittc". at its sessions to-day. agreed upon plan
for an examination Of the charges Of fraud In the
recent primaries. and ths enrolment Of a most thor
ough and searching character. The investigatioi;
viii be conducted without regard to the interests Of
any faction and with no other end In view than an
impartial conclusion as TO the extent to when the
alleged frauds have been practised
While the committee have not gone far enough
with the work TO make definite announcement IT
caa he said that enough has already been developed
clearly 10 demonstrate the necessity for IN" nvest
cation which Is being made.
III the present enrolment Is padded TO the extent
Of many thousands OF names. and II thousands or
Republicans who happen to differ from those now IN
control Of the machine have been prevented from
enrolling. and II many Of the primaries were con-
ductel I'm such "A manner not 10 give expression
% the sentiment. even OF those whose names nre
upon inc rolls Il Ia high time that the exact facts
OF the situation should be known.
The cOmmi,tc" m?de Il formal request TO Chair
man Lauterbach for permission 10 examine the rolls
Of the county Committee. and Mr.. I.auterAich
granted 1t. The committee VIII resume Its work
to-day at the Republican club
\ supervisory committee has been added 10 the
list OF committees take charge OF the pro-
tests which pouring IN from Republicans aga.ns;
the frauds at the primaries AID In the enrolment.
The number OF these IS 80 gren, as to show beyond
doubt the existence Of a widespread and deep sem
iment against these Outrages. The Indications are
already that at least 20Ct0 names VIII be presented
in protest aglins, the high-hdnded and unawful
conduct of those conducting the primaries and hav
Ing ha.,e OF the enrolment. The committee con-
sisis Of Paul d Cravath. General Anson g. Nc
cook John Sabine Smith. John T.. Mllholiand and
Alderman Elias GOOdman
TO MAKE THE CANAL STRIEl.