New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-09
GREATER NEW-YORK ELECTION.


NEED OF ANTI-TAMMANY FORCES TO UNITE
ON COUNTY oFFIcEs-ALFRED r.
coNKLING FAvoRs FUSION
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the efforts to solve the problem low q
beat unspeakabIe Tammany there Is one point that
I have not seen discussed in newspapers T. O.. the
necessity OF union Of all antiTammany parties IN
order TO elect Republicans and some gold Demo-
Gratis for the county offices In Greater New-York
and especially In NeSYork and Kings counties I
add that failure 10 combine against Tam
many will a heavy loss OF votes to the State
ticket OF the Republican organization.
II mus. be borne in mind % that every borough
In Greater New-York is hopeessly Democratic %
that the Republican party in NewYork and Brook
lyn s now divided. and 90 that the many thou
sands Of independents in Greater New-York are In.
clned to with Republicans city matters II
the machine will only run Of the highest
character whose career is guarantee that. II
elected. he will always be free to serve the city
| assume that the Republicans and gold Demo-
Gratis and probably all ant-Tammany Democrats
will finally agree to support a strong candidate for
Mayor. and this union will help the county and
State tickets Of the Republicans citizen like
Seth Low would carry county candidates with him
Just as President Mckinley in the tidal wave OF
1885, carried the Coroner to victory. Let say
that in referring TO the county offices wish
emphasize that % District-Attorney. for it Is
" as desirable to elect anti-Tammany District
Attorney as an anti-Tammany Mayor
Some Republican leaders wish to conduct the city
campaign on the irrelevant issue Of sound money
and by making frantic appeals to the worst phases
OF Bryanism, but it is idle for them TO attempt 10
meet this years questions with last years issuea
for experience has shown that Greater New-Yorks
electors do not scare well. The real question Is
Shall our metropolis be burdened with unspeakabls
audi ici ont gov
The basis of the movement to force Federal issues
into this city canvass Is the absurd assumption Of
prominent Republican leaders that four-hiths or
the votes necessary to defeat Tammany must come
from the Republican party. These politicians over
look the enormous increase among the indepen-
dents Competent persons estimate the number OF
citizens in the borough of Manhattan alone who
vote independently at 100000. In my humble opin-
ion not more than two-thirds of the number or
voters who must successfully oppose Tammany
could be enrolled as Republicans on National
issues.
In the territory known as Greater New-lork
Democratic majority of ll2.000 in 1892 was changed
IN q Republican majority of $1,000 in 1896 but con-
sidering the partisan legislation at Albany ana
Washington, few If any, persons will deny that tho
Mckinley Republicans are now IN a hopeless MI
nority in the enlarged municipality.
No city is well ruled party lines, and never
will be. This has been said before. but II cahhos
be repeated too often Men who formerly fougns
each other must join hands and line up against mo
common foe But Republicans are asking eacn
other How can we get together? The answer Is
BY accepting or nominating the candidates OF tns
Citizens linton for the Offices OF Mayor PRESIDENT
of the City Council and Controller
The growing Citizens Union has no controversy
with the Republican party. 1t seeks the aid OF all
true Republicans I'm the crusade against unspeaka-
BILE Tammany. Its leaders know they cannot mako
votes for their candidates by attacking the largest
anti-Tammany organization. lndiscreet young men
may abuse local Republican leaders at 'itizens
Union district meeting. but the Executive Commit
tee should try to check the exuberance OF these I'M
polite youngsters 49,. .,,s -
members of the Citizens Union ard the threat 10
exclude them in the recent Republican enroImeni,
was only blur and never intended TO be carrier
out Indeed. several of the original signers OF inc
Citizens Union platform are dsg hands
held out By some Of the very men who are trying lying
drive them out Of the grand OLD party gar Sie
1888 the Republicans Of New YORK have dq lone u nst
n for the lake sa no step Sl bacEWard '' anu
If the several anti-Tammany organizations 7 unit ~
the Citizens Union and perhaps all other indepen.
dents will vote for the Republican csnddats ioi w
local canddates Of the Republicans and their allies
las assume in the early part OF TINS letter. o.
cause their names will be in the same party COL
IT, on the other hand the leaders OF the Rep sS;
in playing fool politics and nominate straight ss
ticket. | predict that thousands or men VIII 'ot"
blank for the State officer. or they may De 30 ~.
dignant at the action of the Tammany allies IN
the Republican ranks that they will vote Tor me
Democratic candidate. ] may add that srasht
ticket would be resented by many Repubhcans ~
Greater New-York and they might refrain rom
voting while every Democrat and indepehdeshiss
would be almost certain to vote according 10 hs
convictions. Ia,
In 1895 about forty thousand anti-Tammany citi-
zens failed to vote after having registered II tne
home qualified electors are as numerous IA
Greater New-York next fall. think 1t VIII mean mean
loss OF nearly seventy Thousand woes 10 oH
Republican State ticket assuming that s'rdgn'
city and county tickets are in the field. ,,,,
Ii Is well known that the year AFTER 4 pohu,aaA
party comes into power is bad for ttat parry
Considering these facts, il Is. In my hunbe opu
ion Just possible that the Democrats may carry
the State II the politicians who control the pr
maries of the Republican party in the city OF NsS
York thrust a straight ticket OF dummies upon uho
metropolitan electors Nothing succeeds IKE SUI
cess in politics. and II the Democrats win t hs
wear they will have an excellent chance Of eectns
the Governor and other State officers IN 1879 x-
IL il time to stop talking OF a straignt TICKET ~
few independents and no Democrats VIII support "
In fact Democrat recently said 20 ne, we. PRIV
fer own rascals to those or othor partes. "A.
| shall not now discuss the merits of reform au
ministration Suffice II 10 say that lanli , ,Se
government In certain departments mas cos, u
people nearly twice as much Tor given a hnna.,
Of material and work as under the present H0"N''
and partisan administration
In conclusion predict that all anti-Tammah. pn s
ties will indorse the Citizens Union noI1lna.o.s,
and that the Republican and Gold DShIo'yl WY
county candidates throughout Greater New az
will he elected and that Seth Low will be the n's'
mayor 0' ''' s'e"' ALFRED r. CoNKLING
Boulogne France July q. 1877
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