The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-13
VAN WYCKiS PLATFORM,
His Letter Of Acceptance Deals Only
With State Issues.


NEW YORK. October 1.-THE formal
letter OF Hon. Augustus Van Wyck' adj
dressed TO Chairman OF the State Com
mittee Frederick G. Schraub, accepting
the Democratic nomination for Governor
Of New York. was made public tonight.
The letter contains 100 words and deals
entirely with State issues, particularly
with legislation In connection with canal
matters. The letter contains a deciara-
ton at the outset that the Governor of
the State is rot officially concerned in
any of the questions watch our national
authorities are called apOn TO settle, and
Il closes with a statement by the nominee
that IL elected. he viii constantly re-
member that his first and highest duty
is to the people OF the whole state, with
out reference 20 their political opinions.
In his letter Judge Van Wyck says.
Il heartily concur i'm the iine of dis
tinctiOn drawn by the Democratic plat
form between State ana national matters
since IL is quite plain that the Governor
of the state is not officially concerned
In any OF the matters which our nati8nai
authorities are called upon TO settle, and
which happily, are in not few i'm
portant instances. quite removed from
tho field of mere partisan controversy
Nor could l limit my approval ofGhe dis
tinction thus made TO the present c0ndi-
tions alone. Experience has convinced
me that a substantial advance for the
cause of good government would be made
il voters could be persuaded at an times
to deal with municipal candidates on mu-
nicipal grounds and state candidates on
State grounds. IL is certainly much
easier to understand why politicians
with records that will not bear the light
should desire to divert attention TO ir-
relevant questions than 10 discover how
honesty and efficiency I'm Office are 10 DE
promoted by such arts.
81 note with pleasure the emphasis put
on the problem of canal management by
the Democratic platform. I'm view of tine
rerort recently made TO Gov. Black hy
the commission appointed by him in
March OF this year. 10 investigate the
manner i'm which 100000 of the public
funds have been expended 10 Is hardly an
exaggeration TO say that reform in canal
management u.s. in the State OF New
York. the supreme issue OF the hour.
'The spirit i'm which our opponents face
this problem may be inferred from their
endeavor TO obscure II under cover of ref
creuces to questions that are in no degree
involved in the duties of governorship.
from their refusal to admit that there
has been any wrong done and from the
following remarkable pledge I'm their plat
form.
III there are errors I'm the system ana
I'm the law. We will correct them. III there
has been fraud. we viii deter and punish
The wrongdoers.
1T is thus evident that 10 the involy-
ing Of the State i'm an expenditure likely
TO prove more than double as large as
The sum authorized by the people they
attach no sort of importance-that they
decline 20 accept The report OF the Com
missioners appointed by the Governor as
conclusive of anything and they have not
vet become convinced that there have
been either errors TO correct or frauds 20
punish"
Passing TO other points in the platform
Judge Van Wyok says:
The Raines law is. IN my judgment.
Justly denounced as partisan in its pur-
pose and oppressive in many directions.
favorable not at ali 20 the cause OF or
der. but 20 the growth 81 vice. and I'm the
means provided for its enforcement ut
terly antagonistic 10 that American spirit
which has always looked with contempt
upon what may termed the spy sys-
TEN Of administration
''That 10 Is necessary 20 reafirm the
principles OF home rule and uniform char
ter provisions for all cities OF the same
class IS due wholly 10 the violation Of
the intent Of the State Constitution by
our political opponents. Had the declared
purposes of that instrument been con-
formed 10. there would have been no
such monstrous laws passed az that which
singles out the city OF New York for
special surveillance in the matter Of ball
lot-bOx. nor would the cities OF the whole
State be once more threatened with "a
return TO the system under which The
viii Of the people Of the several cities was
nnlliaed by the votes Of Assemblymen
and Senators who never saw the cOmmu-
mites affected. and by the DEGREES OF dom
inant politicians who suffered no consid-
Grafton Of right 70 restrain them from
making prey OF the revenues. the offices
and the franchises Of the public"