The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-18
CIRCUIT TO
RUN WITH
FUSIONISTS
Though a Democrat In National
Politics Hs viii Accept tho
Nomination as Comptroller.

New York, Sept. 1s-Comptroller Ed
ward NJ Grout yesterday made public a
letter 10 r. Fulton Cutting. president
OF the Citizens union. in which Mr. Grout
announced his decision 10 accept renom-
ination for comptroller on the Fusion
ticket.
IN national politics Mr.. Grout is a
Democrat. This is the letter:
Mr.. r. Fulton Cutting. Chairman Fu-
sion Conference Committee, New York
City:
My Dear Sir-I am i'm due receipt OF
your letter OF the 18th inst. ADVISING me
OF the action OF the Fusion conferees rec
cmmendng the denomination OF Mr.. Low,
Mr-EeEHes- and Hayself-+t=t<=kHs~n=t that
/ had hoped 10 leave public office at the
close OF my present term and TO return TO
my profession, and 1 am compelled to
weigh against this the duty imposed up
on me by my connection with the present
city administration.
This I have done
"In the main the approaching contest
must be upon the record OF that admin
istration, and i'm such a contest II Is OBJ
viously impossible that ] should fail TO
defend that record. certainly as 20 every
part OF IL which | helped 10 make. ] can
do this obvious and plain duty effective
ly. II seems 10 me, only by accepting re-
nomination.
While the main contest must logically
be made upon achievements or hck OF
achievement of the present officials. there
seems TO be an effort coming 10 inject
into the campaign two other issues as
10 which, equally with the main one |
find upon me a direct personal duty.
by those who do not know Mr. Low as
! do, who have not worked side by side
with him for two years. and who have
l. Il Al
grasp upon municipal questions and his
marked ability 10 get results. attack is
made upon his personality. and his pa
tience and care and conservatism are
distorted into weakness ] can effective
ly do my part in refutinR this mistaken
view only by accepting denomination.
THE other effort Is To raise the issue
OF national and state politics. I am
regular consistent Democrat as Mr.
Low is a Republican, and upon this is
sue circumstances in the past have
placed me in peculiar position The
state constitution and laws make the
test Of party regularity ones vote upon
state ard national candidates. not his
action in local affairs. but the party or
gsnizations have always been loath 10
recognize the law in practice
1T thus falls that | am in position,
such as not many other Democrats hold.
10 show by accepting this nomination
that the approaching municipal contest
Is not a fight between Republicans and
Democrats but between citizens and
upon purely local issues. and that Fusion
success this year can have no more effect
upon TIE presential election Of next year
than the Fusion success OF two years ago
had upon the state election OF last year.
The tissues 10 he past upon are those af-
fecting city affairs. They in no wise
affect Republicanism or Democracy.
1T is the equal right. IL ought 10 be
the undisputed privilege. OF every Demo
crat or Republican. whatever the action
OF the party convention. and without pre-
judice 10 his party rela tions, 70 vote i'm
such municipal contests for what can
didates he chooses. And IN so doing he
affects not all the probable action OF New
York city in future national or state
elections.
(Signed)
EDWARD NJ CIRCUIT"
MAYOR Low is PLEASED
Mayor Low read Mr.. Grout's letter this
morning and said;
81 am very much pleased az his deci-
sion and the manner IN which IL is done.
/ might add that I am very much graft
fed and touched up by his decisio<"
j. Edward Swanstrom, president of
Brooklyn borough, today gave out
statement in which he said that he was
ready To run again on the Fusion ticket
~ tho convention ~ n, aolx b,r,