New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
PROMISE AND FULFILHEAT.

ON MAY ~ the German-Am REFORM
Union unanimously adopted the following reso-
luton in respect TO municipal government ana
the campaign then just coming into view
The German-American Reform Union ear
nestlv desiring that the affairs of the city be
administered as are those of every well man
aged business. for the advantage OF those In ~
cerned. declares that the candldates 'l Iut 80 a.,
mayoralty and other offices Should De oiI9 ileii
Of steadfast character and superior reputation
chosen as are men for important prlEaIe en-, eili,
ployments. from persons OF proven d,ilits @ o. ~
manifest Integrity who may be relied upon to
act as they profess, and who VIII hels,el - -
nor suffer any one else 10 use .nea ion or set
the benefit Of anY political orsanlIatoll ~ 49,
oc persons whatever. and this Union VIII JON JON
with other organizations sincerely ana ioHes''S
asking the election of such men
of this resolution Mr.. Herman Ridder the
leading spirit in the German American Reform
Union. was presumably the author IN any
case he emphaticaly approved it as modei
declaration of the fundamental principle under
living rhe anti -Tammany movement. and ne was
riobt Nc have repeatedly cited IL as sngu-
IsrIv good definition of the issue TO be declded
a few weeks hence and in our opinion II mas
not been improved upon by single one OF the
many excellent resolutions and Statements slhce
mt forth in behalf of the various ORGANIZATIONS
composing the anti-Tammany alliance. But theS
have all reflected its temper and purpose. and,
moreover, action has faithfully correspondent 10
Ittteranre Completely subordInatlng perSohai
preferences and political ties. a great majority
of the responsible representatives or those
organizations. after a long patient ana open
minded consideration of the arguments ana
individuals presented to their attention, selected
candidates for Mayor, Controller and President
of the Board of Aldermen to whose stead
fast character superior reputation proven
ability" and manifest integrity" they enter
1ar1ft hats
would have been glad if the protracted discus
sion had led to different result. They wanted
to nominate an independent Democrat for
Mavor but they could not find one who was not
convincingly opposed. not necessarily or gener-
allv because Of flaw in his personal character,
but in almost every case because 1t was reason
ably believed that he would prove unable TO
poll the full anti-Tammany vote. There may be
those who still object TO Mr.. Low on that
ground. but the deliberate judgment OF the con-
| ferrees was overwhelmingly in his favor at the
| end of the canvass. and nobody questions his
| possession of the qualities which the German
American Reform Union has declared to be
| indispensable and sufficient
Mr. Ridder was quoted perhaps enormously,
as saying in his first disappointment at the fail
ure to agree upon some other man than Mr.
Low for Mayor that his organization would
| should put him at the head of its ticket. He
now intimates doubt that point. and,
| believing that Mr.. Coler will not be the Tam
| many candidate confidently expects the Reform
| Union to ratify the nomination of Mr.. Low.
But whether Croker is or is not constrained TO
accept Coler. how can anybody suppose that so
respectable n body Of citizens will fatty repu-
| date their solemn promise Ito join with other
"organiza atiOns sincerely and honestly asking
"the election of such men" their resolution
explicitly described? They know that Mr.. Low
fully bears out that descrption-that his char
acter is steadfast. that his reputation is supe-
ror. that his ability is proven, that his integrity
is manifest that he may be relied upon TO act
he processes. and that he will neither
suffer any one else to his office for the bene
fit of any political organization set of persons
whatever.
Such is Mr.. Lows standing in this commu-
nifty. 1t Is as clearly recognized by voters Of
German descent as by Others and do not
believe that any considerable number of them
can be persuaded to betray their principles at
the polls and serve the infamous purposes of
Tammany Hall.