The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-15
Tom Plat Tore it Off the Face of
Republicans.
INCURABLE FACTIONISTS
FAILING IN EVERY EFFORT TO
CONTROL THE PARTY.
Platform Denying the Relation of
Political Party to Municipal At
fairs Contrary to the Spirit of
Republicanism = Predictions of
Unity in Next Bryan Campaign.

New York, Nov. 14.-Senator Thomas
Platt tonight gave out the following
statement:
1T is the plain purpose of those Re
publican factionists who, failing in
every effort repeatedly made to control
the Republican organization, projected
Seth Low into the municipal campaign,
thereby dividing the anti-Tammany
vote, to force into the public mind the
impression that the responsibility for
this division attached. not to them, but
to the Republican organization. And
just as during the campaign they
stopped at no act of treachery in order
to create dissenSion. so now they are
hesftating at no falsehood nor calumny
in order to promote it and keep it alive.
THE malicious Misrepresentation of
these incurable factionists must not go
unchallenged. No minded Repub-
lican who viii look back over the
events Of the last six months can fail
to remember that the attitude of the
Republican organization up to the very
last moment at which the law per-
mitted a nominating certificate to be
filed was much more than favorable
to a union with the Citizens organiza-
ton. Fair-minded men will remember
that when Mr.. Quigg assumed the
presidency of the county committee, he
mad the offer of the union distinctly
and on terms. They will remember
that his offer was as distinctly re-
fused by those 10 whom it was adj
dressed. They will remember, indeed,
that when the Citizens association or
gained it adopted a platform which
was intended to commit its members
to the go it alone policy.
NEW INTERPRETATION.
This platform denied the relation of
a national political party to municipal
affairs. 1t challenged the right of the
Repu blican party to make 1epub-
lican nomination. 1t placed upon the
doctrine of -partisanship' a new in
depreciation, and one which forbade
the possibility of cooperation between
the Republican party and the Citizens
union.
This was done, we must remember.
away back in the spring and before the
average citizen had begun to consider
what his political course should be.
Nobody paid any attention at the time,
for nobody supposed it would mean
that the Citizens union was going de-
liberately to work to defeat them
selves, or that they could obtain a can
didate who would stand with them in
such a suicidal policy.
The Republican leaders. however,
who had had long experience, perceived
its significance and the perilous situa
ton TO which it was bound to lead, 1t
anticipated everything which the Re-
publican party would do to secure
union, and repudiated all in advance.
1t demanded the unconditional surren-
der of the Republican party, not simply
to Objectionable candidates, but to i'm
possible platforms. 1t demanded that
the Republican party must say that in
municipal affairs it would not allow
itself to be the Republican party, and
would assert no right to make nominal
tons or define policies.
MASQUERADING AS REPUBLI-
CANS.
THE Republican leaders met an in
solent charge without bitterness and re-
sentiment. They found no fault with
the candidate whom the Citizens Union
picked out as the expression of its pur-
pose and ideas. They do not now deny
that they regard him as practically the
sort of a man he has turned out to be-
a Yain-glOriouS Self-Seeker, masquerade
ing as a Republican, but willing at any
time to wreck the Republican ship on
q ledge Of his own ambitions.
The Republican leaders do not deny
that they were then opposed TO the
candidacy of Seth Low. But they al
lowed their opposition to take no def
mite or irritating shape. They simply
insisted that the Republican party did
have q just and inevitable relation TO
municipal affairs; that it did have the
right to nominate and it must eXer-
else that right; that the views and
wishes OF its adherents was entitled to
consideration. and that there ought to
be union between the Citizens or
ganization and the Republican party,
but that it ought to be an honorable,
friendly and equitable union, Under the
terms of which both should have a
voice in choosing candidates and in de-
fining policies.
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
This was the exact state of things
UP to the time when the Republican
county committee adopted Commits
sioner Coils resolution inviting all an
ti-Tammany organizations into a con-
ference in order that date might be
fixed when they should all hold their
nominating conventions, so that ready
conference and harmonious action
might be assured.
THE Citizens Union refused to par
.SsS--saESss