New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26
TO-DAYS CONFERENCE.

II IS generally understood that the Fifth Ave
nue. Hotel In this city will be the scene OF an
important-one might almost say momentous-
conference to-day. Men who consider them
selves political leaders. from various sections or
the State. and who were elected last November
70 DISCHARGE the functions Of legislators In the
belief and upon the theory that they were III
and competent therefor. will assemble and con-
fer. With each other? Oh, no. They DO tnat
formally and officially on secular days at Al
bany. They are here to confer with man WHO
holds no office and is under no responsibility
but to whom they believe they owe their or1ces
more than to the people who cast the vo'es.
And vet hardly to confer. Correctly stated, they
are here TO receive orders as TO their action
during the next four days regarding one or the
most important measures that for many years
has engaged the attention Of NeW-lOrk Legs
lature There Is no concealment nor pretence
of concealment of the purpose OF the so-calieu
conference 1t has been publicly announced IN
the newspapers on the authority botn or the
statesmen who will be in attendance and the
man by whose orders they are here pursuant
TO his orders, in violation of their written
pledges in some cases. and contrary to their
expressed opinions ami honest convictions IN
others. they passed last week the Greater New
York bill and sent it TO the Governor for his
action. That Its passage was secured through
the public pledges Of its most arden; supporters
that there would be no supplemental legislation
70 make it still more offensive to honest citizens
Is not denied The meeting to-day Is to receive
the decision Of the Boss as TO whether those
pledges shall be redeemed or falsified.
This Is not cheerful or inspiring spectacle
for the contemplation Of the sefrespccting cit!-
zen who tries to believe in the success OF the
experiment of popular self-governmcni. and to
find something Of which he may be proud in its
ripe results That an unofficial AMI irresponsible
person should have such control OF the ma
chinery Of a great and dominant party as to be
able TO use II to pack an entire Legislature with
his own seryle adherents. whereby he II placed
In absolute possession Of the power 10 make ana
shane our laws is sufficiently discOuraglng. That
he should let 1t be publicly announced that lie
had summoned them from the State capital 10
his own Headquarters in this city TO receive his
further orders commanding them TO belle their
promises falsify their pledges, forfeit their per
sonal honor and self-resp"ct and sacrifice what
ever Of good repute they may have with Their
constituents. is a much more shocking disclosure
of depth Of degradation never touched before
in all the shameful scandals that deiile our
municipal and State history Never did politi-
cal Boss so cruelty and reentlessy sacrifice TO
his own selfish purposes devoted following;
never before was a great party so dlshonored
and disgraced by the weakness. cowardice and
s)avishness Of its elected representatives 1t Is
spectacle at which self-rcspecting citizens
must hang their heads in shame.
But If this exhibition by the Boss and his
creatures at the Fifth Avenue Hotel excites the
emotion Of disgust in the mind OF the average
citizen what shall be said of the one man in
this State who has it in his power to defeat the
Vaccinations Of this band OF political freeboot-
ers By q stroke Of the pen, but who permits him
self to be completely eliminated as factor In
! legislation, while the Boss goes on laying his
plans and perfecting his combinations. as II he
were I'm absolute possession Of the Executive
| as we'll as the legislative branch Of the govern
| ment Unless senility has suddenly come upon
| Governor Morton, he must know that the inevl-
table effect of this Plat absolutism and dishon-
est Plat legislation will be to weaken and dis
integrate the Republican party to such an ex-
tent that hardly anything short OF a miracle can
prevent its defeat in the next State election.
He can hardly help knowing, unless he has
been hypnotized, that Plat has already includ-
ed him in the list Of his victims, and blasted his
Presidential aspirations by his effusve support
and patronizing manner. Nor can he be igno
rant, II he has the intelligence to discern the
current Of public opinion, that the one only
and sure way to redeem his reputation as an
upright and independent Executive Is to assert
himself, declare his own judgment, and refuse
longer to follow the guidance and obey the dicta
ton of an arrogan. and tyrannical Boss, who
openly boasts Of his power over him and under
takes virtually to usurp bis functions. The
spectacle furnished to-day at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel furnishes food for serious reflection tc
the voter The exhibition Of weakness and ser
Witty at Albany is still more source OF pro
found sorrow owe: SO lamentable conclusion
Of a hitherto fortunate and useful public career