New-York tribune., 1896-01-20
FRAUD THUS FAR REVEALED
PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION OF
THE REPUBLICAN ENROLMENT
4 REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCES OF THE PLATT-
IAUTERBAcH CONSPIRACY DISCOVERED IN
EIGHT OF THE ELECTION DISTRICTS
OF THE CITY-A STATEMENT BY

IA,-rERBAcH CONSPIRACY DISCOVERED IN
EIGHT OF THE ELECTION DISTRICTS
OF THE CITY-A STATEMENT BY
PAUL p. CRAvATH.
Edward Iau:erbach's election last THURSDAY even
ing as chairman Of what purports to be the kepup-
lican County Committee. ard the manner Of his
election cannot fail TO create in the minds OF
honest thoughtful Republicans grave fears FOR the
immediate future of the party in this city ana
State. II Is serious matter-more serious 'hah
anything that has happened for long time in local
party politics. Nobody OF experience VIII den!
that whenever the issue is clearly drawn between
honesty and dishonesty 'he overwhelming majority
of the party in this city will invariably be ionho
on the honest side, but the difficulty IS 10 Drlns 'he
great body Of Republicans 10 realize the gravity Oh
the situation. There has been growing 'ehut"'!
on the part OF honest Republicans TO connne tAeir
thoughtfuness and activity to election time ana 10
allow the party machinery TO fall into :he control
OF those whose incentive .s found in selfsh and un-
worthy motives 1t is only now ana then' a'tcf
the party has sustained crushing dissraceiul de-
feat as the result OF dishonest or incompetent lead
ership that the rank and fi'e OF Republicans learn
that after all honest primaries and an honest party
orranization are essential TO insure success ar the
pols IL Is by reason OF this neglect ana dilier-
ence that to-day comparatively few members OF the
party understand that the action OF the County
Committee last Thursday evening was inc con-
summation OF a scheme or studlcd ana sES''iii''
fraud. as clever as 1t shameless. and probably
with few parallels in the history OF an! party
organization In this country
The present situation cannot be understood with
out a brief review of the history OF the part! or
ganzation in this city for the last three years Late
In 1892 the growing dstrust OF the Repubii'nh or
ps sn,zat,on in this county broke ont into open OPP
postion which crystallized In the movement organ
lied by the Committee Of Thirty and the Anti
Machine movement under the Leadership OF Mr. Mil
holland II was conceded on all hands that the OLD
orga nization hopelcssly corrupt ana ihe'hcen'
that many OF the most active leaders had III more
than one instance traded with Tammany haii anu
that the welfare of the party demanded ne" or
ga nization controlled by new men no one NOR
actively opposcd the old orga anzation or more openly
denounced it's leader. than Mr.. Platt, whose w'u'
experience in political affairs nobody Will qu'suoh'
In his famous statement given out 10 Inc news
papers early in February. 1893 Mr.. Platt denounced
.tbc old machine" as partially bad and entirely In
efficient" and also employed this vigorous language
II, 1oscribnr II. ''1he belief is general that the
old machine cannot be depended upon TO do good
and efficient work. to get out the Repup!cah No'''
and IN nal, q full use Of our singular opportunity
the coming fall. 10 leave no chance OF dehia any
where that a new organization Is imIerativeY r'-
oured 1t is not new scheme of organiza-
,,on tho Renublican PARTY wants but new people In
..o oroo r,za,on The election district plan
OF organization !s In my Judgment. unwoTkahlc IL
is not adapted to New-York. particularly below
Fourteenth-st.
THE NEW ORGANIZATIONS
Notwithstanding tho sagac'ous advice OF M''
P,att the Committee Of Thirty. doubtless with tne
best intentions, adopted the "unworkable e'ec'i'h
district plan of organization. The old enrolment
was discarded. and new enrolment had under the
nominal direction Of the Committee Of Thirty For
a time the old leaders shrewdly remained IN the
background. The new organization started out au-
sn,cously. An honest man. William Brcokheld' was
elected chairman OF the County Committee ana
there seemed 10 hc ground for the hope thai radical
reformation had been accomplished. But thS nope
r.s M. N no realized The Miholland organiza-
tim which was started and carried on with an
honest purpose betrayed. and Mr. Platt began
70 work with the organization which ne had 80
rrorousIy opposed Unit, soon came to the surface
that ne was in league with the discrcdt'd leaders
whom he had so lately been denouncing. ana under
whose domnation the old organization had become
partially bad and wholly inefficient Fortunately
Mr. Brookhcld and the men VINO had Deeh s'iec'eu
az leaders Of the organization under the ausp'cs OF
the Committee Of Thirty remained In power long
enough to conduct the campaign which resulted IN
the election Of Mayor Strong Then came tho con-
test for the leadership of the County Committee
between Mr. Brookheld and his associates and Mr.
Platt and his followers, among whom were most OF
the old "discredited leaders,. who had bded their
time ana now the front 10 tight for the con-
troll Of the organisation.
Ybsy weYe successful. Mr.. 1Au;erbach was
elected chairman Of the County Committee, and tn,
"decredred leaders" became his iieutenants They
At once began 10 utilize the 'unworkhble election
district plan Of organization. the defects OF which
had been pointed out by Mr. Platt year before. TO
perpetuate their control OF the organization without
regard to the will Of the majority Of the Republican
THE ELECTION DISTRICT PLAN
n should be remembered that under the new plan
of organization the election district was the unit
OF representation. Under the reapportionment
which followed the new constitution there are
l2S Of these election districts. or an average OF
about forty for each Assembly district. The only
occa sions on which the rank and file of the party
can express their views the election district
primaries The election district associations at these
primaries choose election district officers and dele
gate. to the Assembly district convention, in which
they are entitled one delegate for every twenty
names upon their rolls. and these conventions APP
nont members for the County Committee AS
was prophesed by Mr.. Patt and many others,
the election district proved too small unit' ana
the plan Of baslng representation in the Assembly
district convention upon the number enrolled IN
the various election districts proved fertile
source OF fraud The manner in which the weak
ness of the structure of the organization was
utilized to defeat the will OF the party will now
appear.
Ever since the election year ago, at which
Mr. Brookfeld was defeated by Mr. Lauterbach
In the contest for the chairnanship OF the County
Committee. there has been no scarcity of charges
OF dishonesty on the part of those In conro OF
the party machinery. These charges did not
make much impression. because there was a feel
ing In many quarters that they emanaed from
defeated minority, and that, after ali. taos" VINO
had been paced in power by the sunraSes Of
the enrolled Republicans were entitled to exercise
q A. ars, In. most serious allegations were that
the Republican enrolment was incomplete, and
that 70 thousands OF Republicans opposed to The
present machine enrolment had been refused
The County Committee met these charges by the
announcement that an opportunity would be pro-
vid.d for the enrolment OF all such Republicans
h.lcI.ir. thai faIc