New-York tribune., 1901-05-25
GERuAN-AMERICAN COOPERATION.

The proceedings of the General Committee of
the German American Reform Union at its
meeting last evening. which are reported in our
local columns. greatly strengthen the belief that
a large. respected and influential element of the
population may be relied OH TO cooperate heart
lily in the coming municipal campaign with the
allied forces opposed TO Tammany Hall. 1t
appears from tabulatiOn presented at the
meeting that the German-Amercan vote in this
city is more than "a per cent of the whole and
il cannot be doubted that large proportion of
it naturally belongs and can be arrayed on the
side of good government Our German-Ameri-
can fellow citizens are in the habit of maintain
ing their own individual convictions. but we
have judged that ii was safe TO accept the
Reform Union as fairly representative of their
general attitude toward Tammany, while the
spirit of last nights meeting increases our con-
fidence that whatever influence and authority 1t
possesses will be sagaciOusly eXerted.
The first part of the resolution adopted by
the, General Committee is altogether admirable
1t declares that the affairs of the city should be
managed for the advantage of its inhabitants
and that as Il guarantee of such an administra-
tiOn only men of steadfast character and supe-
''rior reputation, who will neither nor suffer
'any one else TO use their offices for the benefit
''of any political organization set of persons
whatever" should be nominated for the public
service and that the Reform Union will join
with other organizations in sincerely and hon
"estly asking the election of such men. That
is frank decisive, judicious and sufficient. 1t is
a platform on which all who want good local
government should rejoice TO stand.
With the obvious purpose Of the second part
of the resolution we are also in hearty accord,
but its rigid application under all circumstances
might not be advisable 1t properly insists that
candidates for the Assembly shall be men of
the highest character, who are incapable of
betraying the cityS interests nj Albany, but its
proposal that in Republican districts Republi-
cans should be nominated and in Democratic
districts Democrats overlOoks some evident pos
sibilties. There might be- for example, more
than one case in which Republicans had shown
themselves so nearly able TO carry Democratic
district as to make success certain with the help
of minority Of tiTammany Democrats. In
such a district good sense and propriety would
probably dictate the nomination Of a Republi-
can. In a district where the Democratic reform
element was so large that the addition of the
Republican minority would give it the prepon-
derance the proposed rule would logically apply.
but il might not universally afford the best pros
pect of victory. The suggestion we would make
is that those who sincerely desire 10 be instru-
mental in the work of overthrowing Tammany
and setting up an honest and efficient govern
ment in its place run an unnecessary risk OF
embarrassing the movement which they mean
TO promote when they begin TO prescribe the
details of cooperation. For the present firm
assertion Of principles and tentative attitude
in respect 10 methods seem to us to offer the
cleareSt assurance Of success