New-York tribune., 1905-11-20
HOME RULE IN POLITICS.

good deal of sound common sense may De
found in the opinions expressed by Tax Com
missioner Strasbourger and the resolutions
adopted by the 31st Assembly District Repub-
licans concerning the management OF the
county organization. We by means share
the view of separatists who think that the
CITY of New-York should be independent of the
state and that it is in some way an imper-
tinence for country legislators to have voice
or conviction of their own on bills which may
affect the people of this city. as we'll as the
rest of the state. Neither do we think that the
Republfcans outside of the city have not legitl-
mate interest i'll the prosperity OF the party
in community which casts about half the
total vote of the state. A weak organization
or a stolen election here is matter OF vital
Importance to the rural counties. And we, Ill
turn. are properly interested in their gettng
out full vote and having party organlza-
tton which will stand for decent things. ana
send to Albany representatives who VIII work
for common good government NeVerIhe-
less. the people of this county do not Ieel II
necessary to supervise every detail OF party
management in Monroe, or Erie or ChauLauqud'
or to hold outside county leaders IN tutelage
with respect to their home politics, however
much they may care about their actions with
respect to the affairs of the whole state Ii
would seem as if we, in turn, ought to man
age our local concerns and TO seek the fount
of wisdom among our own citizens
Mr. Platt in the days of his leadership was
always insistent in his profession OF NON
interference with internal county affairs. he
was a citizen of Oweg0. AS state leader, con-
troversies sometimes came before him, OF,
rather, before the state committee, Whlch ue-
manded advice OF adjudication, but that he
interfered with home rule here more than IN
other counties he would have denied. SO, too,
with Mr.. Odell. Ask MIN anything about New
York County affairs and he will say he comes
from Newburg and will tell inqulrers TO seek
light from the local leaders. Yet NOBODY Is Ill
the least unfamiliar with the fact that for
years both these leaders have been consulted
and followed in the management of purely local
matters by Mr.. Quigg, Mr.. Morris, Mr Halpln
and their fellows after a fashion in Whlch
Mr. Hendricks. of Onondaga; Mr.. Aldrldge' OF
Monroe: Mr. Dunn, of Broome, or Mr.. Wood
ruff right here in Kings, never thought OF con-
suting them. And it was not their fault Other
counties developed their own leadership. 1ne
Republicans of New-York County have for the
most part acted as if party management was
no affair of theirs. The organization has been
deserted by many of the better class of men
who ought to be in it as privates-such as are
in if elsewhere-and weak men have been left
To come to the front as managers in the dis
tricts.
We have had situation here which fre-
ouently forced state leaders to take hold of
| affairs with strong hand If the partys pros
| poets in the whole state were not to be ruined
| But it is time for change. We shall never
have strong, self-reliant organization here till
! we learn TO stand and walk on our own feet.
| We must find strong men right here who will
be real leaders. and then insist that they shall
be their own masters and not seek to pass along
! their responsibility. There surely are Repub-
| licans of capacity for that work, and we be-
! Iieve that the Republicans of the county, as
we'll as of the state at large, would rejoice to
see them put forward and to offer them every
encouragement in building up powerful, self
reliant, autonomous New-York County organ
! iZatiOn,