New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
IRRESPONSIBLE POWER.

Mr.. Quigg is preparing to hold on next Tues
day q series of primaries In the name Of the
Republican party Of the city OF New-York. He
Ia going to use the skeleton remains OF several
hundred organizations which still profess to- be
election district associations to form new
County Committee, which will assert preten-
sions to the headship Of the Republicans OF
New-Ycrk. This is a proceeding In utter vio-
lation of the fundamental law OF the party,
and every person who aids and abets this
scheme to foist upon Republicans a rotten bor-
ough committee will be assisting in fraud
which if successful can be successful only
through the failure of the statutes to exact any
responsibility from those upon whom they con-
fer substantial governmental powers.
No corporation in the world could elect a
new board of directors in such utter violation
Of it's own bylaws as the machine purposes 10
show in electing a new County Committee
without being brought sharply to account by
the courts Yet the party organizations hoid
BY law powers affecting the lives and properly
not only Of their members, but OF the COM
munity at large, and the officers presume 10 act
on the theory that they are law unto them
selves and owe no explanation either TO the
voters of the party or to the State concerning
the way in which they perform their functions
BY the admission Of the Organization CON-
mittee of the machine almost every eiectlon
district association In town Is disqualfied Under
the party constitution from having any repre-
sentation In the conventions which are 10 Sc
lect the new County Committee They have no
mora right in convention than delegates from
Tammany Hall. Yet In utter defiance OF that
constitution the leaders purpose to hold wnat
they will call primaries In those districs ana
designate persons to vote IN convention III the
mama Of those associations which have no right
IN vote No self-respecting Republican can al
low his name to be used as an instrument TOT
that Instrumentation and fraud. The commit
tee so constituted will have no more right 10
speak for the Republican party than would
hoard chosen by persons having no stock re-
corded In their names have right to control the
New-York Central Railroad. 1t Will be FOUNDED
on fraud. and therefore fraudulent and any
judicial OF nominating functions which 1t may
be permitted to perform under the ballot law
or the decisions of the Court Of Appeals Will be
an abuse of the powers Of government and
wrong to every citizen Of this State who ID en-
titled to Republican rule operating according
to law.
II Is high time that a halt was called to the
enforcement Of irresponsible machines when
the State delegates to party organizations
powers of government It does SO upon the theory
that the leaders of those parties are representa-
tive officers, acting according to party law. II
| this IL not true, then the delegation is public
wrong. So long as the ballot law gives party
organizations rights which citizens in individual
capacity do not possess those parties must be
~ &<A hpyr
they pretend to represent should make leaders
obey their own laws. If they cannot the courts
should intervene to compel obedience by the
marty authorities to the constitution under which
they profess to act. If the courts are power
less, nothing remains but the overthrow OF the
system that makes possible power without re-
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