New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-09
CIRCUIT on CIRCUIT.

After brief period Of silence Mr.. GTout has
emitted another statement" in which be oblig-
ingly sets forth the grounds on which he is 60
ing TO appeal for d reelection. At the outset
be desires everybody to understand that he is
sustained and soothed by unfalteTing trust
and il may be that he is in fact approaching
lis grave like one who wraps the drapery of
Ibis couch about him and lies down 10 pleas
''aut dreams" But the internal evidence OF
these successive compositions which the Con-
1ioller has laboriously framed is that he has
little or DO hope Of persusdins the community
10 accept his view Of one of the most amazing
performances in political history.
Mr.. Grout dwells with more insistence than
modeSty on the value of bis official services dur
ing the last two years. but we are not disposed
10 besrudee him any comfort which he may de-
rive from asseverating that he has been an hon.
est and efficient Controller. 1t is not such
praise Of himself but his complaint of others
that provokes a retOTt. He is bitterly resentful
because bis name has been dropped from the
fusion ticket but the plain fact is that he alone
made that step indispensable and thus forced
himself off the ticket. Even the gross impro-
Triety OF his consentng 10 Tsmmany nomiDa-
ton without consulting the fusion managers
would have been overlooked and quickly for
gotten Il he had promptly undertaken 10 show
that he was the same man thereafter that he
was believed 10 be when be was made the fu-
sion candidate. In reply 10 Mr.. Cuttings search
Ing but unbiased letter Of inquiry. he needed
only 70 make an unequivocal declaration OF
loyalty. If he had said that his acceptance of
Iammany nomination would make no differ
ence whatsoever IN his attitude and conduct;
that be should use his utmost endeavors
throughout the campaign to prevent the return
OF Tamm2ny to power and TO promote the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Low and the whole fusion ticket
there is every reason 70 believe that In spite of
some doubts and protests. be would have re-
NAMED the candidate of the fusion forces
But what was the nature OF Mr. Grout's 70
rlv 10 Mr.. Cutting? He finched and shuf1led
lie spoke with general appreciation OF the rec
ord Of the present administration. He enlarged
On the great advantage which would result
from the election OF himself and Mr. Fornes
even II Mr.. Low were defeated. and he exposed
his innermost thoughts and intentions, presum-
ably without meaning 10 do So IN these disin-
ceuuous words: This election cannot be won
.by calling Tammany Hall hard Names nor by
'harping upon the sins Of men who two years
ago were active in that organization but now
"are gone" There spoke q man who held
brief for Tammany, or who. at least had &C
cepted retainer.
sIr. Grout as we have said forced himself off
the fusion ticket We have said also that he
might have been kept on the ticket If be had
clearly and explicitly promised TO work for il TO
the best Of his ability But how could he make
such a pledge after he had agreed TO take the
Tammany nomination? Or what under such
circumstances. would such pledge have been
WORTH We cannot help regarding II as fortu-