The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20

could easily be maintained, but the introduction
OF the tarift question and Of civil service re-
form, the pet plan of the Reform olubers, could
have no other result than to make n Republican
alliance dinicult, II not impossible.
Tothe Hoffman House conference few honest
money Democrats came except such as have
acted with tho sundry Grace organizations In
the past. The Grotcs. the Dowlings, the Sutros,
tho Hoebers, and the Quinlans were In attend
ance as usual. but most OF the men OF substance
and influence who lent dignity and Importance
to the Democratic revolt of this year against
Organism were absent, and the practical erect
Of the Hoffman House meeting, Just one month
after election. was to split into two factions the
honest-moncy Democratic who had been opposed
TO Bryan. II was also q moment inopportune
for such q demonstrations few days before
the meeting Of Congress and q few weeks before
tho meeting of the Legislature. The patriotic
and influential Democrats, members OF Tam
many Hall heretofore, who rebuked 1t when
II ceased to be a conservative force In
New York politics. and went over to
the embrace of revolution and anarchy,
have a common ground of agreement with
their Republican fe!low-citizens in the cleo
ton OF next year; but they have very little
in common with the impracticable notions
of the Reform Club men and little patience
with their bizarre notion that q poli:i-
cal organization In an assortment of Isolated
particles instead Of a structure firmly built to-
Rether for practical uses. Should the Reform
Club theorists continue TO insist on tho esiab-
lishment of q municipal organization based OIL
opposition to custom houses and customs duty,
in favor Of civil service reform and a single tax,
for q limited franchise and similar undelno-
cratic plans. It seems to be quite clear that
those who participated with them in support Of
the Mckinley electoral tick tlastm month will de-
part from their company and leave them with n
nero skeleton of support. 5000 votes perhaps.
or about one-half as many as the Socialists
polled In the recent election in the city.
The Republican party Is more nearly united
in New York city this year than 1t has been at
| any time for nearly twenty-five years past, and
| under accredited and acknowledged leadership,
and with the splendid record of three successive
| triumphs in the State. will start out In the bat
tic against disgruntled and demoralized Tam
| many under conditions very favorable to sue
| cess. The Republicans have an election district
organization throughout the town. Through
| absolute control of the Legislature they have q
| taoit and practical control of all of the munich
| pal departments now held by Republicans or
| Mugwumps. Now recruits have been coming
from timo to time into the camp Of
tho Plat regulars, leaving the formerly
boisterous Union League men completely
out of the recs oninR. All the heads of
city departments. even those appointed by
Mayor Strong, under the most explicit assur-
ance of their hostility to Senator Plat. are now
in the Plat Lauterbach camp. and such Is the
zeal of new converts In politics that some of
them are more strenuous in their opposition to
the forces which secured their appointment
than the original Platt-L auterbach men have
ever been. Conspicuous among these recruits
are the Commissioner of Public Works, the
President of the Dock Department. the Com
missioner of Correction. and the City hamber
lain, whose salary is $25. 900. The vacancy in
the office of District Attorney. caused by the
death of John R. Fellows. gives the Repub-
licans partisan control through the Gov
ernor's appointment. Of that most impor-
tant county office In q municipal cleo
ton: and moreover, many Republican
politicians are looking forward to suitable
recognition from the Republican National Ad-
ministration and q few to recognition in the
State departments. Long before the date Of
nomination In 1897 1t is expected the Repub-
licans will be in full possession of the chief
appointive otioes, not only in the municipal hut
in the Federal and State departments as well,
and the success of Republican candidates in
Now York county this year has rudely broken
the former Democratic spell Of security and en-
couraged many Republicans to believe that
with the proper effort and after a thorough can
vass they can not only carry the Greater New
York, II there is one. but also carry for their
candidates tho present New York. A strong
effort will be made to elect a Republican Mayor
and District Attorney, and the success OF
tho party in the contest for these two
offices probably would be promoted by
such nominations to the other places
as would draw out a full Republican vote and
gain the support Of many Independent Demo-
Gratis as we'll. Frank $. Black. Republican can
didate for Governor. received at the November
otootiop 1ka fRR yntea in New York city In the
municipal election of 1894, William L. Strong
received l54. O94, and deducting from these the
vote Of the State Democracy which was cast for
Everett p. Wheeler for Governor, Col. Strong's
vote was las, 455. or actually less than that cast
for Mr.. Black this year. The Republicans find
in this comparison an assurance that the sup
port of any Committee Of Seventy or other
Mugwump body is not essential to their success
this year, but that they have votes enough to
win the election without 1t. The two candidates
discussed for the Republican nomination this
year are William NJ. X. Olcott by the conserva-
tives, and Lemuel Ely Quigg by the radicals.
They are neiRhbors up town.
The condition of Tammany Hall at the present
time Is outwardly good internally 1t is bad. The
men of character, the men of influence. the men
of high commercial and professional standing
who In tho past have guided Tammany into
support of sound policies and the scrupulous
| " sAo
Rreat extent estranged from 1t. Tammany's
valiant battle in defence of property against the
Socialist and single-tax movement in 1885
strengthened 1t for many elections with the con.
sentative voters of the town. In q like critical
emergency this year Tammany preferred the
revolutionary side, and went down to de.
feat, in association with some of those who
have been its bitterest opponents in the past,
and who. tho election over. Bryan defeated and
Populism on the decline. have turned from
Tammany as suddenly and;a as unceremoniously
as they voted with it five or six weeks ago. The
actual Tammany vote in this years election
was not. probably. much in excess OF 10000. II
as many. The Bryan electoral ticket, 1t is true,
received 1876. 900 votes. but in that number were
included the Populists. who are constitutionally
against Tammany in local matters, several
thousand Socialists. and a very considerable
number of normal anti-Tammany Democrats,
who. being naturally malcontents and dis.