New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-16
THE FUSION PROBLEM-

Tho oononlsint comes with i'll grace lFolh NJ
D u,1+on Cutting that the Citizens UNION las
I,aen driven 10 the conclusion that Iho Pun
of tbe fusion conference was not 10 colAieI' ~
"+o force upon the union Candidates Ch0''n ~
"otber members of the conference a. "n 80 80
.+oc,o oF the fusion movement before anyp
else had considered particular candIua'e'' ~
Cutting set himself up as the lhSplleu
- +bo situation announced an unalterable de
termination to nominate MI jerome anu l. 49,
tool the nosition that the purpose OF confer
80 ms not +o confer. but to force Mr. Cut
sings candidate upon other members OF the CON
farence Mr.. Jeromes absolute re1usal 10 NC
,or+ from his earlier announced programme as
on indanendent candidate for District AttofHe!
nut an end to that campaign. WHICH, Ho"e "
evcellen+ a candidate Mr.. Jerome might nave
made was not strengthened by Mr.. cutting
activities as boss.
Since then Mr. Cutting has been, appdIeAuJ'
seeking for an excuse to support Mayor HcCiet
Ian for the Endorsement OF whom Dy the LII
zens Union he showed some prediction Garner
IN the year The complaint about delay IS
merely a nretext The Republicans deny that
+bav are committed to any candidate, but say
they wish to consider all suggestions on tueli
merits No harm can be done by such coHSluei-
alton. and it is to be hoped that III spite u n!'
recent fndefensible conduct MI cutting cl'rO
virtue will triumph over his selr-Wll anu give
tho fusion movement the benefit or MS laOorS
and his conservative advice
T,a+ odvica Is needed. The fusion platform
NAV wisely be, as Mr.. Cutting mas hithei " hi1
oucntlv argued it should be, progressive. II
,o1d not merely consist of criticism of admin
{s+ro+ive abuses and promises of honesty II
sbou1d noint out to the people the pain OF lhu-
nicinsl betterment 1t should make an appear u
the rank and file Of the citizens to protect thell
selves from the corporate greed anu eAP1o1'"
+ion under which they have long suHereo anu
from which Tammany has drawn power TO mis-
GOVERN them On the other hand, 1t ShouId aVolu
wild promises and unconSidered pfoJectS- IL
sbouId deal with practical questions concerning
CORPORATIONS and franchises in sane ana prac-
teal way. 1t should avoid appeals to fanat-
icisn. With the best OF intentions, students OF
undoubted evils, for which any good munlclpal
government must seek remedies, are likely u
suggest impossible programmes. IL Is lhe uulE
of all who desire to improve the condllloh Vi
the CITY to guard against thoughtless auopuoh
of such programmes, while dealing frankly anu
heIpfuIly with the conditions which they reject.
In the same spirit the question Of candidates
should be considered. A man of distinguished
ability. dignity and unquestionable disinterest-
edness and honor might make strong candl-
date and q good Mayor, even If he did hold rad
fcaI views on social questions. Indeed, we
should be glad to see some well directed radical
ism, tempered with respect for law and high
regard for justice to all interests, applied to our
municipal problems. But it should be the care.
especially of the Republican leaders of the
fusion movement to guard against any candi-
date incapable Of commanding the respect of all
voters whose support is naturally to be sought
in an anti-Tammany campaign. No man whose
sole stock in trade is self advertising radicasm.
no man who proposes impossible schemes to
catch votes, can be or ought to be elected Mayor.