The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.
Its sphere or influence ana the successor
Of Mr.. Morris.


Of Mr.. Morris.
To THE EDITOR or The SrN--Sir: " may
be of interest at a time when Republican
leaders in New York county are casting
about for a chairman OF the County Com
mttee to consider just what nre the functions
of that committee and how and to what eH-
tent It's influences are determinative OF the
0 partys work and general policy throughout
the county
The general membership OF the committee
Ia an empty dignity, or perhaps should say
. an emptying dignity. With the exception OF
those who serve from year to year upon its
special or executive committees the only
privilege OF members Is to contribute sZo
year to the treasury Of the committee. one
who was recently elected to this committee
and who supposed he might have some OPP
portunity. in consequence, OF famlliar'zihg
| himself with the party policy and plans. re-
ceived "a notice of Il meeting of the committee.
stating that It was important and that he
ought to bc present. and this was supple
| nented by personal letter from the ieader
OF his district that. as personal favor 10 tnhl
lender he was requested to attenu ne
, thcreupon broke dinner engagement ana
an evening engagement, attended promP'N
at the hour named. waited forty-hve minutes.
| whereupon the chairman and the secretary
appeared from an inner room and In tVe MIN
utes the calling OF the roll had been dispensed
with, the reading of the minutes likewise
passed over and the committee had adjourned
h is needless to say that this member WAS an
infrequent attendant at subsequent meet
ings of the committee. One long in the har-
| ness and Injured to the dignity Of the position
informed him that that was all the general
members were ever expected to do
Membership In the County Committee.
however makes the member member OF the
district executive committee and at this
is flI.lhlp n
active effect. Yet, but for the leader or the
district, who Is by virtue Of his leadership
County Committee, the district committees
do not get into any. close, touch with the County
OF efcG hs hHy eades so It is
quite possible and not unusual that the rank
ana Me- whose votes, after all. are the caLltHl
business, may be Kept In ignorapce Of what
IS going on or what 1t is proposed to do year
The same individual alluded to, soon after
ms election A. a member of the County Com
TO here1ity, but to conviction. undertook
to ,proNer views as to the Character of can
mind may be llustracd by tH 9'i fact that that he
was actually of the opinion that, candidates
Tor Congress from the city OF New York should
be men IN every way representative OF the
greatest commcrciaI city Of the nitei states,
ability and familiar with the character of the
interests they would represent If elected.
n yiew OF the then prominence Of the In
urge, in lieu Of the nomination Of candidate
whose chief claim to tn" nomination, as he
, oinoss been elected when running for some
other Office and that he had been willing to
that care should he taken to select such
man ns would command the independent
SUPPORT ara make it at least within ths bounds
/ resented by Republican.
These views being looked upon as quasi,
/ humorous by the local leaders, he addressed
communicate on long substantially these
! lines to one whose leadership in party mat
ters was unquestioned and received from
that while the sentiments expressed in his
letter did him infinite credit as man. they
betrayed lamentable ignorance OF practical
I politics. The result was that the perennial
+ candidate was left at the post
say in tbs matter SS OF of ont cam
, paCn. he instant in season and out of season.
with view 70 securing for this great com
sns and be Fnd ~ o b as Sea
/ terasts ' Of the ' port of New York have owed
it'll" il ANYTHING Of late years to the activities
! OF the New York city rcpresentatiyes, nnd
England statesmen.
With one or We exceptions is there Con- %,
equals IN activity or ability some Of the Rep
TTesentatvess from, up the state or from New
.
/ the intervals between the. Congressional
! campaigns make point OF doing such mis-
81 w1rf Is w2gd insure Te1 the sn Wbo
nominated would insure the support Of such
4 Independents md even Of such Democrats
as were unwilling to support the regular
J nominations of ,ramnlany HALF
! 1t is objected that men of this character
cannot b" persuaded to run at the eleventh
I hour, nor can thew be persuaded to run on
condition Of substantial political contribp-
Ian n
duty to perform in this connection. a duty
higher BY reason Of the, city IN which this
committee has control thnn exists in many
other parts of the country
:. In respect t, .bordi nate local nominations
/ ship in It's body of tho district leaders. who,
like ,wrct Alice; Weep with dsliyh t. when il
! frown," hut in this respect il is lacking in its
supervisors, duty in that; being dominated
! politics." it ndorses and procures the can
! diiacy not of the best men who can be per-
! sgadGd 10 accept the nomination. but OF those
who nave been willing TO accept any noml-
/ nation for any position with tn" understand;
ing that when NJ, tidal wave, year shoqld
| something worth while,
1t is respectful Nv urged that in county
at n disad vantage the party leaders owe a
peculiar duty In this matter OF candidates
for tn Of IF n9 tsn u in
. party IT," support Of the so-called Independent
/ voters for in this way, aud not through TEN
! sacrificed. can tho party get increased ad-
hcrence to its ranks and an increasing con-
! tro' Of the elective offices In this city.
! 1t would be better to lose three Congress
sionnl elections running with unimpeachable
! with candidates who would have been no
| credit to the party had they been elected,
| This m,st not OF course, he taken as n
personal arraignment OF all the Republican
| candidates. in recent years, no such whole:
! sale indictment is brought but it is believed
. to he true that the principle underlying the
| general objections above framed has not
| been the primary. dominating principle which
| has Influenced publican leaders in the past.
THIRry-PIRsI ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.
| NEW YORK May 30.