New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
list WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

There is one point in connection with the
I.auterbach Police bill which is still worth con
sldering even though that unsavory measure Is
dead and more than ready for burial Natural
ly enough. there was a strong desire. not only
on the part Of the general public which was
certain TO condemn il. but also on the part or
those who were expected TO make II law in
obedience TO the orders of the Republican organ
ization TO know what purpose was behind it
what IL was meant to accomplish Usually when
questions designed TO draw out such informa'
lion are asked concerning q novel and somewhat
mysterious political movement they are an
swered with great apparent candOr and profess
sions Of high morality The honor and prin-
clples of party are involved. public opinion
demands the measure. the common welfare is at
stake etc. BY CONGRATULATIONS of this sort
whether true or false, the managers seek 10 eX-
plain and support their undertaking.
In The case Of the Police bill the prevailing
rraciice has been reversed. Nobody ventured
or apparently cared. TO pretend that IT, was in
furfherance of any Republican policy or sus
tanned in any degree by public opinion. 1t was
virtually conceded that the bill was in fiat con-
tradcton Of the party's professions on the sub
iect of Home Rule as specifically proclaimed in
many platforms and continuously from the
stump. and supposedly embodied in the new
charter that it was an egregious affront not only
to the municipal authorities Of NewYork. but
10 the police departments Of other communities
which are not in the remotest degree responsible
for the conditions existing here, and that so far
as could be determined the opposition to the
scheme was welngh universal There was no
denial of these facts, nor there offered in
L.; ,,lo ha cliUhta St
relation TO political principle.
What. then. was the argument which, not Sc
cretly or quietly but openly and all the time, was
proclaimed by the advocates of the bill and re-
peatedly dinned into the ears of Governor Black?
WHY simply this. that the Republican Organiza-
ton must absolutely control the police force in
general and the election machinery in partcu-
lar in order TO secure political possession of
Greater New York AT the outset. This is the
claim which was originally set up and constant
~ proclaimed without disguise so long as the
fate of the bill was in doubt and which is mourn
fully repeated now that It's fate has been sealed.
And therefore we say going back to our origi-
nal proposition. there Is 4 question involved in
This business which the practical disposal of the
legislative measure does not make less interest
ins. Just what was meant by the contention
of Tie Republican machine that it must obtain
control of the police force by revolutionary
means prior TO the next election: Apparently
the meaning was that the Police Board as il is
at prespnt constituted, or as Mayor Strong might
recons,itu,e 1t If he should get the necessary
mower by means OF the Wray bill. the removal
Of COMMISSIONS Parker or otherwise. could not
he depended upon to give us an honest election
Rut do the managers Of the Republican organ
,zation really intend 10 assert or imply that Mr.
Roosevelt and his colleagues. present or prospcc-
tive. would conspirc 10 swindlc the people at
the polls and in the count: II Is hardly sup
posoble tina, they designed 10 make that charge.
II * absolutely certain that they do not believe
any such thing. They may hate Mr.. Roosevelt
and feel no affection for MI. Andrews. but they
know that neither OF them Is n scoundrel They
have always wanted ii 10 be understood that
Colonel Grant possessed Their confidence and
favor and even il Mr.. Parker, who was recently
= welcome visitor at Republican headquarters,
should succeed in keeping his place they would
not seriously claim to be alarmed on that ac-
count.
What. then, Is the necessary Inference from
the argument 80 mistakenly made TINT control
Of the police by the Republican organization 10
absolutely Indispensable? Why is 1t indispeu-