The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-19
CIRCUIT LETTER TO DEMOCRATS
FORMALLY ACCEPTS THE NOMI.
NATION FOR COMPTROLLER.
Was Panied NJ what He Calls the Republi.
canizing Of tho Fusion Movement, and
so Goes Back to His Own Party-He
Says He's Neither Traitor Nor ApOstate.

canizing Of tho Fusion Movement, and
so Goes Back To His Own Party-He
Says He's Neither Traitor Nor ApOstate.
Following is the letter Of acceptance Of
Edward M. Circuit, addressed to 7. c. T.
Grain. chairman OF the Democratic city
convention, and dated Oct. II:
DEAR SIR: In this formal letter of acceptance
OF the nomination for the Office of Comptroller,
regret that it is necessary to say some per-
sonal words. There are larger issues to be
determined and do not wish to pose before
the people Of this city. however unjustly
nave been treated, as a man with n grew
ance. But 1t seems TO be the purpose Of others
TO make me and my actions an issue in the
campaign.
For the past two years have been Comp
troller. and every party has deliberately
approved my record in terms Of praise which
exceed what l would have ventured to ex-
pect Substantial reduction in taxation.
publicity and something toward equalization
OF assessments. the framing of franchise
grants from which the city gets better re-
turns than ever before, the increase in flnan-
cial resources by the increase OF the debt
limit. prompt payment Of schooltea cheers.
policemen. firemen. laborers and all city
eHpoyeeS, payment OI Guy DllIS ny mhll,
and businesslike conduct in Office and in
the boards Of which have been a member.
these things have been generally and gem
erously commended, and upon such COM
mendation l am fairly entitled to appeal to
the people for their SURFACES. IL have
been a good Official as they all have said,
am entitled to rely upon the proposition that
good officials should be retained in Office.
IL reelected shall perform my duties In the
same manner. and shall be as firm to with
stand all pressure and attack. as determined
to do what think is right. as in the past two
years: as firm as have been during the past
three weeks in the face Of clamor and abuse.
TO adhere to the course which my conscience
has approved.
believe that tho business affairs OF munci-
pal corporations should be managed upon
their own merits. In this spirit have man.
aged the affairs Of the Comptroler's Office.
supposed that the Citizens Union genuinely
believed and would practise this doctrine,
and was deuded into the belief that the
Republican party had adopted it as its guide
in municipal affairs. They have both DELHI
erately put aside and repudated that doc
trine. by Republicanzing the fusion move
ment. The party issue has been sQuarely
put into the campaign by those who profess
the contrary.
Until this was revealed. was committed
to the support of Mayor Low having been
a part OF the administration. and resented
the bitter and prejudioed attacks made upon
his personality by the District Attorney.
You expected when you proposed what was
then intended as an Endorsement and not
as an original nomination, thut ! would sup
port MIR. Low for reelection. You intended
to eliminate the Comptroller's office from
contest. and to leave me Tree to act In the
put tVtaI inn M al ri i,.A
should dictate.
But was not Committed" to the support
Of Mayor Low in any unreasonab bic sense.
had. during my term of office, publicly
criticised the conduct OF the Fire Commits
sioner, and had object ed to the expenditure
OF public money TO induce crimes, and TO the
employment of plain clothes men to enforce
the Sunday excise laws in the absence OF
specific complaints was the only public
official OF the city to say word against the
increase OF the excise tax and the increase OF
the share of the State in that tax. or to pro-
test against the proposed repeal OF the fran
chise tax. now local asset. ana me substi-
state: while the ayor In the one case sup
ported the measure and in the other observed
senator David b. Him. on April Is last.
speaking of the amendments to the excise
law, said; While Republican officials In New
York city have eithe. remained slentin re,
upon that city by this infamous legislation. or
have mildly, apologized for it. it is a matter
OF COuHrHtulatlOn that us Democratic Comp
troller, Edward NJ. Grout. although elected
as fusOnst in 1901. has vigorously assaulted
the measure as an outrage upon the political
rights and financial interests of the taxpayers
and business men of that municipality"
II was never expected by fusion manag gers,
or by Mr.. Low himself, that would in any
event or in any, manner support hum IN hi:
attitude upon these things upon which had
openly disa greed with him at one time But
these differences upon matters relating
to State ia Ration which at the time deemed
TO- ,.y Tara npAs nf hot paIl lIS
have different aspect when he stands at
the head of movement wholly Republican,
lied u is now clear that he was in accord
which have OF late years been so hostile
to the interests Of the city OF New York,
and have so steadily an, and greatly inSreased
government. II this Democratic city is to
get justice from the Republican influences
Of the State, i will not be at the hands OF
You perceive that am perfectly frank
with you. Nor have any apologies to offer
for my position two years ago Then. as
consequences But when party lines are
drawn. am Democrat. On next election
day will cast my twepty-second vote save
1903, in Brooklyn, In the election in which
Judge Gaynor was chosen against the Brook
iyn pemocratIe oTganizatlon to the ofloe
organization presented him on Oct. lst
last. as its candidate for Mayor I was with
him. In 1901, because IL seemed to me that
the party had fallen into evil. was elected
TO my present office. Faithful are the
wounds Of friend" and when the issues
10 these two cases were purely local, " hen the
lines Of Democracy and Repubcansm on
State and national issues did not intervene.
acted as so many other Democrats did to
correct the party evils.
The party has not failed to do its part
vigorously since then in changes Of many
leaders, in expulsion of many who had brought
scandal upon it, To believe it permanently
incapable of good government in this city,
so Overwhelmingly Democrat tic, would be
to deny to that extent the foundations of man
that the ajority should rule, and to assert
that this city needs TO be governed by some
select few who are better than the people them
selves. The commanding position Of our
city has been attained under Democratic rule
of nearly a century. In public spirit. in its
educational and governmental systems, in its
great public Improvements, 1t already leads.
and no city surpasses 1t in anything save
antiquity and the accretons which years
alone bring. few years more and in popu-
lation, commerce and finance II is destined TO
excel all. One cannot compare II with other
cities and despair Of Democracy or OF the rule
Of the Democratic party;
The cornerstone Of the fusion campaign
two years ago was the cry OF non-partisan-
ship. / know nothing more non-partisan
than unanimous nomination, You offered
nation unanimous. You had done the same
thing thirteen years ago TO my predecessor.
Comptroller Myers, and no one found fault
os Ted IT I'M wthSrt
that offer stripped OF the mask and Ruise
OF non -partisanshp which the fusion move
ment had worn, for 1t appeared that while
So fhe ason py
sumed its present position as a pro-Repub-
il may have individual Democrats on rs