New-York tribune., 1903-10-01
MR. GROUTS PRECEDENT.

We are much obliged TO Mr. Grout for calling
attention TO the remarks Of The Tribune on Oc-
tober IL, 1890 on the position of Controller
Myers. who, after being nominated by the Peo-
pies Municipal League. was indorsed 10y Tam
many Hall. The campaign of 1890 is in many
respects an instructive one for the present
friends OF honest government. Our comment
on Mr.. Myers which Mr.. Grout seems TO think
justifes his present attitude, was:
Controller Myers has accented Tammany
Halls nomination. but he has not a word to
say in support OF the rest Of the Democratic
ticket. The contrast in this respect between his
letter 10 the Peoples Municipal League and the
one he has written to Tammany is striking.
To the anti-Tammany ticket he pledges his
nest support; 10 Tammanv he gives the
ance that he VIII administer the financial af
fairs OF the city-opon basis Of wise economy
IN the common interest OF all citizens.
That brings out just exactly the point at
issue to-day. The fusionists desire assurance
that Mr.. Grout will work against Tammany, as
they had not the slightest doubt he would work
when they asked him 10 be their candidate.
Mr.. Grout is an excellent campaign speaker.
and was expected matter Of course TO take
the platform he did two years ago. So far
he has fenced with all inquiries about his ac-
tive work for Mr. Low as against the Tam
many candidate for Mayor in a fashion which
has amply justified the presumption that while
be would personally vote for Mr.. Low. he would
take no aggressive part against Tammany, but
would be for all practical purposes neutral dur
ing the campaign If he should give assurance
that Tammany Endorsement would in no way
weaken his work against Tammany, but that
he would continue to present it to the voters
as a disgraceful and unclean thing. the stencil"
that he said it was two years ago, the fusion
lists would be content. Mr.. Myers no
speaker but he appeared on the anti-Tammany
platform I'm 1890 which was all that had been
expected of him. VIII Mr.. Grout appear on
the anti-Tammany platform and work and
speak as earnestly for fusion as was expected
Of him. and as he would have done II he had
not been on the Tammany ticket?
But is il not strange for Mr.. Grout 10 go
searching back thirteen years for technical
justification Of a course which almost every
fusOnist but himself condemns? Is the ques-
ton what was done-perhaps foolishly done-in
1890. or what mems cOnsciences and Intelligence
tell them is right to-day: In 1890 the anti
Tammany forces were beaten Mr.. Myers, ii is
true. was elected but Mr.. Scott was defeated
Does Mr. Grout want us to take that year for
a precedent and elect him. while Mr.. Low suffers
the fate OF Mr.. Scott? The campaign Of 1890
should rather be a warning TO us. Possibly IL
Mr.. Myers had been kept off the Tammany
ticket twelve thousand more Democrats who
wished the finances kept in his hands might
have turned against Mayor Grant and elected
Mr.. Scott. Anyhow. to-day's duty is clear
whether the fusionists were right or wrong
thirteen years ago. II is right for fusionists
now TO ask that every energy Of their candi-
dates be given TO their cause. The man who
will not give that, the man who, when circum-
stances raise doubts about his power to give
that, however loyal his disposition, Yet refuses
10 remove those doubts in the most complete
manner has no place on a fusion ticket and
would earn universal contempt 10y trying TO
cling upon ii against the will Of those who
named him under n misapprehension Of his
readiness TO work energetically with them.
We regret TO notice that Mr.. Grout resents
our reference the other day 10 the Scripturai
truth that no man can serve two masters, say
ing: Il thought Il was well understood that I
have never served, and never will serve. any
master" We had not thought Mr.. Grout was
so absolutely self-centred but believed that the
cause Of good government and the noble passion
10 save his fellow citizens from the oppression
of Tammany Hall was his master. We are
sorry Il we have misunderstood him. We are
sory II he is just an isolated being who knows
nothing greater than himself