New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-07


should be managed ~ men selected on account OF
their fitness for the positions Tor waich they are
put 81 nomination. 4. the sole Interest OF the ct'-
at large. Or whe. her tse si.@ lie Inanased ~
orgartxat,cns IN the iBtercs.. not 90 the city mt
large Jut CT the political organizations which have
the latter method az government nave Deeh 20 a.
ccntustcc IL ne pa exp, .' r w. ramTnT
Iial that Il i no; propose ~ IRIS it1t 10 "h'e.
ana Appreciated by the Constitutional Co.vcutioI OF
1896 convention controlled ~ me H'Puhucdh
rar;v G. the State whose d-.ea'es in taat con'en-
ton we're In tic majority AM ilo ofln'f"tionS O.
which were controlled oy A p.'si!."N oih'ct On" o!
tho caa.:uen ana nsioritcs .u the lr.oc.pal com.
mittecs. VINO were sciectc! ~ the delegates o; me
so s!svoss were taose evils tia. thei- consacra-
ton c,edpici important part o. INC oel"rfa-
tons % tee convention. al. ihe iesl't W. III
tn nsrassnent Of he nuslna affairs o. our
crest corpora:io-s Ur'cntr"l'"n 30! Natci'' o.
sia:c politics
wHAc' THE CoNsTiT,TioN PROVIDES.
This araon.cd Constitution was Submitted to the
people. accompanied b. ar address by the Dee
gates 10 the convention eXp1rat5Y Of their Work
IN which they say:
we seek to separate n the .arso; ,ios municipal
elections from State ana Nau7na. elections to me
Sorrosaions NAY h Ysi ana stae politics
and State politics MAJ he determined upon heir
merits. free from the disturbing and often demota-
ling effect OF loca. contests" u,s
In order 70 avail OF the opportunity thus afforded LED
by the amended Constitution the movement oT 'i9
Organization OF the Citizens Union was started ana
has been carried It's platform declares tnai the
that the business AFFAIRS Of municipal corporations
should be manased upon their own er,s emsDds
that The affairs Of the City Of NewYork be admins
snS hss oes oe ns bs ehosen with
encs to their qualifications and II declares tnae .ne
sesr and record such as 70 Justly public cont 0n
11dence in his assurance that II eecsu ne W." hn nS
OF any political Organization. but will administer It
n al sespeSts IN accordance VIII" 's
no WAR ON POLITICAL PARTIES.
Tho Union was not formed TO make war upon po-
Uucal parties as such. 1t recognizes the value or
uotical parties TO deal with questions affecting Fed
1rsl or State policy: but It appeals 10 citizens or all
political parties unite with them FOR the purpose
Of placing the Of the ssns seeced on
account of their character and qualifications for the
sole object shall be to accomplish the best results
Tor the city at large acting IN the interests OF s a
thslr ofiees for the aggrandzement Or Advantage OF
s hs nrine,pie for which they contend had been
acted upon and With most Teru asd 9Sf re
nc seuppraion Of municpal from state and Federal
elections 1t had received the approval OF the Ke,
spn Pay e early ay Of as B 4s Sf
was in ONCE Mayor. elected BY the votes OF GU
sens Of all parties whose term OF office was expiring
IN the year 1883.
A PRECEDENT FOR NON-PARTlsANsHlP
On October IS, 1853. the delegates Of the Repub-
ncan party OF the city OF Brooklyn in convention
assembled to nominate for the suffrages OF their
feIlow-citizens candidate for Mayor and seven
candidates for Aldermen-at-large proclaimed the
following as fundamental propositions ,,.,.-
"First..Questons Of National or state ponies nac
ys TO-DAY 1 no the the
Of our muncipad business, she affairs Of
our city depends upon the election to office or men
Of tried integrity and proved capacity VINO VIII not
s cn. aS Or ends but
public business according to essentially the same ns
efcient conduct Of their private business Therefore
IN Taox for end sne o the named do 50
With the distinct understanding that such candi-
selves unreservsdly TO support and promote these
fundamental principles"
ENDORSEMENT OF MIR. Low.
And they concluded with the declaration that the
Mayor then in Office 'qn the administration of his
high Office has been IN hearty and entire accord
with the principles here enunciated. and closed
with cordial Endorsement o: his administration
As is perfectly understood by every one. in
division on mere party lines the Republican party
is and always has been in hopeless minority in the
city OF New-York. In n campaign, therefore. IN the
interest OF good government 1t Is perfectly evident
psrtsa D pstform would have any chance Of sue
cess.
TO insure success the cooperation of citizens
such cooperation might be expected for candidates
the execution Of their Offices in the interest Of the
city large and not FOR the benefit Of any political
peeted in support Of partisan candidate put for
ward as the representative OF any political organ
The Citizens Union therefore. as representatives
Of citizens Of all political beliefs in National issues
proceeded to put IN nomination candidates selected
solely with reference TO their character and fitness
character such TO justify public confidence IN
their assurance that their Offices would be used only
In he int n ne
nen Sni Of any political Organization '' 80
THE UNIONS CANDIDATE.
Their first act after conferences with men OF All
political faiths who desired good government for
the city was TO fix their choice for the chief ex-
ecutive oficer upon a who In their judgment
and in the Judgment Of great body Of their fellow
c,tizans filled all the requirements to insure per-
feet an administration Of the business affairs OF
the great city as could possibly be expected. The
man of their selection is the logical candidate OF
n. sua sncao q Sroad VIEWS m great
ecutive ability, who was born and whose life 70
great City man Of great experience in municipal
Standardization. who has served two terms as
tration has received the cordial Endorsement not
Of r. s aTy but aS of w f1 of
years has been resident of the city OF New-York,
snd n s one %h s s e
Adence Of the artisans and manual laoorers as well
and Of Professional men: man who had been
selected on account Of his character and high at
tainments as the president OF our Oldest institution
OF learning man who had been appointed by a
RepublicaI Governor as one OF the Commissioners
70 frame tho charter for the proposed greater city
10 which he has laid his hand the most con-
vcientious. painstaking devotion; IN National poll
lies a Rcpublican--this man was selected as can
adate Of the citizens OF the greater city without
Sespect to party, as the logical candidate FOR It's
chief executive oficer.
THE OFFICE SOUGHT THE MAN.
twas a case where the man did not seek Office,
but the Office sought the man and when the pro-
posal was first made to him no was unwilling to
entertain &: While he fully approved the platform
Of the Citizens Union being in substance the
platform upon which he had served two terms as
Mayor of the City of Brooklyn, the only condition