New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-18
CIRCUIT DEFINES ISSUE
Party Fealty No Bar to Democratic
Vote for LOzc.

Controller Grout did not disappoint the voters
| who elected him Controller In clean cut dig
nifed letter to President Cutting of the Citizens
J Union yesterday Mr. Grout told him that he
| would accept denomination for Controller
| The Controller refuted the absurd and indicate
| charge made by District Attorney Jerome that
| Mayor Low is unattractive personality and
! did it in manner that evoked the wsrnest ad-
miration Of Republicans and Democrats alike
/ His letter in full is as follows:
I am in due receipt of your letter Of the 18th
/ inst, advising me Of the action Of the fusion
conference recommending the denomination of
/ Mr.. Low, Mr. Fornes and myself IL is known
/ that 1 had hoped to leave public Office at the
! close Of my present term and return to my
profession. and | am compelled TO weigh against
| this the duty imposed upon by my connec-
| ton with the present city administration This
have done In the main. the approaching con-
test must be upon the record of that admins
tration, and in such contest it is obviously
| impossible that / should fail to defend that
record, certainly as 10 every part Of il which I
' heiped 10 make l can do this obvious and
plain duty effectively. il seems TO me only nv
accepting denomination.
While the main contest must logically he made
upon the achievements or lack of achievements
OF the present officials. there seems TO be an
effort coming TO inject into the campafgn two
other issues to which equally with the ma in
one. find upon me a direct personal duty nv
those who do not know Mr.. Low as I 90 who
nave not worked side by side with him for two
years and who have not seen his breadth of
view and strong grasp upon municipal cues
get 1fr
tack is made upon his personality and his pa
thence and care and conservatism are distorted
into weakness
can effectively do my part in refutinr this
mistaken view only by accepting denomination
The other effort is TO raise the issue of national
ana state politlcs. / am regular and con-
sisJent Democrat as Mr.. Low is Republican
and upon this issue circumstances in the IA -
have placed me in a peculiar position The
state constitution and laws make the test OF
party regularity ones vote upon State and ma
uonal candidates. not his action in local sffairs
put the party organizations have always been
loath TO recognize this law in practice
A few years ago former Senator Cofev Of
BROOKLYN did marked public service by con
testing In the courts for the principle ana nv Sc
curing favorable decision upon IL in the C;o1r+
OF Appeals. and last fall. in the State campaign
the Democratic organizations both of Kings
and New-York counties, for the first time that
1 know OF, gave practical recognition to this
principle by recognizing my party regularity,
although I was then the fusion Controller
II thus falls that I am in position such as not
many other Democrats hold. TO show by accept
ing again this nomination that the approaching
municipal contest is not fight between Repub b.
licans and Democrats, but between citizens and
upon purely local issues and that fusion success
this year can have no more effect upon the
Presidential election Of next year than the
fusion success OF two years ago had upon the
Stste election OF last year
The issues 10 be passed upon are those affect
ing city affairs. They in wise affect Republi-
canism Democracy. II is the legal right il
ought 20 be the undisputed privilege. OF every
Democrat or Repu blican, whatever the action Of
his party convention. and without prejudice to
his party relations. 10 vote in such municipal
contests for what candidates he chooses Ard in
so doing he affects not all the proba bic action
OF New-York City in future national or State
elections.
When asked II he would supplement his letter
BY any statement. Mt. GTout said
There is nothing more 10 say. My letter ex-
presses my views exactly"
Was there any particular incident that i'm
PEELED you to decide TO accept a denomination -
oh" said the Controller. with smile Il
guess don't care to say just what it was that
turned the scales"
Are you wavering at all in your Denoc-
racy?"
Not in the slightest The laws Of the State
Continued on second page.