New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-25
Mr.. OUIGG'S OPPORTUNITY.

1t appears TO be settled that the Hon. Lemuel
Ely Ouigg will succeed the Hon. Edward Lau-
terbach as president Of the Republican Commit
tee of the County Of NewYork. According TO
all the reports, that result was reached at the
last meeting of magnates at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel known as "Mr Platts Sunday-school'
There had been much talk of opposition on the
part of Insurance Commissioner Payn and one
or two other Out-of-town Republicans Of more
or less influence who had conceived the notion
that they had Just as much right TO voice in
the matter as Mr.. Plat, Of TiOga County. And
there were also TWO or three Republicans or
prominence and power in the County Commit
tee itself who. as was generally understood did
not banker for Mr.. Quiggs leadership. and up
10 Sunday afternoon were saying things to that
effect quite openly and prcfanely in that great
Sunday centre of political activity, the lobby of
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. They were not over
whelmngy numerous, how ever, and were more
profane than persistent. At the feet OF the
Tioga County Gamalel they laid down their
arms-meaning thereby the hats through which
they had been vOciferating-and in sweet ac-
cord signined their willingness to accept Mr..
Ougg as their leader 1t was an impressive
demonstration of power when the illustrious
men who slid into the hotel breathing out threat
enings and slaughter slid out unutterably cam
and acquiescent, even the streak behind Mr.
Pawn himself as he fed into Chatham -Four Cor
ners having changed from the deep dark blue
of his early discourse TO a moony, opalescent
hue.
so tonight Mr.. Qu!gg passes to the head of
the Republican County Committee. The Tribune
hardly knows whether to give him its congrat
TIC 1puonls
a position which. in the Judgment Of many Re
publicans who are not factionists and who have
nothing but the kindliest feelings toward Mr..
Lauterbach personally, that gentleman has mis-
used IL will be admitted by many Of Mr.. Lau-
terbach's opponents that in the summing up OF
personal benefits acquired during his official
career as the executive head Of the county or
ganization he does not seem TO have been actu-
,ted entirely by selfish motives Pecunarily,
professionally and politically it is evident that
ne has not been the gamer. His plumbers, which
TO the intelligent and impartial observer review
ing his career cannot seem other than stupen-
dous. have been the results of excessive and
overstrained loyalty 10 the fortunes of the poll
tician-statesman, perhaps-to whose dictatlon
he has submitted without question, and whose
slightest wish he has not only deferred TO. but
great has been his mistake in this he cannot
fail now TO see for himself. 1t was not his
nature TO foment dlssension and incte fractional
strife and il certainly was the farthest thing
in the world from any just conception OF his
official functions He did it, and did it in a
most aggressive and offensive manner, simply
from overzeal and because he believed the per-
sonal and political fortunes Of the man 10 whom
he owed allegiance required 1t.
Mr.. Qulgg has before him an example and
warning He is no novice in politics. He is
not inexperienced. The man who stepped ap-
parently fresh as a daisy, full of Juice, conf
dence and bumptlousness into a Congressional
campaign IN a district with an adverse majority
OF from eight thousand 10 ten thousand. carried
II, and kept on carrying II three times in sue
cession-the last time by nearly ten thousand
majority-must have some significance In cur
rent politics Whatever may have been his mis-