New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-06
4 MASTER" OF STRATEGY.

IN the excise ouestion Governor Black very
briefly points out that while the number OF
licenses issued has been decreased almost one
sixth, the receipts from that source have nearly
quadrupled, and that, Notwithstanding the III
crease in population, the records OF the ponce
courts show marked falling Off In cases OF
drunkenness. This is certainly good showing
for the present law from both the material ana
the moral point Of view. 1t has Increased the
revenue and decreased drunkenness. But the
Governor adds-possibly having In mind the
last great piece Of political grand strategy de-
vised by Platt Quigg and O'Grady with singu-
lar unanimity of sentiment-that IF amend
"ments are proposed which will improve the
present act shall favor their adoption. What
amendments Is the Governor thinking of that
can Improve the present act? None have been
suggested that can by any stretch Of fancy be
construed as looking either to a further Increase
Of revenue or decrease Of drunkenness. No
change has been proposed the effect OF which
will not be beyond any question to decrease the
revenue and increase drunkenness. Is that the
way in Governor Blacks opinion, to Improve
the present act
The only amendment yet suggested IS that
agreed upon by Plat, Qugg and OGrady, which
practically repeats the present Sunday law.
And that as everybody knows, Is only another
piece of political grand strategy by the Mas
ter" Its main purpose Is not to affect revenue
or morals though its operation would undoubt-
cdly damage both-but TO conciliate the voters
IN this city who have complained Of the rigid
enforcement OF the Sunday law under n Repub-
llcan administration and win them over to the
Republican party. 1t is of a piece with the
grand strategy OF 1895. which, as originally con-
ceived by Patt and his confreres, was to con-
clate the same class Of voters by ignoring the
question Of Sunday lquor-selllng entirely. The
defeat OF that cowardly and ridiculous subter-
fuge In the State Convention having saved the
State. the strategists Immediately took the op-
poslte tack to their original intention and en-
acted the Raines law; not for the sake OF IN
creased revenue or IN the interest OF morality,
but 10 hold the votes of temperance men up the
State and strengthen the party. What they
were after was votes. and they didn't care how
they got them. If they could get them by ig-
norlng the Sunday question, that was their
cue; II by enactiug a stringent excise law they
were equally ready 10 adapt themselves to that
view OF the case.
And now having by their obstnacy and folly
reduced the Republican vote in the State to a
minority and their hold upon the Legislature
TO the thinnest possible margin instead Of profit
Ing by the experience, recognizing their own
mistakes and applying simple common-sense TO
their correction, they are attrbuting their de-
feat 10 the Raines law, which upon the confess
sion Of Governor Black has worked to the sat
isfaction OF voters and the profit Of the State
TO n most remarkable degree. And In their
p<headed blindness and obstinacy they are
talking about Improving 1t by an amendment
throwing open the saloons and barrooms In the
large cities on Sunday. For that is what the
Sunday-option amendment means If it means
anything The talk Of The NewYork Sun"
about the probability that the voters would re-
ject the option is simply silly. If they would,
what is the use of the amendment? 1t is only
a piece Of ridiculous fooling, with no earthly
purpose In II but 10 get votes. But would 1t
get votes? 1t certainly would drive off thou
sands Of votes in the upstate districts. Would
it make the losses good by gains IN the city?
Most assuredly not.
Consider the situation for q moment The
advocates of Sunday liquor-selng in this city
have never had the assurance to make an or
ganized demonstration in favor Of the repeal Of
the Sunday law They have never had the re-
hottest idea Of gaining their ends In that way.
take the risk of such legislation. That was
shown during Governor Flowers adminisra
ton In fact with a Democratic city govern
ment and the police under Democratic control,
they don't care whether the law Is repealed or
not. All they want is to have 1t ignored, just
as It was before Roosevelts term. This condi-
ton they will have under Van Wyck and
Democratic Police Commission. There Will be
no complaint about Sunday laws for the next
four years. for the reason that they will not be
enforced and no one will feel them. What,
then. will be the effect of the proposed Sunday
option amendment II 1t be passed and the vot-
ers decide in favor Of Sunday opening? Why,
simply this: A Republican Legislature Will
have smoothed the way for a Democratic city
government In New-York to go on promoting
vice and increasing the facilities for corrupting
public morals without violating law. Repub-
llcan Legislature will have done for Tammany
what a Tammany Legislature never dared do
for its own supporters. 1t will lend the sane
ton Of law to what the saloonkeepers Will do
under the present city government with abso-
lutte mpunty in spite Of the law
And the strategists seem TO think that for this
gratutous service the antl-Sunday law people
will give the Republican party their votes.
Pshaw. 1t won't catch n vote The saloon
KEEPERS will Just put their thumbs to their noses
and say with n sheer: Thank you for moth
ling. Your law does us no good We were
"iust as well off without IT," But this, all the
same, Is political grand strategy Of the Platt-
Qugg order.
PUBLIC FINANCES.