New-York tribune., 1922-10-17
People W armed
Not to Submit to
,ollalan w rong
The Rev. DR.. George n. Van
De Water Denounces the
Murphy-Koenig Deal and
Urges Against Silence
Court Has Sacred Duty
says Voters Must Not Accede
10 the Injustice of Bosses
Debating the Candidates


TIE Rev. Dir. George r. Van De
Water, rector of ST. Andrews Protes-
tsnt Episcopal Church. in Harlem, and
an old-line Republican, yesterday de-
nounced the turning down Of Surrogate
John P. Cohalan by Charles F. Murphy
and Samuel S. Koenig as iniquitous and
grossly wrong. DR.. Van De Water, VINO
is one of the most noted clergymen IN
the country, declared the deal Of the
bosses provoked che righteous anger
Of the community, and said that the
= orcat danger, not only to the city, but
to the Republic, was to sit still and
bv silence seem to lend agreement to
this assault upon the widows and
orphans court.
In setting forth the reasons which
raoved him to come out for Cohalan's
reelection DR.. Van De Water said:
'Indignation is form of anger. 1t
is expressed, or may be very properly
expressed in other and even more
potent ways than by voice. Gesture
and look car indicate it as well as
vocal utterance.
Court Has Sacred Duty
"There are times when self-respect
demands that righteous indignation
should have some public expression.
'De ye angry and sin not One is too
partisan to be just who fears the ex-
preston of righteous indignation, and
courts silence rather than the exposure
q wrongdoing.
The good of the community is never
served by an unwillininess to scotch
and scorch public wrong. Indigna-
ton of wrong felt and properly ex-
pressed is as necessary for the pursuit
Of righteousness as is the approval of
right.
"For example-and submit it as an
example worthy your serious atten-
ticn:
"A will is most sacred thing. To
execute the intentions of one who is
oead is the most sacred sort of duty.
Courts of specific sort are insti-
tuted for this purpose. Judges of par
tieular training and experience are
needed for this.
For many years such courts and
such judges were creations of the state
and appointments of the church in
countries where state and church were
allied and closely united.
"The seriousness of surrogate courts
accounts for this. The work of such
courts was accounted religious func-
tion, its administration was regarded
as a religious duty.
An Injustice TO People
ain our day and in this country the
Office Of Judge in this especial court,
still called Surrogate, has become a
matter Of election by the people.
HWero arftp ccfcrffnn \ atc
would be admirable. But when the
electorate is confined to a choice of
two men, suggested by partisan lead
ers, there is limitation of liberty. No
racial, nor religious, nor ecclesiastical
sssociation ought ever to become a bias
irthe mind of any voting citizen. We
are fortunate when there is no occasion
for any such bias, or thcught-engender-
ing bitterness, when, for example, both
Of the same religious convictions and
Members of the same church. as is Sur
rogats Cohalan.
1--WE ere fortunate also when, consid-
ering the claims of rival candidates,
what is said of one is in no way dis
paraging to the other, except as TO his
qualifications for Surrogate. On the
other hand, when one who hns served
conspicuously we'll, mas proved expert,
learned and censcientiously faithful
for long term of Office, is superseded
in nomination, not by the people. but
by party leaders, there is. we submit,
occasion for righteous indignation and
justification for its expression.
"The thing that we are most con-
cerned about and interested in is the
honor of court which deals with the
rights of widows and children, and
stands the representative in justice and
fair dealing Of those who are dead.
"And | submit that free people
should not be submitted to the indig--
nifty and injustice of being restricted
TO choice that eliminates all possibil-
isy Of having the Surrogate best fitted
for this serious responsibility and
work
Fear of "Irregularity"
"If we are indignant at such pro-
eedure We may be sure that we are
angry and sin not
There is great danger in free Re-
public, perhaps greatest danger in the
greatest municipality of such Repub-
llc, that We sit still and by our silence
seem to lend agreement to things that
are iniouitous and grossly wrong.
There is also great danger in the
Tear of some partisans of being ir-
regular.
= "The Church is no place for discus
sion of public questions that breed
aiscontent, destroy the unbroken
harmony Of worship, or arouse par
tisan feeling among worshipers. The
pulpit need not become rostrum, nor
The nave a town meeting.
g For this reason preacher who is
*citizen of some experience in public
afairs takes this method to express
Ms own and others righteous indigna-
bon at a political condition in this city
shich makes it possible for two party
saders, by their debating of nomina
Aons, to compel regular party voters
seek means that are irregular,
Mcugh happily not illegal, to nominate
competent and deserving candidate
#r the Office of Surrogate, and fortu-
ssse are we that there is such candi-
Hase in Surrogate John P. Cohalan."