New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-27
DECLARES EDITOR IS UNFAIR.
Minister Says Bill Meets His Objections
New-York Diverse in Interests

In defence OF the measure the Rev. Mr.. Russell
argues:
The Editor of 1.-THE Chicago Record Herald. in
its issue of March 49, speaking OF the Local 1oa
legislature and is pending IN dne sa9g
legislature newer had Measure before it that
formed closely than does the local option olii
p fG the idea OF government o. 'Y anu ~ '' -
The Amber W Wainwright Local Option bill en-
introduced at Albany in harmony with the recon-
mendation of Governor Higgins upon TINS sup}eca IA
his annual message, and has the general ana
hearty support of the moral forces of the state:
Most eTam e5dgcbes % q CITY, and
representing aggregate. membership OF over
to ali good citizens of New-York State to influence
s6e under the n Isl Of the Hon william
s. Bennett upon the basis of the Srannock law, N
and beneficial in its operation. The various feat
ures of the law were carefully considered and the
yer, was prepared to Introduce the bills and ear
heS b T TLEe the sy ILL., VIVA and snirt Gazette
MI Smith IN his H letter to The Tribane states
held in any 'e election district upon the petition
40 cent of the qualified electors of that dlstre.
The attempt which he makes. however, to as
credit this proposition. is not founded either In
of r g 3f 6 Unfair for
example, when he says that If two or more psu-
the election shall be ordered for the district de
soribed in the petition first filed. and afterward In
territory of the former district" As a matter OF
fact under the operation OF this Dill, the SECOND O
other petition would become null and void, and
there would be difficulty such as he suggests OF
a multiplication of elections over the same ter
ritory. . -.
Further. Mr. Smith charges that the bill is silent
registration, thus leaving 1t Impossible 10 9
terTnne the qualification of electors But tne OH
does provide that 40 per cent of the quaned cleo
tors may petition and that only "qualliled etee-
tors" shall vote at such election 1t is perfectly
s the 70 Gaed SECTORS ' of district which
be blocked out by petition under this IAN II any
the petition it would DO a matter for the judgment
of a court. If question arose as 10 the Ilght OF
an eector to vote at any election hed uR nee IN. ms
way such questions determined at general cleo
tons The bill provides that the election Is to pc
conducted in all respects as provided oy la" Ior
the conduct of general elections.
The cost of the special elections IS much exag-
gerated TO amount in Mr. Smiths mind MIND, "A, As
seem an unjustihable use of the public money, 70
allow an election which has been asked for by 40
cially true in view of the fact that the people who
will be most interested to bring on sucn elecIlohs
win be the hovseholders whose properly r WIN nno 0
whom the expense of the election would largely Iail
1t observed that in the large cities Of ONO
the real estate dealers advertise as specially de.
sirable the property lying in territory voted dry
under the Brannock law
This aIluson to Ohio seems TO US justihable In
population Of Columbus. Cleveland and Cincinnati
In these Ohio cities the various sections nave peen
found to have diverse 1nteTees upon shs twists In
Cosmopolitan New-York. 1t may not be generally
known that the largest tomato farm in the world IS
within our city limits Here we run the y Wnote
gamut of municipal phenomena, from rural west west
Chester to the Bowery and from Flatbush TO Broad
neissbborhoods have differing needs and that a
condition desirable for one locality may be entlreiy
inappropriate for another Inc saloon qgeston, Is
demand for the privilege of local option; so that IL
may be settled locally by a non-partisan vote