New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-16
TIE P.0 X. "PRInARIES."

The P.-Q. R. held what It is pleased to call
"primaries" on Tuesday night 1t might just
as we'll have held circuses or prayer-meetings
IN most districts, so far as the election of repre-
sentatives of the Republican party Of New-York
City went If the POS wanted TO hold meet
incs all over town that was their privilege
Several hundred shopkeepers were benefited by
the rentals for the meeting places. But lot
of lawless gatherings held by few enrolled Re
publicans are no more binding Republican pri-
maries than a meeting Of Representatives and
Senators in a Washington restaurant would be
the Congress Of the United States. Congress
masses laws under fixed rules, and the acts Of
Congressmen except under those rules amount
to nothing Primaries are held by bodies law
fully constituted with rights OF representation
nv the party constitution, and meetings OF Re-
nublicans except in accordance with the consti-
tution are not of the slightest force or authority
The P. -O's had their own way, as their oppo-
nents meant they should have The actual spirit
which animates the machine under all the talk
of harmony was illustrated by the failure to
heed or even listen to- the protest made by an
enrolled Republican against being wrongfuly
deprived of his rights through the Illegal voting
IN a district which was plainly disqualified by
the constitution This district had had no
change IN its boundaries; 1t bore 1870 names on
,ts rolls and Il cast only 125 votes for Judge
Wallace 1t therefore was clearly suspended by
Article XXXvIII Of the constitution Never
the,ess the officers received ballots and declared
certain persons elected to represent the district
IN convention. They, In common with other per-
sons whose credentials are equally void and
unconstitutional. will select a committee which
will claim TO speak for the Republicans Of New
York City and will seek to exercise under the
ballot law control OF the party emblem. Such
an attempt will be, Of course, an utter usurpa-
ton. which cannot be submitted to by self
respecting Republicans
This brutal disregard Of all party law and
decency by the POS fully justines the refusal
of the antimachlne Republicans to attend their
meetings A counterpart Of the protest filed IN
one precinct might, with good reason, have been
filed in almost every other The whole machine
is Illegal the Pas know II Is Illegal, yet In
spite of protests they trying to rule the party
nv means Of It. After this last exhibition Of
blind purpose to run the machine In spite OF
law. nothing remains for Republicans who de-
sire to see a party organization which stands
for the rank and file and Is capable Of winning
victories but to 20 on to the perfection Of a new
party fabric. There can be no compromise with
pos or with P.-Q. methods. If the Republican
marty Is to recover from the defeats which they
have brought upon it, they must be driven from
control Of It's machinery. Their dishonesty has
made Inevitable q fight to the finish. The Re-
publican voters to whom they speak fairly only
to cheat them the next day must constitute
anew the Republican party OF this city and ap