New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-13

citizens' were held in contempt by Mr.. Plat
and that he was going to run a candidate Tor
Mavor on National issues, and they could sup
port him II they chose. A little later on May
% Jacob Worth came out with nm interview,
saving that party wisdom demanded union
candidate and speaking favOrably Of Mr.. Low.
Thereupon Mr.. Plat turned upon his former
friend and taught every Republican that an at
titude Of Cancellation toward the Citizens Union
or any disposition TO regard their favorte as an
available Republican candidate would be looked
upon by the machine party treason deserving
Of the severest punishment Then Mr. Qulsg
declared that Republicans had taken themselves
ont Of the party by joining the Citizens Union,
and said he was going to keep them or the
rolls. and Mr. Platts organ, THE New-1orK
Sun" carried on n campaign OF bitter personal
abuse against Mr.. Low and everybody at all
prominent In advocating his nomination.
Ia # any wonder that the leaders OF the Clti-
IONS Union came TO regard Plat as an enemy
md refused to confer with his tools? The high
est political wisdom might have prompted theh
TO give him no pretext for complaint and go 10
his conference But It was only human 10 re-
fuse. Long before any invitation to conference
had been issued the machine had made II pam
that its one object WAS to beat Low, against
whom Mr.. Van Colt and other leaders protested
they had no objection except that he was being
urged unon the party from without. Under such
circumstances Mr.. Quigg fixed his convention
NJ q date 40 late rs to make subsequent inde-
pendent action difficult, and Issued call TOT IL
conference. which was attended by one pody OF
Mr.. Lows supporters, the Brooklyn Committee
Of Fifty. and TO them he set up as the essehtai
condition OF union the rejection or ono man.
II was not until after Mr.. Quigg had refused 10
give the Committee OF Fifty the slightest nope
that the Republican convention would pay any
regard TO independent sentiment, and after Mt
Plat he'd shown that he meant 10 down Worth
and any other regular" leader who dared to
ADOPT a conciliatory attitude. that the conserva-
tive Members OF the Citizens Union gave up
hope Of reaching any agreement md on the
advice Of machine leaders themselves, one OF
whom afterward ran on the Tracy ticket, NOM
mated Mr.. Low, hoping that his actual candi'
dncy would bring about consolidation. They put
of their county nominations I'll after the GATE
Of the Republican Convention. with the IDEA
that Republican candidates might be Endorsed
and q common ticket made mp, but the machine
would not have It, adjourned It's County Con-
vention and forced The Citizens 10 so It alone.
From the beginning Mr.. Plat treated the
'better element as enemies and fought every
force within and without the party which
worked for union OF anuTammany voters.
And even at the last when he saw that the only
obstacle 20 Tammany defeat was Tracy's can
ddacy, ne kept him in the field and gave the
election 10 Van Wyck. There was no time
from May 10 November when one word from
him would not have made an anti-Tammany
victory secure. Others may have committed po'
lhcal errors He committed political crimea