New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-22
FUSION PROSPECTS.

The new president of the Republican County
Committee has produced favorable impression
in various ways since his election. and his dis
erection in declining to make public. slight
prov0cation, his views concerning all sorts Of
matters has been particularly commendabls
Fer this reason his hearty praise OF the present
municipal administration and his prediction
that the fusion forces will be thoroughly united
in the coming campaign are worthy of special
attention. Mr.. Bruce is not disturbed by cur
rent reports that Mr.. Cantor and Mr.. Sheehan
planning to take themselves and their Or
ganization TO Tammany Hall. In the first
place, he does not believe they have any such
intention, and in the second place he is con-
WINGED that the Greater Ncw-York Democracy
as Il body would refuse to follow them even if
they should give orders for such il surrender.
AS for the German American Reform Union,
Mr. Bruce ventures to prophesy that Mr.. Ridder
and his sympathetic friends, who are now in
dulGing, after their customary fashion, in
pressIons of discomfort and threats of deSertion.
will fall into line when the time comes
Possibly Mr.. Ridder may not regard that fore
cast of his course as quite respectful for he
has repeatedly and explicitly declared Il con
traIy intention; but we feel at liberty to ex-
press the conviction that he viii not succeed
in case of Mr.. Lows denomination. in leading
the OtSdulLdllOu IOf which ne assumes 10 speak
into the Tammany camp. 1t is certain that
many of its representative members would be
much surprised if Mr.. Ridder should prove him
self equal to the task of carrying out the pro-
gramme which he is now proclamng Thus
Mr.. Lesser. of the executive committee said
yesterday:
Mr.. Ridder cannot deliver the German Ameri-
can Reform Union to Murphy. The union was
established for the special purpose Of securing
good municipal government and fighting Tam
many Hall. and / believe majority OF the
members viii support the fusion ticket. no
matter what Mr.. Ridder does. The Ger
man Americans are among the most indepen-
dent of citizens. They cannot he delivered
10 any machine. Attempts of that sort have
been made more than once, but they have al
ways failed Some leaders may go into Tam
many Hall. but they can only carry their per-
sonal friends with them
That characterization unqueSi0nably reflects
the general estimate of those to whom it is APP
piled. and we believe Mr. Lesser is justified in
saying that if is confirmed by experience Mr..
Ridder himself has ut times appeared 10 take
great pleasure in paying similar tributes to his
fellow citizens of German descent and we sec
no reason for assigning superior Importance TO
his present disparagement OF their independence
At an early stage in the fusion movement
prior to the last municipal campaign the Ger
man-American Reform Union adopted this dec
iaration of principles:
The German American Reform Union. earnest
~ desiring that the affairs of the city be admin
ist@rco, as are those of every we'll lnana ged
business. for the advantage Of those concerned
declares that the candidates for the mayoralty
and other offices should be only men of stead
fast character and superior reputation chosen.
as are men for important private employments.
from persons Of proven ability and manifest in
tegrity. who may be- relied upon Ia act as they
profess. and who will neither use nor suffer
any else to use their offices for the benefit
of any political organization set of persons
whatever. and this union viii join with other or
ganiza tons sincerely and honestly asking The
election OF such men
We do not believe that more than small
minority Of the members of the organization
which put forth that excellent statement Of
what the municipal government ought to be