The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-09
THE MASK THROWN OFF.

The Citizens union and the Repub-
have removed from the fusion ticket
the names of Grout and Fornes, their
sole offense having been that they
would not refuse to accept the indorse-
ment Of their candidacy by the Demo-
cratic party. We have already COM
mented upon the political bearings of
place as to it's revelation Of the pres
ent plan and purpose Of the Repub-
ican leaders in New York city. It is
clear now that they have completely
captured the so-called Citizens union,
and have made Of any pretense here
after that non artisanship should
govern in municipal elections bowling
farce.
The Republican managers were loath
to accept the nomination of Seth Low.
AS matter Of fact, they never did
accept it until they were comfortably
certain that they could control his ad-
ministration. The "easy boss" nom
mated fgurehead against him when
he was first a candidate, and assured
the election Of Van Wyck in his stead.
The next time the boss, rather to the
public's surprise, consented that the
Republican organization should ratify
the nomination of Low, and he was
elected by the votes of Democratic in
surgents against Tammany. This year,
again, there was great futter of nom
partisan banners, and Mayor Low was
renominated as a Citizens candidate.
But this time the pretense could not
last, and the complete subservience of
Mr.. Low and his associates to the Re
publican party machine is formally
announced.
AS we have seen, Grout and Fornes
are men of such splendid qualities that
they were selected from the Demo-
cratic ranks to run on the city ticket
two years ago. Such has been their
| record in Office that they were unani-
! mously placed on that ticket again.
These honors they accepted in good
| faith, as the reward Of their records.
! They were Endorsed by the regular Re-
publican organiza ton. There could be
no conceivable objection to their in
dorsement also by Tammany except
| that of party, and it is the foundation
stone Of the fusion movement that
party ties must be laid aside in munic-
| ipal contests.
These gentlemen did accent the
Democratic Endorsement and have been
forcibly removed from the fusion ticket
for that reason and for no other. The
| proceedings of which this is the OUT
ccme were directed throughout by
''Tim" Woodruff, who is the mere err
rand boy Of Boss Platt and the laugh
ing stock Of the politicians of both
parties throughout the state. In sane
tioning this course Mayor Low has
confessed himself the tool of Platt, and
| the alleged fusion movement stands
unmasked as a burglarious attempt by
the Republican party to get into power
under false pretenses.
Men who really believe in non-parti-
sanship in municipal politics must Ia
ment this occurrence. 1t is the sever
est and most destructive blow that the
cause of bipartisan municipal gov
eminent has ever received in this
country. 1t not only advises, but re-
quires Democrats and Republicans in
the election this fall in Greater New
York to cast their votes on strict par
ty lines. 1t will discredft and hamper
any future movement for a concert of
action by friends of good government
regardless Of party in our cities. We
are not surprised that Plat should
have succeeded in what he has been
plotting for the last half dozen years.
but we are astounded to find Mayor
Low become his willing servitor.