New-York tribune., 1901-07-30
A FALSE ALARM.

A long becoming and agreeable silence was
broken on Saturday by Mr.. Lemuel Ely Quiggs
announcement that, although at one time ne
had been inclined to think it might be wise Tor
the auti-Tammany forces TO nominate an lnde-
pendent Democrat for Mayor this year, he was
now disposed 10 recommend an Independent Re
publicau. Owing to hasty assumption in GER
tain quarters that Mr.. Quigg had been deputed'
or permitted, 10 speak for men whose position
with respect to the coming municipal campaign
is matter of general concern. this expression
of his views has attracted notice ana eVokeu
some sharp reioinders But no serious harm
has been DONE and the incident may possibly
prove useful for the report of the interview
with Mr. Quigg has led 20 several important
disclaimers of sympathy with his opinions
Thus Senator Plat said yesterday:
did not know that Mr. Quigg going to
make that statement. | did not authorize II,
and il did not reflect my sentiments | have
said that / would favor the nomination OF an
independent Democrat. / still feel that way
about it, 1 shall be content to allow members
of the conference committee to settle the ques-
ton. Doubtless they will find out what public
sentiment demands.
Postmaster Van Cott also. with that native
good sense which he has not invariably seen fit
TO employ in political matters said yesterday:
All the talk about Republican a Demo-
If the Republicans get to arguing for a
Republican candidate, the Democrats will argue
for a Democrat. and bitter feeling viii be
aroused before the nominating conferences take
place That is not the way TO bring about
union. / for the most available man,
whether he is Republican a Democrat and
that is the feeling of our conference committee.
If II is deemed wise 10 put Democrat at the
head Of the ticket nobody will support him more
heartily than 1 will We don't want to repeat
the story OF 1897. so let us stop talking about
candidates till the time for business comes and
then make our motto Anything to beat Tam
many"
On the other hand, the following response TO
Mr. Quigg's remarks perhaps excusable In view
of the speakers erroneous estimate of their
significance, came from the Greater New-York
Democracy:
If Quigg is to be the spokesman of the Re-
publican organization might we'll give up
all hope OF union against Tammany. He pre-
vented a union in 1897. and he can prevent IL
again if the Republicans let him speak for them.
The Republican members cf the conference COM
mfttee are all right. They have shown a dspo-
sition to select the best ticket, regardless of
party considerations, but Qugg may spoil
everything
Exactly adapted We should hope. to soothe the
ruffied feelings of the Democrat just quoted are
the words of Mr.. Richard ]. Lewis, of the
XXIXth Assembly District. who thinks that
Republicans in general would naturally like TO
have an Independent Republican candidate
chosen, but says:
/ cannot believe. though that In the present
campaign which is primarily to defeat
Tammany, any Republican VIII stand in the
way Of independent Democrat. l say that
we would like to Republican at the head
Of the ticket, but not If Democrat Will bring
us victory.
On the whole il seems to us that ant-T am
many Democrats can afford to preserve more
tranquil demeanor than is quite natural to
them This is not the first instance in which
they have betrayed apprehensiOns which after
ward proved to be unnecessary. There is no
reason TO suspect that the Republican organi-
zation and Republican voters in general are
lacking In sincerity. So far as we have OBJ
served, anxiety as to the party affiliations OF
the candidate to be chosen to lead the fight
against Tammany is almost wholly confined 10
the independent Democrats. Their prospective
allies, who must furnish a large majority of
the votes, are less sensitive, and we believe
they are in hearty accord with the views of
Postmaster Van Cott, to which we again in
vite particular attention. As for Mr. Oujgg
who is by no means incapable of seeing a
point when he wants to, and who must know
that memories of 1897 are still vivid and pain-
full we would amcably suggest that he con-
form strictly TO his own announcement and the
undoubted fact, that he is entirely out of poli-
tics.