New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-13
THE BOGEY OF REGULARITY.

1t IS not 10 be doubted that the issue present
cd by this campaign Is troublesome one for
many honest Republicans. They desire. above
all things the defeat Of Tanmany Hall, and
they clearly see that the candidacy Of General
Tracy only contributes TO the chances OF a
Tammany victory. They nre in sympathy with
oil movements for strictly business admnisira-
ton OF city affairs, md would he glad OF n
chance 10 settle local questions without regard
TO National politics. But nj the same time they
are loyal Republicans and are strongly bound
by party tics. They see what Is recognized as
the regular Republican organization protesting
that the non-parsan idea IS antl-Republican and
running n candidate for Mayor on the straight
National party issue-undcr the pretoncc that
IN spite Of the magnificent Republican victory
last year II Is vitally important for Republicans
IN New-York 10 neglect their municipal affairs
and take the chance Of Tammany IN order 10
protest against the defeated follcs of Organism.
When they see the machine seriously in ear
nest FOR parilsanship that II deliberately goes
into n campaign TO throw the election To Tam
many for the sake Of preventing non partisan
success they are likely TO conclude that some
fundamental Republican principle Is involved,
and that It IL their duty TO stand by the party
Such troubled Republicans will find on study
ing the recent history OF the party and the ut
terances Of It's most honorcd and most regular
leaders that there IS no question OF party duty
in this election compelling the support Of n can
dldate for Mayor nominated by one body Of
Republicans rather than another. General
Tracy has been named by an organization recog-
nlzcd as regular By the State Committee Mr..
pendents. but by a Republican body whose
members have supported the Republican Ma
tional and State principles and tickets Loyalty,
and which owes ia separate existence TO its
conviction that the machine management In
local affairs i subversive Of Repubcanism
rather than representative OF H. But even pass
Ing over the point that Mr.. Low is Repuh-
lican candidate as well General Tracy. and
considering him simply as put in the field by
Independent citizens. the fact remains that no
question Of party regularity stands in the way
OF a. Republican voting for him. because the
Republican party itself Is distinctly committed
TO the home rule and non-partisan Idea Of mu-
nicipal government for which Mr.. Low stands.
The Republican Constitutional Convention Of
1894 put in the Constitution n provision for
separate city elections for the express purpose
Of making n0n-partisan local government pos
sible That article was unanimously proposed
by the Committee on Cities. which was presided
over by Jesse Johnson. OF Brooklyn. who has
Just been appointed n Justice Of the Supreme
Court by Governor Black. and among It's Re
publican members were the late John NJ Fran
els. the stanch Republican Editor of The Troy
Times; Tracy c. becker. Merton f.. Lewis the
present Republican candidate for Mayor Of
Rochester; Edgar A. Spencer and Frederick w.
Hollis This committee reported that such n
provision would he very beneficial to cities.
"both in its direct effect and In the announce
'ment by the people of the State that the gov
"ernmcnt Of great cities is no longer to be sec
"ondary to matters OF State the Nation"
Jesse Johnson pleaded with the convention to
leave questions Of local administration "to the
'cities TO determine. uncmblrrasscd by other
questions and ut a time when the issue OF the
tariff or financial policy or Of domestic or for
"elgn questions Is not before the people" Joseph
RI. Choae declared that the people would he
greatly helped lin their efforts for good govern
"mcn'. II they have this opportunity when the
question * not whether Il man Is n Republican.
but whether he Is q fit man to administer the