New-York tribune., 1909-09-29
REAL NoN-P4RTIsANSHIP REQUISITE:

4
Commissioner John P. Mitchers letter to Mr..
Parsons conditiOnally accepting the Republican
nomination for President of the Board of Alder
mon should serve to strengthen the hands of the
Committee of One Hundred in the formation or
The rest Of the ticket MIR. Mitchell insists that
if he is TO stay on the ticket ii shall be 'citi-
'zens' ticket, sincerely conceived in the spirit or
''non-partisanShp and chosen with a view 10
securing the best possible government for New
york" II is Just such a ticket that the situa-
tion calls for. So far as it has been named 1t
bears strong impress of citizens or non-par-
tisan movement and it should be completed in
the same spirit. The Committee of One Hun
dred should adhere firmly 10 its position that
independent Democrats be named for some Of
the borough and county offices not merely he
cause Mr.. Mitchell insists upon the tickets
hearing the unmistakable impress Of non-parti-
sanShip but because the independent voters
sympathize with Mr. Mitchell in his demand.
The filling of these minor offices is compasSed
about with the same difficulties that confronted
fusion on the general ticket. As we understand
the case, it Is proving hard 10 find independent
Democrats who are willing ia take nominations
for thesa places Fusion movements are often
criticised for their tendency 10 result IN the
nomination OF Republicans for office. But as a
matter of fact bricks cannot be made without
SlTaM- III IlllS lINldltt lie lltSt A'ilNiiSue'AS
independent Democrat. Justice Gaynor, was un.
willing 10 have himself regarded as an antl-
Tammany man and so rendered himself una
vailable. Mr. De Forest another prominent in
dependent Democrat, pleaded engagements of a
semi-public character of so pressing nature as
10 make it impossible for him 10 allow his name
To he considered Similarly. when it has come
7 To nominating Democrats for the office Of Bor-
oug. President in Manhattan and The Bronx the
independent Democrats have been hard 10 find
One Democrat after another has refused to take
the nomination for Borough President of Man
haitian The Bronx seems SO poor in indepen-
dent Democrats that no one is in sight there
In Brooklyn the situation is different indie
pendent voting is so common across the bridge
that there is an abundance Of material. The
names OF several independent Democrats Of
standing are available, but the Republican or
ganization is said to be blocking the way 10
giving 10 the local ticket in that borough the re-
Quisite partisan character In this respect the
4 Republican organization of Kings stands alone
/ for apparently there is no opposition among Re
publicans elsewhere 10 the nomination of Demo
Gratis but on the contrary the heartiest cooper
alton with the Committee of One Hundred. The
present position of the Republicans OF Kings Is
! selfish and shortsighted If persisted in il will
imperil the interests Of the fusion movement
EeutIdl4A ltN lue Sdht VI Il lltlte Nut-Nl!OudDle-
! local advantage. To give 20 the fusion ticket
/ the impress of sincerity there must be fusion
all along the line. 1t will not do 10 have nom
/ partisan nominations in Manhattan, The Bronx
and the other borouGhs and straight partisan
nominations in Brooklyn. Such surrender 10
partisan selfishness would dlscredit the Com
mttee Of one Hundred and the whole fusion
movement. Moreover. il the question is looked
/ at from the narrow point OF view of the Brook
! lyn organization, its present attitude Is short
sighted. Brooklyn has more independent voters
| than any other borough in the city. They will
resent the stifrnecled partisan position Of the
: brooklyn organization, and Tammany is evi-
IDENTIFY going 10 make an appeal to them with its
! ticket We hope the Committee of One Hun
dred will be indefatigable in its pursuit of in
/ dependent candidates in the other boroughs and
Will be adamant against the suggestion OF a
| partisan ticket across the bridge.