New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-30
vR. CROFT AND HIS CRITICS.

HR. CROFT AND HIS CRITICS.
The friends Of MI Grout who are panied that
many fusionists do not share The Controller ;
views Of the duty Of fusion candidate threaten
that If criticism Of his accepting place on the
Tammany ticket does not cease be ''lH desert
from the fusion ranks and make the muhlcipa4
campaign a straight party contest between
/ Democrats and Republicans. But he viii not.
In the first place. disappointing as it would be
10 those who believe in him 10 see him thus be-
come the ally Of the forces OF corruption, Mr..
Grout. even II be should abandon his principles,
/ could not make this party contest Too many
/ thousands Of Democrats are enlisted Tor TINS
! war: TOO many Of them were enlisted While MI
! Grout was still loyal organization man. uSlus
! his energies 10 bring New-YOrk under the rule
OF Tammany. and himself taking Office as
/ member Of the Van Wyck administration. Long
before Mr. Grout discovered that in any Demo
cratic gathering "a Tammany Hall man was
/ looked upon with scoTn and contempt the
/ great body Of other respectable men. equally
! srm in their Democratic principles. had mani
/ tested that scorn and contempt For years hon
est Democrats have lost no opportunity to over
throw this band OF plundcrers and to secure
good government for this city. and it does not
lie In Mr. Grout's power to-day TO transform
This non-partisan fight against the re-estabiish'
ment Of Tammany rule into mere Republican
and Democratic party contest.
Moreover. on September Il, less than two weeks
ago. Mr. Grout wrote a letter in which be de-
clared that Il was his obvious and plain
duty" 70 stand by the fusionists in the most et-
fcctive manner possible. and said that be was
m n position such as not many other Demo
Gratis hold. to show by accepting again this
nomination that the approaching municipal
contest is not a fight between Republicans and
ss-afN
local issues" In ii he also said: The issues
to he passed upon are those affecting city al
fairs They i'm no wise affect Kepublcanism
~or Democracy" The author Of those DECLARE
lions can hardly. within two weeks Of their ut
terance, be even trying TO turn this great non-
partisan fight for principle into a party contest
because Of any personal irritation.
Mr.. Grout may naturally enough be panied
fhat bis associates in the fusion work do not
take bis view OF the pr0preties Of the situa-
ton. Il doubtless hurts his feelings 70 have
some persons who DO not know him intimately
question his good faith. So. doubtless IL hurts
the feelings Of Mr.. Low 20 have his unselnsh
devotion to the cause Of good government ques-
toned as ii has been by Democrats. and those
Of Mr.. Platt TO have his god faith toward the
non-partisan movement decTied. But their per-
sonal griefs have never yet been accepted as
could not Join in the work for good government
without being pounded, and that they would
accordingly help Tammany into power. 1t does
not lie in the mouth Of any Democratic fusion
ist 10 CRY and run away because OF unjust criu-
cism. for from the beginning every Republican
fusionist has been freely abused for every part
he took In fusion. and at the same time told
that il was his duty TO stand it and forget his
partisanship. There is 10 need for Mr.. Gr0ut 10
be 50 sensitive. He has embarked upon an ex-
tvaordlnary course. which brings his COW orkers
/ face 70 face with problems and uncertainties.
! Naturally and properly they are critical, and
! say what they think OF the possible effect Of mis-
course on the cause they hold lear. Naturally
end properly they ask Il his new relation with
Tammany viii leave him free 70 stand with
/ them in presenting an unbroken front to the
/ Tammany enemy and 10 use all his powers 20
, promote the election Of Mr.. Low over the Tam
many candidate for Mayor With his name on
4 both tickets Mr. Crout would lie in an obvi usly
4 delicate position. no matter how sincere his de
vorion 10 The fusion interests. and Il is 70 in
suit 10 him 70 ask distinct assurances that he
/ can surmount that difficulty AMI do as effective
work against the Tammany corruptionists who
are trying 10 get possession OF the Mayors
Office as fusorists have a right TO expect from
leading candidate on the fusion ticket
: Mr. Grout Is far TOO thin skinned II be thinks
such doubts and questionincs improper. But
whatever he thinks. even however uniustlv be
may be criticised. he cannot afford TO LET any
personal grievance divert him from absolute
loyalty 70 the fusion movement 10 which he
las Pledged his unsellsh devotion. What are
any mans personal feelings in comparison
with The great cause OF comparison municipal
/ government The continuation OF the excellent
d administration in tie MAYORS chair which we
have for two years witnessed. and the defeat
once more 81 that criminal organization which
Nr Grout has described as a stencil