New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-26
THE ELECTION DEPUTIES.

While tlc new elections law was under dls-
cussion. before and during the extra session OF
The LEGISLATURE. some persons declared that IFS
main purpose was to provide additional places
for so-called party workers. Others. taking
loss cynical view OF the matter, urged mat
while the Intention of its projectors might be
excellent. the law was altogether likely, through
the application of pressure for patronage 10 re
suit in the appointment Of force OF deputies
unfit for their work and interested in it only be
cause of the pay and the opportunities OF one
sort or another which II would give them. The
Superintcndent Of Elections has not yet begun
IN choose his assistants for the sufficient reason
that the political organizations have not hicd
thor lists. and il is evident that he will have 10
extend the time. which the law allows him 10
do. Nothing. therefore, can he said positively
as 10 the character of the men who VIII nave
important duties OF a novel character to per
form in connection with the coming election.
Certain circumstances do. however. suggest the
cxpectation that patronage will he found TO
have played Just about the part which was
assigned to il by opponents Of the law
For example The Brooklyn Eagle said last
evening that the chairman of the Republican
General Committee of Kings County was having
a hard time I'm making up his list for submis-
sion 70 Superintendent McCullagh. His divl-
sion of the spoils." our contemporary explains
has not met with any ones approval ana he is
visited by delegations who threaten all KINDS
"of vengeance unless he revises his lists ana
makes more equitable division OF the places
Mr.. Atterbury says in his own defence that he
has made IN absolutely fair distribution but
his insstence has no effect upon the kickers
From this it appears that the one imperative
requirement of the case is division which VIII
be recognized rs "a square deal" by the coinpo
nent parts of the machine. and the chalrmans
ambition is to cause as little wrath and turmoil
as possible. Nobody seems 10 be solicitous TO
secure the appointment of men whose character
will guarantee an efficient and blameless en-
forcement of the law and 90 far 10 vndicate
It's merits in the public mind. Even less prog
ress has apparently been made on this side OF
the river than in Kings County with the task
of compiling IA list of Republican deputies pre-
sumably because there are more claims TO
satisfy and more complications TO adjust.
The Tribune opposed the elections law be-
lieving II TO be unnecessary. inequitabie ana
provocative Of greater evils than those which
n was ostensby designed 10 cure. But since
II IS the law we want 10 see II enforced in a
respectable manner. 1t may be rather absurd
suggestion but might il not De worth while for
the charmen Of the organizations. who are find
ing SO much trouble in satisfying the utterly
selfish demands Of the workers. 10 adopt
new basis and collect force OF deputies who
could be trusted TO preserve their decent repuIa-
tons by doing their duty honestly without re-
gard TO the wishes or the welfare OF this r
that hungry clique Of patronage grabbers! IN
less they are DESTROYS Of making the law as
much the object of odium as it now Is OF con
tempt they would do well to follow that course.