New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-23
I STEP FORWARD.

i
I Representative Herbert Parsons is entitled to
the gratitude of the progressive elements in the
Republican party for the successful fight he
has made and is making for the popularza-
ton of party government in this county. Mr..
Parsons believes that the voters constitute the
party. and that their ideas and wishes. duly
and fairly ascertained. should control its poll
Giles. He wants 10 remove the Instructions To
popular rule in vogue under the dscredited
boss system. one Of these Instructions was
demolished Thursday night when the Re
publican County Committee reapportiOned dis
uict representation on the executive commit
tee by making ii conform 10 district representa-
ton on the county committee. Representation
IN the parent body is allotted to the various
Assembly districts in proportion the Repub-
lican vote they cast. The object of this ar
rangement is plain. II gives every Republ-
can voter III New York an equal voice in party
government. 1t prevents the Judgement of eX-
cessve power IN the hands of voters who live
in strongly Democratic districts and fOrestAllS
the possibility of such Il combination among
those districts that 10 per cent of the enrolled
membership of the party in this county should
outvote and dominate the other 60 per cent.
But while providing for equitable representa-
ton in the committee itself the rules of the Re
publican organization have failed TO apply the
one man. one vote system in the makeup of
the executive committee. That body has been
composed Of members chosen on the old terri
torial basis-one for each Assembly district
regardless Of the size of the Republican vote
in that district. Mr. Parsons and his friends
simply proposed TO give each district the same
relative weight In this subordinate body as it
has in the parent committee. There could he
no logical objection 10 This step except on the
part of those who want TO make a close cor
pOration of party management and who feel
aggrieved at the disappearance of the old order
of unequal privileges and rule from the top.
We cannot take seriously the argument that
the redistribution of power effected involves
discrimination against the voters in Demo
cratic districts and must discourage party ac-
dvity in those districts. Why should a voter
living on one side Of street-as often hap
pened under the old system-have twice rs
much representative power as 4 voter living
on the other side of the street? Why should
Republican living near the Battery have four
or i've times as much influence in party coun-
oils rs a Republican living on the West Side
above 59th street,
lt was graVely argued on Thursday night that
the Republican vote in Democratic stronghoIds
could be increased only by special favors and
coddling. But there seems 10 he no practicaI
force in this argument. The old system IN
fact, encouraged Indifference to results at tbe
sition stronghods. If the leader was secured
in the enjoyment of his disproportionate intiu-
ence, he had no personal motive for laborIng
TO increase the Republican vote He could sit
tight without penazing himself and if there
is any basis for the often repeated charges of
working alliances In these districts between the
Repubhcan and Tammany organizations the
old system of coddling must bear "A large mart
of the blame for such demoralizing contacts.
The Republican party attain Il healthy
growth in this county only by appealing 10 the
voters themselves and faithfully representing
their interests Mr.. Parsons won a decisive
victory last fall on that policy and he shows
wisdom now IN attempting to apply It more
thoroughly III party management If he can
convince the public that the Republican ORGAN
iZatiOn Is 10 be made truly sclf-governlng and
truly responsive TO public sentiment there will
be- no trouble about recruiting It's ranks in
either Republican or Democratic Assembly dis
tricts.