New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-29
A POLITICAL COURT OF APPEALS.


An essential quality in a court is a disposi-
ton to do justice. Unless It puts aside pre-
possessions and refrans from using It's power
for the furtherancc of personal ends 1t becomes
mockery and an oppression. The infamous
judges are the most Infamous Of men. history
comes to look lenently upon many evil deeds
OF warrior and statesman, but 1t never forgives
the unjust judge. Since the Court Of Appeals
of this State has refused to act rs the guard
ian Of the rights Of Republican voters to the
equal enjoyment Of the privileges conferred
upon them by the ballot law. and has made the
State Committee the highest court Of the party.
1t Is well to understand the spirit in which that
body will perform its judicial functions Our
Albany correspondent this morning, In the light
Of Judge Martins decision, reviews the make
mp Of the State Committee and recalls some
acts which indicate 10 Republicans how hope
lessly they are handed over to the power of n
self-perpetuating machine.
This party court Of appeals consists Of thirty
four persons. They are the supreme judges
and from them there Is no escape They can
call conventions or refuse to call conventions
Last fall they refused to call convention
and named candidate for Chief Judge them
selves. Next year they can ignore the voters
Of the party IL they wish to, and send to the
State officials a list of candidates for State
officers They can select Richard Croker for
Governor II they want to. and his name, II so
selected, would GO the ballot under the Re-
publican emblem. They can overrule the mem.
bers Of the party IN any county and force upon
them unwelcome leaders. They are nominally
an elective. representative body. but there Is
nothing to prevent them from declaring rregu-
lar any movement which threatens their con-
tinuance in Office. They are constituted Judges
In their own cases, and can perpctuate their
own control Of the party organization. And
this Is exactly what they have done. The chair
man Of the committee, Charles W. Hackett Of
Utica, whose laundering ignorance recently led
him 10 break out into violent abuse OF Mayor
Strong for not appointing Republican Aque-
duct Commissioner when the law expressly re-
CURED him to appoint Democrat holds his seat
in the State Committee Through the arbitrary
refusal of his colleagues TO put on the roll of a
State convention opposition delegates elected
from his district. This high-handed action was
taken without regard for any consistent rule
OF Judgment One law Of regularity was mp
piled TO exclude some anti-Hackett delegates,
and the application Of the same law was re-
fused when It would exclude Hackett delegates
This supreme judicial power is exercised by
Il D0dy majority VI WHICH IL U! pist ooiSa-
lions or by gratitude for favOrs yet TO come
bound 70 one man, and under no conceivable cir
cumstances viii it give decision adverse to his
interests Three.fourths Of the Republicans in
any county may make certain nominations but
X those nominations are not pleasing to Mr..
Platt the State Committee can and Will exercise
it, power to keep .heir nominations of the Re-
publican ticket A year ago In the Westchester
disfr-frt tho majority of the Republicans named
william J.. Ward for Congress. The minority
bolted md put up 3. L. Faircbild, and it was |
recognized by the State Committee as the "regu-
lar organization. Ward Received 30,70S votes,
vAns Pairchild had ITO No better proof Il