New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-21
WHAT THE PEOPLE SA
NO DEALING WITH THE MACHINES
REASONS WHY THE TRlBuNEs VIEWS shoo i'D
PREVAIL IN REoRoANrzING THE RE


REASONS WHY THE TRiBUNE's VIEWS SHOULD
PREVAIL, IN REoRGANrzrNG THE RE
PUBLICAN PARTY.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I want TO commend The Tribune for the
attitude It has taken on the subject OF Republic
can reorganization. Its advice to the committee
OF Flfty-three not to have part or lot with the
machine organization is the only course open
TO that body short Of betrayal OF IT'S mission
The obiec, of the reorganization movement is
not as | understand 1t and as others In my
reghborhood-the XXvIIth Assembly District
have understood It. either to measure strength
with or to attempt to purify the Republican
machine If this Is ts object, have signed its
enrolment list under total Misrepresentation.
The purpose of this movement is TO smash the
machine and the time 70 smash II Is when 1t Is
most in need Of every vote 1t can command.
such a time is the present year. when an entire
new state administration and a new Senate and
Assembly which will control the whole patron
age of the state. are to be chosen
II is urged in the interests Of party harmony
that the Committee OF Ffty-three should yirtu-
ally drop the movement It has undertaken. be-
cause there is now every probability that bill
viii pass the Legislature providing for honest
primaries. What has prevented the machine
from holding honest primaries heretofore? why
has II waited until it's rolls were numbered with
the names Of Democrats. dead men and dogs
before advocating such enactment? Is II 50
poweress as 20 he unable 20 check the frauds
and trickeres Of its own followers? What
recommendation FOR conferences with and con-
ndence in the machine
But suppose a primary law TO be passed II
law that will be scrupuously and thoroughly
honest in all It's provisions. what assurance Is
there that another machine Legislature would
not emasculate or repeal IT? We had an honest
Civil Service law IN this state up TO last year.
and n machine LEGISLATURE at the dictatlon OF
Governor who boosted himself a practical
politician" took the starch Of honesty out or
r. What is called a Platt Legislature passed
the present election law, and last fall the ma
chine sought to nullify Of its vital provls-
ions by trying. on frivolous technicality 10
proven: the name OF Mr.. Low from being
printed on the official ballot A machine state
convention explicitly Endorsed the principle OF
the separation Of municipal and general cleo
tons which n Republican CONSTITUTIONS al Con-
vention had imbedded in the organic la" OF the
state: and last November the machine de-
nounced as a traitor and "conspirator' every
Republican who acted this principle.
What reason is there for believing that the
machine would keep faith any better in the mat
ter Of primary reform? II Is hike picking up
money In the streets to wager" that such la"
would he rescnded the first time another ma
chine Legislature came into power
ooh. but you should do nothing" some "har-
monizers" protest. that will imperil the cause
Of sound money and social order in the coming
campaign"
This has reference evidently to the posi-
bilitv Of an Independent Republican movement
next fall In only two ways could the cause
mentioned be imperiled by such movement
end that is in the choice Of members Of the
House Of Representatives and in the election Of
a new Legislature which is 10 choose success
sor 10 Senator Murphy AS regards the former
probably no supporter Of the Committee OF
Fifty-three has any thought Of contributing 70
the election of free-silver candidates TOT me
lower branch Of Congress; and even IL ne hdd
there j. little chance. except perhaps in two or
three districts in NeW-York City, that the EFFORT
would sue ,ecd out Of thirty-four congress
districts in this State the Democrats hold only
about half a dozen; and in nearly all the re-,
mander the Republican pluralites In ls9o
ranged from 5000 10 1000. As for the posi-
blftv Of a Democratic Legislature 1t is sufficient
AT this stage to say, to put the matter IN me
most disagreeahle light. that the state would
be no worse off with Senator Murphy as his
own successor than it is now. 1t would be mere
" a continuation Of the present condition OF
things-a voiCeless Republican Senator on one
side and a voceless Democratic Senator on the
other \ Sound Money President. moreover. VIII
OCCUPY the White House until the spring or I9ol
But machine talk about the gold standard
especially after the machine tactics in Greater
Network last fall. Is plainly a pretence. II is
intended as a cover for the perpetuation of the
grasp OF the machine upon the vast patronage
of the state II means that the patronage OF
the canals OF all the State departments from
Secretary OF State down and Of all public build
n es and institutions Of the commonwealth snail
continue to be allotted where 1t will do the ma
chine the most good" Here Is the real source
Of the anxiety Of the machine for harmony
II would suffer little II the entire Congress dele
CATION from New-York State were Democratic,
mn II would he irreparably shattered II It were
10 lose control Of the legislative and executive
DEPARTMENTS Of the State Government
The one effective way 10 end the machine is 10
render il no longer profitable for corporations
and individuals Interested in legislation at AL
banv 10 do business" with It, A machine that
cannot deliver the goods will find its occupation
gone will find il no longer possible 10 subsidize
impecunous candidates FOR the Senate and AS
senblv And an enrolment Of 5000 voters is an
excellent nucleus for the initiation Of such a
work This number Of votes not 10 mention the
greater number II implies. has turned the scale
more than once in New-York State. To what
extent II may be necessary to apply such
heroic remedy remains for events 10 determine
f. H. FINLAYSON.
New-York. Feb Il. 1898.