New-York tribune., 1905-11-27
THE CANDIDACY OF MR.. PARSONS.


Mr.. HaIpin's retirement from the contest for
president of the Republican County Comm1ttee
and the recommendation Of Mr.. Herbert Par
sons for the place by large majority OF tne
district leaders practically assure Mr.. Parsonss
election Mr.. Olcott has no present intention
of abandoning the candidacy which was I'M
nosed upon him. and II is even said that MS
hackers are ready to make an unusually eiaD-
CRATE canvass in his and their behalf; Dut SO
far as we can see he has no good reason Ior
arnectinp to succeed Had he entered the race
under other auspices, and especially had MS
candidacy represented only dlslnterested pun
pose to lift the party up and set IL 1or"ahu' nAo
talents, standing and personal character "ouiu
have commanded far stronger support
Mr. Parsons is strong where Mr.. Olcotr is
weak Nv virtue of his record, his afhhauohs'
the circumstances under which he oHered hlil-
self for the place and his frank aVowals OF pur-
nose and policy, he clearly ana hopeIully le
fleets the general wishes or the hepuollcah
voters of New-York and is an exponent OIL Ine
sentiment which the recent elections mere anu
in many other parts of the country 50 CON
snicuously expressed. 1t is not doubted that
some members of the party who burn TO proIons
or revive their ascendancy will endeavor' py
anpropriating the credit for his candidacy, 10
neryert its real meaning. But we assume thaI
Mr. Parsons having made independence the
basis Of his plea for support at the oulset' VIII
now take care to avoid a suspicion or SUD
servience to selfish interests, so that Id case vi
his election he may be enabled without ellDaR-
rassment to conduct the management ol Tue
marty in this county "in response TO the wishes
"of its Republican voters, ana Tree h"nh 'U'
"side interference"
Tqere is one practical difficulty not made for
him nv Others which MIR. Parsons Will nave 10
enccunter and which he may not nnd IL ehIrelS
easy to overcome. He represents an important
constituency in Congress, which IS ABOUT W
assemble for the long session, and ne is not Tree
therefore, to give all or most OF his ume 10 lne
new duties which are likely to be deVolveo upon
hin, That is not a fortunate circumstance, and
oil his resources will be required to o1set the
disadvantage From many of the present dls-
+ric+ leaders he will receive earnest and honest
holm along the lines which he means to follow.
, Some of them on the other hand would rejoice
+o deceive and mislead him. He Will mo- Oh
the whole, we think, that he needs more lnoe-
nendent counsel and courageous assistance tnan
existing conditions supply. Perhaps Ne wiz
urge an increase in the size OF the executive
| committee drawn from elements in the party
| which have heretofore been without a voice IN
| its management. What the party needs more
| than ANYTHING else is such a restoration ana
| for+i6cation of public confidence as it would
slowly secure by cumulative proofs that us
| managing BODY was working wisely, patiently,
onenIv and in absolute good faith for the gen
| eraI welfare That work can be done only by
the systematic exercise Of high qualities Loyalty
| devoted to the purpose. 1t cannot be accom-
plshed merely by tuning UP the old machine.
| New methods as we'll as new men are lndls-
nensable. We hope that Mr. Parsons can rely
| upon obtaining the support which he needs-and
needs all the mere because of the obligations
| of different nature which he has already con
! tracted.
The retirement of Mr.. Halpin is cred1taole 10
his character and discernment He has been
| subjected to much criticism which was grossly
ignorant and to much which was malignant.
! BIunders for which he was not responsible nave
been attributed to him, and he has received far
too little commendation for excellent service
rendered against the strong pressure Of sinister
influences The fault is not originally or mainly
: his that a situation has developed which re
oured his effacement His dignified statement
to the leaders on Saturday told the truth, and ne
is deserving of cordial praise for his unselhsh
action in retiring for what he rightly conceives
TO be the best interests Of the party.