New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-21
4 QUESTION OF FACT.

partisan municipal government. when were us
regarded last fall by Senator Plat when he
held out for a Plat or a Croker machine Mayor
and succeeded in giving the office to Croker.
The Poughkeepsie Eagle says;
It 1.-THE Republican partyl never declared In
favor Of non-partsan municipal government.
and no body of men claiming TO be n party ever
SO declared until the Citizens Union started the
Seth Low movement last year me ldea was
then and there invented Those who like it have
a perfect right TO hold 10 II, but We submit that
il is about time 10 quit trying 10 impure any
such notion to the Republican party. 1t has de
clared in favor Of the separation of municipal
issues from State issues. and at times has IA
vored the merging Of parties in support OF
union candidate TO meet an emergency. put
neither of these things hints at non-partisan-
ship.
SO, The idea was invented for the Seth Low
campaign: The Republican party never held
any such notion: Ii sometimes favored union
candidates in an emergency but 1t never hint-
ed Of anything like nOn-partisanshlp: Strange.
II must be true. or "The Eagle wouldn't say
it so positively. But ii puzzles us some
what 10 make its statement fit the historical
records of official acts of the Republican
party For instance, on October TO- lS>3, the
Republican General Committee of Brooklyn
passed n resolution commencing THE economy,
fidelity and non-partiSanship" Of Mayor Lows
first administration, and saying: I'VE approve
"the doctrine affirmed by the Republican City
Convention which lin 1851 nominated Mayor
Low. that National politics have no proper
place in the consideration Of municipal af-
"fairS'" on October Is 1883, the Republican
City Convention of Brooklyn adopted a plat
form declaring it 10 be a Fundamental PROPOSE
ton that THE successful conduct Of the affairs
"of our city depends upon the election TO office
"of men of tried integrity and proved capacity.
"who will not use the power and patronage at
'tached to their positions for factiOnal or par
"tiSan ends If in 1881 and 1883 the Repub-
lican party of Brooklyn not committed TO
non-partSanship in city government as To- a
fundamental principle il is difficult 10 see how
the party could by any form OF words ever be
committed TO Protection or Sound Money or
anything else earth.
Ten years later on October II, 1893, the Re-
publican City Convention of Brooklyn nOml-
mated Charles \. Schercn for Mayor. and adopt
ed platform pledgng It's candidates ito the adj
administration of the affairs Of this great Com
'monwc4lth solely in the interest of its citizens
"and for the welfare and upholding of our city.
The honored administrations of
Mayors Booth. Schroeder and Low made the
city prosperous and honored ar home and
abroad. Their success was not the success Of
party but Of the great body Of citizens. Such
1--WE pledge shall be our success in this cleo
"ton.' Perhaps that was not declaration for
comparison municipal government.
Again. on October ). 1894. the Republican
County Convention Of the City and County Of
NewY York. which was presided over by Will
lam " X Olcott, adopted n platform which
said:
We demand that the public service Of this
city be conducted on a strictly non partisan
basis. We appeal to the people Of this city
to cast aside party prejudice and to combine
with US in a determined effort to elect candi-
dates chosen solely with reference to their
ability and integrity and pledged 10 conduct the
affairs OF this city on a strictly non partisan
basis.
That convention nominated for Mayor Will
lam l.. Strong. and pledged for him, in the
event of his election. an honest. economical
"and non-partSan administration Of affairs"
Thus it appears that repeatedly Republican
| conventions within the territory of the pres
ent city Of NewYork have declared for non-par
tisanshp in city administration. Ii was only
when Mr. Plate stirred up the baser passions
OF the party camp-follOwers by abuse of Mayor
Strong for not breaking the faith with indie
pendents which Republican convention
pledged for him. and when Mr.. I.auerbach de-
clared for Tammany Mayor in preference TO
one responsible to no party for his appoint
menls, that the Republican organization took n
stand In favor of party domination of city ar
fairs as n principle Of government. only then
did 1t agree with Croker that there should
"never be anything in politics but organiza-
"tons." and It's adoption Of that policy agreed
with him 50 well that he gained possession of
the city through II.
II would be interesting TO have The
Eagle" explain whether the resolutions quot
ed really meant n0n-partsanship or were only
decOys 10 gain votes under false pretences. II
the party meant only to support union can
didateS 10 meet emergencies then il was trying
to fool somebody. If it really meant non parti-
san administration, it did more than support
union" candidates. 1t would also be interest
ing 10 know, since it Is admitted by The
Eagle that the Republican party favors the
separation of municipal issues from State is
sues" where Mr.. Platt found his authority for
insisting last fan that the Republicans of this
city should not separate those issues but should
make campaign OH National and State oues-
tions, and should subordinate their views ON
municipal affairs. These are important mat
ters OF fact concerning the true principles and
| honest conduct Of the party which we hone
| THE Eagle VIII find time 10 consider: and nv
| ana by. unless the answer shall seem too dan
| gerous TO the machine. maybe II will tell us
ana its readers what the Republicans OF New.