New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-26
PROOFS, NOT OPINIONS.

~ Colonel Roosevelt is eligible TO the Gov
ernorshp of New-York it is important that the
people Of this State should know it and know II
at once II Colonel Roosevelt is Ineligible the
fact cannot minute too soon be proved beyond
Tho shadow of doubt The best friend OF Colo
mel Roosevelt and of the Republican party is he
who first puts his eligibility one way or the
other beyond the possibility of doubt IL Is
said that Justice Cohen and Mr.. Elihu ROOT
have fully examined the case and have decided
that Mr. Rooseyelt's residence in Oyster Bay
can be absolutely shown. The opinion OF these
eminent lawyers carries great weight and we
certainly hope they are right. for we think 1t
would be extremely unfortunate 10 have tech
nicality of this kind defeat the desire Of great
number of Republican voters TO make him Gov
ernor If the majority of the party want Mr.
Black they should have him. If they want Colo
mel Roosevelt they should have him. and 1t is TO
he hoped that everything that tends to divert
the delegates from the main polnt-that of per
sonal choice of the best leader for the occasion
will be quickly cleared away.
But the opinion of these distinguished men, in
fuential though it be. is not proof. and there
will be great disappointment among the dele
gates and among the Republican masses if the
Is not Immediately forthcoming The exact
facts Of the case should be published to-day.
that the Republicans Of the State may know
Mr.. Roosevelt's qualificati0ns-not merely know
that some eminent lawyers say they are all
right. II will not do for somebody 10 90 before
the State Convention and make lawyers argu
ment, as TO court which some other lawyer
NAV challenge, and then leave the delegates to
xlr~A Ia m n
believe they would decide that the proofs of
eligibility were sound and would nominate Mr..
Roosevelt by vote not materially differing
from that which he would have received If this
question had not been raised But neither Colo
rel Roosevelt nor the Republican party can af-
ford such nomination. If he runs for Gov
ernor he should run with bis eligibility settled
beyond reasonable dispute
OF course his enemies would through the
campaign ring changes on this point, but ut
least his friends should be convinced, and not
be asked to nominate on somebody elses assur-
ance that 1t is all right; and there is no use
shutting eyes to the fact that, aside from the
lenders Of Mr.. Roosevet's campaign, the rank
and file Of his supporters are uncertain and
many Of his delegates are prepared to vote for
him from trust rather than from knowledge.
They want light They should have 1t. And
they should not be asked to wait until they are
on the floor Of the convention before they get IT..
We cannot believe for an instant IN the theory
that 1t is the intention OF the party leaders to
nominate Colonel Roosevelt first and settle his
eligibility afterward. That would be n sulcida
policy, and we give Senator Plat and his lieu
tenants credit for sincerely desiring TO name the
strongest possible ticket and commend the Re
publican party to the voters at this time when
rhe welfare Of the whole Nation Is bound up In
general Republican success The proper body
to nominate a candidate for Governor Is the
state Convention, and no substitution by a
State Committee. no matter how excellent car
take the place Of popular representative nom
nation. The possibility Of any substitution IN
case Colonel Roosevelt becomes the candidate