New-York tribune., 1911-03-05
THAT TRUMPET CALL.

Governor DiX'S course with regard 10
the senatorship has been admirably
ADAPTED to ALLEVIATE from him the SYM
pathy and regard of both factions of his
party. In practice he has favored both
sides. while Studiously avoiding commit
tai TO the principles Of either. Before
the caucus he is understood 10 have cast
n friendly eve on the ambitions of Mr..
Shepard. After the caucus, while main
tanning n public attitude of non-lnter-
ference, his private influence was re-
ported by the insurgents TO have been
eXertcd 10 induce them to accept the
caucus rule. He himself says: when
"Nir Sheehan became the choice Of the
caucus | felt that he was entitled with
"in reasonable limits of time to the full
"eSt opportunity to convince the dissent
ling members Of the party and the
Legislature that his candidacy was for
"the best interests of the party as n
whole" And now, while Mr.. Sheehan is
still the caucus candidate, without ques-
tioning 1.-The usefulness and evidently
necessary practice of the customary
party caucus he calls upon the lcgis-
latOrs to forget the caucus obligation
and abandon Mr.. Sheehan.
Thus believers in the sacred princi-
pie of majority rule which he has been
supporting find that he is not a true be-
lever On the other hand, those who
as matter Of conscience revolted
against the caucus because it was the
mere recording instrument Of voting
trust" or who felt themselves morally
bound TO oppose Mr.. Sheehan as an un-
! fit candidate, must realize that the sup
port tardily and half-heartedly given
them bv the Governor has no element
of moral eanestness behind ii and is
given as a mere matter Of eXpedlency
10 serve the purposes Of his own admin
iStration.
So far as either side really believes
that it has any principle Of government
or political morals at stake in the con
test. it must feel that the Governor has
hopelessly failed il on q vital issue. AS
be was not effective in bringing the in
s,Irgents to abandon as a matter Of eX-
pediency what was 10 them a matter of
principle. 50 now his appeal is treated
with dorision by those who support Mr..
Shechan. not because he is Mr.. Sheehan.
hut because he is their sacred symbol
of majority rule Embarked as they arc
On the high mission of vindicatinS true
Democratic doctrine. they could 20 more
regard the Governors gentle suggestion
that they are causing Inconvenience to
his administration than they could re-
card Mr.. Grams complaint Of the in
gratitude Of bosses or Mr.. Littleton 5
assertion of their superfulty. OF what
moment arc grab bills and ripper bills
in comparison with the very integrity
of party organization, that they should
abandon their sacred trust in order to
bring more speedy success TO Professor
Collins work as the Legislative branch
cf the executive department When
Mr.. Murphy and even Mr.. Sheehau him
self are unable to absolye the legisla-
tors from. that trust, how could the
eIeventh-hour desertion Of the Governor
accomplish it:
Some of the rural members of the
LEGISLATURE who have been for some
time flirting with the insurgents may
find in the Governors plea an excuse
for abandoning Mr.. Sheehan, but 1t Is
evident that TammaDy recognizes that
the senatorship belongs 10 Mr.. Sheehan,
and is ready to back him in his deter
mination TO take his own. even If he
prolongs the struggle until he makes
himself the Addicks Of the New York
Democracy.