New-York tribune., 1905-11-22
VIEW 0RGAyIz4TIoy METHODS.


An accounts aoree that President Roosevelt
Is deepIv concerned over the condition Of the
New-York County Republican organization anu
anxious to have the committee so organized as
70 command a larger share of the respect OIL
the general community than 1t has hltheito
commanded In that wish all true hepup-
Icans will Join him. Outside OF smaA pou!
of politicians for revenue only there is no ull-
ference of opinion about the character OF lhe
local organization, both as an instrument LOT
carrying elections and as representative ol
the desires and interests OF the great oouS Vi
Republicans in the country. 1t does not prop
erIy perform its functions and 1t never VIII
while the traditions Of years are followed
There has indeed. in some respects, been an
Improvement recently. For long time lhe OF
ganization did not fight Tammany with us
whole heart, but traded with it Possibly some
district captains and leaders do yet. but as
whole the party machine here makes straight
forward and earnest war on Tammany' anu
whatever else it has done, or failed TO do' IL
to-day has Tammany split in two and is IN
an excellent position to build up really strohs
party here by reforming itself into a self-rei1-
ant active and honest representative OF Ell
lightened Republican sentiment.
This oDDortunity is one which should not be
lost either by neglect Of thOroughgoing re-
form, or by allowing the occasion to be seized
for facticnal ends or for the secret promouon
of financial schemes. Nothing Is to be gained
by turning from a bad system TO one that
would be worse. So far as we have been able
to observe, Mr.. Halpn has performed his duty
honestly, and as efficiently as the conditions
which he inherited would permit. Any wantOn
punishment or humiliation of him would be
unjust What is needed are methods different
from any which he was ever expected TO EN-
ploy Probably another man could best apply
new methods, if one can be found ready for
the place with the requisite character reputa-
ton before the public and standing in the
eyes of party workers. and enough experience
of practical politics to be master of the situa-
ton and not more or less unconscious instru-
ment of those about him. But vastly more
important than the man is the method.
One reason for the weakness of Republican,
ism in this county is that the organization has
frequently failed to respond to general public
opinion. 1t has too often been blind to the
wants of its natural adherents and thought 1t
necessary to follow the Tammany method of
building power on patronage. Tammany can
always beat the Republicans at that game. Our
victories are always won in spite Of patronage
by an appeal to the better sense of the COM
munity. From that we should take a lesson
base our organization on publicity and on the
championship of good measures, and make the
people of New-York feel that the Republican
party here is an intelligent and honest organi-
zation, devoted to their largest welfare. 1t
should give particular attention to legislation
and put stop to the furthering by individ-
ual legislators of secret schemes affecting this
city. All important bills relating to the city
should be openly discussed. and in the light
of day the organization should give its in
dorsenent 10 proper ones, and with eQua: posi-
tveness leave no excuse for anybody to force
I1a IaPf
for city clubs, citizens unions and various
volunteer associations to guard this city from
injurious legislation. That should be the
work of the Republican committee. If it did
that work faithfully and made the party here
an effective instrument for the city's welfare,
both to secure positive good and to ward off
threatened evils, it would be enormously
strengthened.
The old patronage method is pretty nearly
played out. There is not enough patronage TO
20 around, and there is less of it every year
with the extension of the merit system. The
old methods OF eectioneering have lost their
effectiveness. Campaign funds before long are
likely to be restricted, and Independent voting
will be made easier If the party is to be
strong it must strike out to secure the support
of elements not hitherto active in its work. It
must meet their ideas and win their respect
Any man who can now lead the way to such
reorganization will, We believe, have the sup
port Of the great body of Republicans Of the
city and state. and probably of nobody more
earnestly than the present leaders who. with
their card catalogues and their really effective
precautions against Illegal voting have per
haps carried the familiar machinery of or
ganization as far it can go. Their work
should be carefully preserved while the organi-
zation is bFondened for new needs and new
times.