New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-23
GETTING TO WORK EARLf. =.
THE CITIZENS UNION PREPARING FOR
TICKET THIS FALL.
r. FULTON CUTTING ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF
THE COMMITTEE on RGANIZATTON-Co-OP-
GRAFTON WITH INDEPENDENT or
CARNATIONS IN OTHER PARTS
OF GREATER NEW-YoEK

OF GREATER NEW-YOEK
The Committee on Organization OF the CHI
zens' Union. the aims and principles OF which
have been published fully in The Tribune. met
last evening in Room No. 22 OF the Cooper
Union. to make beginning OF the campaign for
a citizens ticket next fall There not room
enough for all the members Of the committee TO
find seats and the air became oppressive. but
the enthusiasm was unabated. Among the men
present were James c. Carter. Abram s. Hewitt.
Elihu Root Dorman B. Eator. William B. Horn
blower. w. ]. Scheffelin. Myer s. Isaacs, f. A.
Drake. James w Pryor. Gustav II. Schwab,
r. Fulton Cutting. Prebe Tucker. George NJ
Cassatt and John f. Eustls.
James C. Carter. as temporary chairman, made
speech which created much enthusiasm. He
spoke OF the need OF organization TO take
the control OF municipal elections out Of the
hands OF the political parties and he was ao-
pauded vigorously and frequentN by the 2oO
men present.
At the close Of his speech the following officers
OF the committee were chosen separately each
by the unanimous vote Of the committee: r.
Fulton Cutting chairman: Charles Stewart
Smith vice-chairman; J. Kennedy Tod. treas
urer. and John c. Clark secretary. Mr. Cut
ting declared that the time OF patchwork mu-
ncipal ticket had gone by. that the Citizens
Union had come 10 stay until IT elected ts
municipal ticket, and that the moral principle
OF the movement was 10 free municipal office
holders from political blackmalling. His re-
marks were applauded
Elihu Root then offered the following resoiu-
tions:
Resolved. That the chairman appoint twenty
members OF the Committee Organization 70
with the officers as an a EHe9u5s Ss II! nam
r. Blved. That the Executive Committee be In,
strdEed to invite the cooperation OF al y9sTs ih IN
the principles and objects Of the union and desire
the Election of candidates w1 will indorse and
Resolved. That the Executive Committee be
orzed TO take such steps as may De necessary 20
Offices be voted for the election OF 1897.
Resolved. That the Executive Committee nave
appoint subcommittee from the organization AZ
large. and to take such acton as 1t may % fefm en-
principles and objects OF the union and the election
Resolved. That IN the event Of municipal consoll-
dation the Executive Committee be authorized 70
cooperate with any in dependent citizens organ;za-
mond or Queens County for purposes similar 10
those Of the union.
bers OF the Committee on Organization 10 act as a
Finance Committee to secure contributions for car
rying the work OF the union, and TO supervise
expenditures. with power 10 add 70 its numbers.
Mr. Root declared that the idea OF the organi-
cation was that ii should hold it's warrant d.
recty from the voters Of the city and enable
those voters to have their candidates for
municipal offices without regard 10 political
parties or political questions. The resolutions
were passed unanimously. Mr.. Cutting said the
work of the evening had been completed, but he
asked ex-Mayor Hewitt to speak. Mr. Hewitt
was applauded until he went TO the platform.
He said in part:
been said II | % suggest anything else Il
would come from the consideration that this c0un-
trv IL compelled 70 acknowledge that the end OF
100 years Of popular education and political free
government We have tried for a century 70 have
good municipal government by political parties
and we have failed | have thought that would
not live long enough 10 see the principle OF sepa-
take advantage OF the movement in That direction.
we might almost confess that universal suffrage IS
a failure. Il almost means an answer TO the qle~-
ton whether the people of this country are capable
answer Ia going 10 be- but II the citizens OF New
York should fail 70 enroll themselves In the cause
OF municipal independence of political parties. We
might make the confession that self-government In
this city Is failure.
Mr. Hewitt told how he was hampered by his
obligations to political party when he was
Mayor Of the city, and caused applause and
laughter when he declared that Mayor Strong
had been honest in his recognition Of the poll
tcians but had demonstrated that good ap
pointments could not be made for political
reasons
After the meeting adjourned. Chairman Cut
ting said he would appoint members OF the SUD-
committees at a later day.