New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-27
LEGISLATURE AND INA STER."

Were the leadership Of the Republican party
in this city and State other than II Is, or the
antecedents and record OF Mr.. Qulgg's Master
Of the State" different from what they are
known to be by all who are familiar with
political history, the theory which has been
preached that the recent upset in the city, turn
ing over to Tammany enlarged municipal con-
troll with vastly increased opportunities for
plumber for an extended term. was deliberately
contrved by the Master with the view Of
establishing a trading basis between a Repub-
lican State administration at Albany and n
Tammany government of the city would be re-
tected Offhand as too monstrous for belief But
when It is recalled that during the Croker re-
gime, prior to the Lexow exposures and the re-
sultant overthrow Of Tammany. the relations
between Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Plat were so in
innate that the latter had at his personal dis
posal whatever there was Of patronage coming
to Republicans under the bipartisan statute pro-
visions: that favors granted to Tammany by
the Masters Legislature at Albany were re-
cprocated by Croker to Plat In kind; that the
antagonism Of the PlattQuigg people to the re-
form administration Of Mayor Strong was much
more bitter and intense than its opposition to
Tammany. and that during the recent campaign
the PlattQuigg people openly avowed their
preference for the rule Of a Tammany Demo
crat to that of any non-partisan-when all these
things are recalled the theory of a conspiracy
between the Bosses does not seem so preposter-
GUS or absurd. To great many Republicans
1t may seem improbable, but when the facts are
considered there can be but few to whom It
would not appear to be entirely possible
One thing Is certain That the Republican
party, already dsorganized In this city and re-
duced to a minority In the State by the AFRO
gance, intolerance and fatuous folly Of the
Master and his man, cannot afford to do any
thing at Albany at the coming session that will
give the slightest color to the theory now rife
as to the relations between the Bosses. On the
contrary, II the judgment of prominent and in
huential Republicans, whose only object is the
welfare of the party. Is regarded. and their
counsels are followed, the Legislature will at the
very outset make II absolutely clear that 1t has
| neither part nor lot In any such mischievous
and treacherous understanding Last years
| Legislature was Mr.. Platts own In blind sub
missiveness it did his will and registered his
DEGREES. In obedience to his mandate It damned
| through" the Greater New-York charter and
with reckless prodigality threw millions Of
! patronage into the Tammany lap. The very
! first question to confront the incoming Legislat-
ure is whether II also will be Mr.. Platts own.
| for trading or any other purpose 1t will have
| to say, by the conduct Of its individual men,
bers as well as by Its acts as legislative body,
whether like its predecessor It recognizes Mr..
| Plat as the Master Of the State" or Is ready
in the party's behalf to throw off his domino
ton and assert its independence Of such disas.
trous leadership.
The Republican masses will watch the Legis-
| lature with unusual! interest. That they have
already made up their minds as to where the
responsibility for the late disaster lies Is very
evident Mr.. Plat himself knows that, and that.
whatever his narrowing circle Of adherents may
say about 1t, the Republican voters AS a body
have lost confidence in him. The first indication
given by the new Legislature Of disposition
to recognize his leadership Will call out uni
versal protest. 1t will be taken as evidence of
approval by the Legislature Of an Infamous con-
spiracy between the two Bosses to divide be-
tween themselves and their personal followers
the patronage Of city and State. And that
would mean not only the Generalization of the
party throughout the State but the political ruin
OF every member Of the Legislature asserting to
1t. The future of the Republican party in this
State depends In m unusual degree upon the
. action Of the Legislature. 1t 10 for that body
70 convince the great mass Of voters that the
party b strong enough. great enough ana homes,