The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-19
ONE REPUBLICANS VIEW.
independent and OutspOken Comment on
the Municipal situation.

To THE EpIroR or The SUN-Sr: II Is
matter OF interest at this time for those Re-
publicans who look back upon the political
events of the past ten years to consider care
fully the results OF elections In this State that
have taken place during that time and the
causes that have led up to those results
In 1892, principally because OF the labor
troubles at Homestead and IA spirit OF unrest
among the laboring classes President Harri-
son was defeated by Mr. Cleveland and the
Democrats were placed in control Of both
houses of Congress. The result OF that cleo
ton as every one knows. was the repeal OF
tho Sherman Silver Purchase act and the
passage OF the so-called Wilson-Gormah
Tariff bill. The passage OF the latter, the
acrimonious discussions that took place pc
tween the Democratic leaders over the OIL
and the fact that Mr.. Cleveland allowed II TO
become law without his signature. together
with the depression in business circles that
followed caused a revulsion OF feeling among
the people. and In tho Congress election OF
1904 a tidal wave, such as has been seldom
seen in this country, swept the Republicans
back into power In Congress by an over
whelming majority. The erect OF ths
change of opinion was felt strongly here In
New York. Rock-ribbed Democratic as
tricts where Republican Con gressmen hao
not been elected for many years (such as the
SlNt0eNlu, Oh WHICH Nc5'SHoseCi S0N''S
! then formed a part), went Republican. and
in New York city william L. Strong was
| elected Mayor. This revulsion Of feeling In
| New York city, however, was not entirely
| due to national politics. Republican Leg
| islature. assisted by a Republican Governor.
| had appointed committee to investigate
| the affairs Of the New York police force and
! other matters pertaining the citys gov
| eminent. On account Of the corrupt condi-
r,s-.- 4. sa nFTntff
| the election OF a Republican Mayor was MADE
| possible combined with the reasons hereto
| fore given. Instead. however, OF reaping
| the fruits of the exposures made by the Lexow
committee, the leaders OF the Republican
party decided to combine with other political
forces in the city. The result was that al
| though Mayor was elected who was he
publican, the organization was not strength
| ened thereby commensurately with their
| success
In 1895 the Democratic National Convention
nominated Bryan on a Populistic platform.
| which made Democratic victory in New York
impossible: and the Republican ticket. in
Guiding Mr.. Frank Black. the candidate for
! Governor. carried the State by larger ma
| jortty than was ever known in the political
| history Of New York
| Then came consolidation. 1t was a Re-
| publican Legislature that had made this
possible. 1t was u Republican Legislature
| that had given Greater New York Its charter.
The Republican party was the only organized
| body fighting Tammany Hall at that time
and It was but fair to assume. because OF
these facts. that the Republican organization
should have at least some part in the choice
of n nominee for Mayor. A self-constituted
committee. however, took it upon themselves
| to force nomination upon the Republican
| organization. Had the leaders Of the latter
| allowed themselves to be dictated to in this
| manner by men who had no voice or authority
| in political circles, it might have meant the
disruption of the organization 1t had taken
years to build up. The Republicans. there
fore, nominated Ben jamin F. Tracy for Mayor.
a man whose honesty and ability could never
| be questioned.
Every one remembers the result OF that
fight. Although the Republican candidate
was defeated it was glorious defeat and
one which every true Republican. no matter
how much he desired Tammany's overthrow,
took great satisfaction in when 1t was re-
membered that the organization OF the party
had preserved its independence and integ-
rity.
Next year at the State election. after bitter
fight. in which there was elimination ana re-
elimination between those Republicans who
desired that Governor Black should have
that IL he WAS nominated he would fail OF
election, Col. Theodore Roosevelt was nomi.
mated. and he was elected by over Is 900
majority, despite the fact that the whole
political machinery OF the city OF New
York was arrayed against him. and the
bitterness aroused among those Republicans
who favored Mr.. Blacks denomination cost
him many votes. Yet in spite OF these facts
Governor Roosevelt was elected by a suostan
tial plurality. Then, however, the Republican
organization in New York city had retained
| Its independence and Its members were IN
| accord.
Two years later. in 1907. McKinley's popn-
larity. and the fact that Bryan was too bitter
nil for the Democrats Of this State to swal-
low. gain turned an avalanche OF votes into
the Republican column. and with the aid lent
by the national ticket Benjamin b. Odell.
Jr.. who had received the nomination for
Governor, was swept into office by an irresisSi-
| BILE force.
Then came the events of two years ago.
The committee" had been taught lesson
| nv their experience Of four years before
They had lost much OF their haughtiness and
| dictatorial manner and even consented to con-
suit with the leaders of the Republican or gan
ization Instead however. of having A straight
fusion ticket iii such thing is possible =
that is only representatives or the Cltlzehs
Union" and Republicans on it,, the attempt
was made to cater to every little organization
that controlled, or claimed to control. few
votes. There were O'Brienites and Sheehan-
, ties and Stecklerites: independent Demo
Gratis, Mugwumps and every known stripe o.
| politician Except Tammanyites and in the
| light OF future events am not sure or That
who had read the handwriting on the wall
| represented on that ticket. Tammany was
defeated. but despite the fact that Republican,
cast 80 per cent of the vote for Mayor the
, | organization was persistently refused recog
} | milton, so far as patronage was concerned
| Men who represented only themselves or per
haps score or 80 of the chosen" were placed
> in office. and the wishes Of thousands OF voter
in New York were ignored.
? And the result was seen in the last election
/ for Governor. From majority in Create
1 New York for the fusion ticket OF nearl!
. &c 600, the vote changed TO a majority Of 100
for the Democratic candidate for Governor
Bird s. Coler and he the weakest man tn
Democrats could possibly have nominated
- Contrast Governor Odelrs vote in New Yorl
CITY with that received by President Roose
) welt in 1898 with Tammany in full power TO
. | four years in this city. and the baneful infu
= epce of fusion methods will be seen.
8 What was the cause Of this? Ask any dis
4 | trict leader why there il lack Of enthusiasm
, among his workers Mingle with the Re
! publicnns who have fou ght for years aroun
VI tho Rnnuhlican banners Nine out of ever