The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-03
THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN.
No Trouble About Unity ir q Sensible Course I
Pursued.

No Trouble About Unity ir q Sensible Course To
Pursued.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: II the Citi-
zens' Union and other independent organizations
expressed their preference for any particular
Republican as a candidate for Mayor, their opin-
ion would have much weight with the delegates
to the Republican Convention. all of whom will
desire. first Of all, to unite the opposition to
Organism. 1t is proper and desirable that these
outside and irregular organizations should como
to an understanding among themselves as to the
candidate upon whom they can "%unify," but,
having reached such an agreement, tho only
with the Republicans as to his nomination, with
the view of "unifying'' them also since they
have tho party organization upon which sue
cess in the election depends.
That Is the way they would go at so serious q
business II they were really anxious simply to
defeat Tlmmany Hall and to "unify the friends
OF good government" All hands having agreed
on the candidate. they could simultaneously
nominate him. II the outside organizations have
an aversion (which to me seems even silly) to
follow the Republicans. who must be the actual
leaders, as everybody knows.
That would be actual "unifcation; but for
outside organizations. which of themselves alone
are powerless to accomplish anything at tho
election, to insist on pushing themselves into
the lead in nominating. is bad manners, bad
policy. vanity. and obstinacy, indicative of a
purpose to defeat unihcation.''
The mistake, usually made by amateur and
reform politicians is in forgetting that the
political organizations. in which all except
q very small and almost insignificant part
OF the people are included, are representa-
tive bodies, which cannot run things in defiance
OF the convictions and preferences Of their mem.
hers without coming to grief. A party conven.
ton must take care to express the sentiment of
tho party. and bosses. as they are called, are
only successful in their leadership when they
have the perception and the instinct to divine
that sentiment and crafty II.
The most Important matter in the selection of
a candidate for Mayor is to unity the Repub-
licans in his support. and any attempt to dictate
a particular nomination Is bad policy. The first
requisite Is to secure unity among the Repub-
licans in support of the ticket nominated.
The organized Republicans arc intelligent
citizens. reasonable and considerable, and no
organization which really wants to unite with
Them in opposition to Tammany Organism will
be rebufred. nor will its desires as to u ticket to
be nominated be treated otherwise than most
respectfully; but they expect and require that
their representatives shall be consulted in The
making OF the ticket. There Is much talk about
bringing business method" " into politics. Men
seeking to bring about union in a business enter
prise first OF all endeavor to further agreement
by courtesy and Cancellation.
All hands should agree on a candidate for
| Mayor, and then the conventions of all the uni.
fed organizations can nominate him at the same
time. REPUBLICAN.
NEW YORK. July 2.