New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
REFORM NEEDED EVERYWHERE.
o,.rRAcrs ~ TIE CITY OF AMSTERDAM AND
ELSEWHERE IN THE NAME or "REGU-
iAprrY AT PRIMARIES"

ELSEWHERE IN THE NAME or 'REGU-
IAnIry AT PRIMARIES"
tn the Editor of The Tribune,
Cir. At this time when the subject Of leCis-
,s,,on BY which IT is hoped that fair and honest
primaries may be secured Is before the people
many Republicans in Montgomery County, and
osnecally in the city OF Amsterdam, are taking
treat interes, IN the movement.
There seems 70 be In the minds Of the movers
,or reform en- idea that certain chief cities of
the State are principally In need of primary re-
form law but II the outrages committed in the
conduct OF Republican primaries in this county
and city within recent years under the guise Of
regularity" could he known TO those who desire
fair play and who have the highest interests OF
the party ard the people a, heart. | am sure
they would see the necessity Of extending the re-
form 20 every locality. Our nelghbors In adjoin-
ine counties report the same dsgraceful state Of
affairs under machine" rule, and. in our opin-
ION the reform should he made effective in every
voting precinc; in the State
To state particulars Of even few Of the out
RACES referred to would require too much of your
valuable space, but 10 instance only one or two:
A, primary IN ire Third Ward Of this city
under machine" domination. more votes were
counted for its candidates for delegates than the
total Republican vote in the ward such votes
being largely made up Of Democrats nOn-resi-
dents. and even aliens. In the Fifth Ward the
boss" IF the Republican party in this county.
by virtue OF his position canal section SUI
perintendent under George W. Aldrdgc. just
previous 10 primary election employed a large
number Of men 10 work on the canal in that
ward their services being dispensed with the
morning after the primary. much to their dis
gust; their votes for the machine" having been
boir for te'' mn
longer required Possibly the exigencies Of ma
chine" politics In other places have required the
expenditure OF some portion of the 100000 for
canal Improvement.
In the towns of this county outside the city
similar tactics are used to Ovsrrde fair MAORI
ties, and as a consequence very many of ou.
best citizens, men who are Republicans from
principle and not for spoi.s are almost in de-
spair Of their party, and the large and sure Re-
publican majorities of past years are steadily
disappearing in this county and city, a Demo
srat presiding over our County Board OF
Supervisors and a Democratic Mayor over our
city government; Republican Assembymen from
this county for years past having majorites Of
one thousand 10 fifteen hundred. while the last
was elected by less than three hundred. this fall
ing of Of Republican votes being the direct con-
sequence Of the machines" forcing on the peo-
pie as their official representa- tives men who dis
grace and defraud them. such as the Represen-
Iatve IN Congress from this. the NXIst New
York District now referred TO In the public press
OF the day as being lost. County Treasurer
renomnated by the machine" In spite of ru-
YnOrs OF mafeasance during his first term now
under indictment and recently removed from
office by the Governor for declaration TO the
amount Of many thousand dollars.
The actual machine in this county and city
IS a close corporation for though some fair
minded men have a nominal place on county and
CITY committees the one boss" for county and
city takes his orders from abroad and executes
them through his creatures.
Such a state Of affairs only be corrected
through fair and honest primaries. and we earn
estly hope that in enacting laws TO secure such
primaries the needs of the smaller cities and
towns Will he considered well as those Of the
larger cities. However, we doubt If such laws
can be secured through the Legislature now in
session. for the reason that II enacted and en-
forced the political career Of the Boss" who
II is understood. completely controls legisla ton
in this state. would soon he ended. That being
the case. will his Legislative Sunday-school'
approve any measure that will be effective or
his offceholders permit its enforcement If en-
acted? f. WATSON GARDINER
Amsterdam. n. Y. Feb. %. 1898.