New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN.

There need be no fear but that the municipal
campaign will get under way early enough 10
allow thorough discussion of all the issues at
stake as we'll as of the merits and dement's or
all the possible candidates. Such discussion is
in the highest degree desirable in order that
voters may proceed intelligenty IN selecting
candidates for the various nominations and IN
the treatment of the nominations when made
And though The Tribune and other journals
which naturally sympathze with the Citizens
Union movement have opposed quite strenu-
fousy the proposition TO make nominations IN
MAY or June for what they consider good ana
sufficient reasons. we believe it will be generally
admitted that the gentlemen who favor that
plan have really rendered public service in
calling attention to the matter ana provoking
consequently general discussion. the effect or
which must be sautary in disclosing differences
of opinion which will need TO be adjusted, and
pointing out some of the difficulties necessary
TO be surmounted. All this requires time, and
as The Tribune has heretofore said. the exercise
of the utmost care and caution in the spirit
OF persuasion and Cancellation rather than OF
dogmatism and sef-asserton. Indeed, II can
not be 100 often repeated that for the WORK or
detaching from the old party machines ana
cementing in a new and effective organization
a sufficient number Of voters TO carry the mu'
nicpal election the wisest tact and coolest judg-
ment are necessary to avoid giving unnecessary
cause Of offence 10 any one who Is at heart IN
sympathy with the movement We reckon 1t
good sign that the leaders in the Citizens Union,
who in excess of zeal were at first determined
10 hasten nominations without waiting for
full enrolment or an opportunity for any but
themselves TO have voice in this all-imp0rtant
initiation, are now disposed TO recognize the
force of public opinion, which clearly demands
postponement at least until the prellminares OF
organization are completed.
A fact Of the first importance to be borne in
mind. and one that Is palpable TO the most casual
observer is that the bulk Of the vote upon which
the movement must depend for success Is Re
publican, with Republican affiliations and asso-
Citations and consequently connected more or
less closely with the regular Republican organ
izat,on of which Mr.. Lauterbach and his associ-
ates now have control. The position OF Mr.
Lauterbach is already well known That vou-
BILE and vociferous chiefta'n permits no oppor
tunty TO escape TO reterate his irrec0ncilabie
hostility to any effort to organize the voters Tor
the redemption OF municipal government from
machine rule. Upon him and the small coter1e
of professional politicians who submit TO his
guidance ii Is not worth while TO waste time
The effort should be TO win from under his in
fuence the great body Of Republican voters who
are Independent in thought and action and in
natural sympathy with the cause OF honest nom
partisan municipal government on business prn-
ciples. They will not be won by sneers at Re-
publicans who are attached to their party and
slow TO leave 1t to engage In an untrled expert
ment. We may be pardoned for saying that the
proverbal cantankerousness Of professional re-
formers and political Mugwumps will only have
the effect TO drive many OF these into closer re-
latlons with the machine, dcpriving thus the
Citizens Union of its most promising source of
strength and its most encouraging outlook for
effective allies That there will be friction Is
inevitable and perhaps unavoidable, but 1t may
be greatly allayed and rendered eventually In
nocuous by the exercise of tact and Judgment
and disposition on the part OF the leaders TO
smooth over rough places. or at least do nothing
to msk>fy differences.
Tha skitude Of the Tammany Democracy In