New-York tribune., 1897-11-01
COMPLETE THE RECORD.
Tribune.

Let il be borne clearly in mind what the rec
ord Of tho Republican party is on the SUD-
iert OF municipal government On no other
suhiect not even human freedom, protection 10
home industry or sound currency, is It's record
more explicit and unmistakable Not 10 go
further afeld IN time or place, 1t formally oe-
clared In It's regular party convention IN brook-
lyn, In October, 1888. that
Questions of National or State politics have
no proper place I'm the selection OF cahdi-
dates for our municipal onfces'
The Constitutional Convention of this State,
with q strong Republican majority. on Sep
tember Ii, 1894, adopted an amendment TO the
Constitution separating city from state clec-
f,ons. That amendment was framed by a com
mittee containing majority OF RepuDRcanS'
including Jesse Johns IN. the chairman; John
Al. Francis, Frederick w. Hollis and Merton
r. Lewis, all men OF unquestioned regular
ity." and its object. as stated by that commit
tee. was
To give the cities an election Mt which
: nothing but municipal is'ucs are to ne "e-
Ntermined.
VI The Convention adopted this amendment ny
vote OF fO7 to 40. the affirmative votes being
cast chiefly by Republicans. including such men
as Edward Lauterbach, W. d. Dickey NJ II.
H,rschberg. John F. Parkhurst and Commodore
p. yedder. Next on September is, 1894, the
regular Republican State Convention met un-
der fhe temporary chairmanship of that az
eressiye advocate Of regularity" Lemuel Ely
Ouigp It's Committee on Resolutions, consist
ins Of Serene L. Payne, Timothy l.. Woodruff
Hamilton Fish, Ernest Hall. A. B. Colvin, e.
NJ. Bovee IT, and other similarly regular
Republicans, reported platform which de
clared that
We recognize the wisdom of the Constitu
.,onaI Convention . and commend tbs
action thus far taken by that Convention tt
the favorable consideration of the people.
We pledge to the people municipal hom'
ruie.
few days later on September % 1894 the
Republican majority Of the Constitutional Con
ventiop issued an address TO the people of Tho
State In support ot The proposed amendments
In which they said:
I've seek to separate In the larger cihe
..,n,cinaI elections from state and NatiOna
4 elections, to the end that the business nj
fairs OF great municipal corporation
p,ny he managed upon their own merits un
controlled by stnte and National politics.
Apain. on October ), 1894 the regular Re
nrblican County Convention in New-York, un
der the leadership Of w. NJ X. Olcott Abra
ham Gruber. George Bliss and c. II. T. Coils
accepted this platform: - --
~. demand that the public service of thi
..itv be conducted on n strictly nOn-r"r'fsn'
basis.
AT the ensuing election. in November 1874
tho Republican voters Of the State ratified th
,.orl, os the Constitutional Convention by
,,otoritv of So. 695, and the Republican voter
az fbis city ratified 1t by majority of 1G%''
AZ tho same time the Republican State and cit
,,,tforms were srDroved and the candidates O
them elected by still larger majorities. NO
was that all Two years later the Rcpublica
members Of the Commission which prepare
The charter under which these cities are to b
consolidated put themselves on record 10 tn
same effect Their chief spokesman, the chair
man of the Commission, the present socalie
regular" Republican candidate for Mayor o
New-York. General Benjamin +. Tracy. SAID