LETTER: Union Ticket Worked For Half-Century

2-12-10

To the Editor:
Your editorial of Jan. 22, in which you dismiss the old Union Ticket as “bossism” and “a pliant substitute for democracy,” is wide of the mark but it does provide food for thought and remembrance.
The union ticket was created in 1919 by the Republican and Democratic Parties because of the belief that both parties had the interests of the village at heart and that confrontational elections were not in the best interest of the village. 
Annual elections continued, but the Republican caucus endorsed Democrat candidates and the Democrat caucus endorsed Republican candidates.  In short, the two parties “took turns” in filling the positions of mayor and trustees.
Those who believed otherwise (the Democrats) were crushed in an open, village-wide election the following year.  For over 50 years thereafter the Union Ticket, which provided equal representation for both parties, effectively dealt with village business. 
Effectively?  Yes.  The ticket could be labeled “undemocratic” (inaccurately in my opinion), but no one accused it of sloppiness or inefficiency.  During its years in effect,  the Union Ticket mayors and trustees made major changes and major acquisitions in the water, sewer, parks and streets systems.  The village still benefits from their work.  As your editorial admitted, “It’s not that there are Democratic potholes or Republican streetlights.”
The editorial added, however, that competing parties “recruit talent” but “bossism does not.” The term “bossism,” as noted, is not appropriate; it applies to tight and continual control by a single party.  A system whereby different parties and individuals with varying points of view alternate in office is just the opposite. 
The Union Ticket officials worked openly, in full view of the public, if the public wanted to view them.  Write-in candidates were always possible, and in at least one election a write-in candidate did win.
And the Union Ticket very definitely recruited talent.  It was not exclusionary.  Mayors and trustees who served the village in the ticket’s half-century include Howard Talbot, Fred McGown, Bill Clark, Stu Taugher, Harold Hollis, Emery Herman, Rowan Spraker, Frank Carpenter, Alton Dunn, Bill Zoeller, Joe Clancy, Lester Clark, Alva Welsh, Ernie Whitaker.  These – a very few, but representative of the many who served the union ticket – were men of talent and initiative who were eminently successful in other fields as well. 
Maybe this is what your editorial meant when it stated that a streamlined village government is needed “so that busy doctors, lawyers, retailers and entrepreneurs can again participate in their community’s key decisionmaking body.”
Emery Herman’s experience offers a glimpse of the ticket at work.  An eminent physician at Bassett Hospital, Dr. Herman was not interest in politics, but he had a question about taxes and went to Newton E. Gilmore, who was village clerk and village treasurer, and asked to see the village budget. 
Gilmore was so impressed that someone actually wanted to look at the budget that he convinced Dr. Herman that he was needed in village government and should attend the appropriate caucus.  Dr. Herman did.  He served several years as trustee and as mayor.
The main concern of the editorial, however, was not the old union ticket.  It was a criticism of Mayor Waller’s endorsement of Jeff Katz, which you label “the Waller/Katz Cabal.”  This too is wide of the mark. I do not speak negatively of Joe Booan when I observe that Carol Waller has been an industrious and effective mayor and that Jeff Katz has been an industrious and effective trustee. 
Mayor Waller’s selection of Jeff Katz, a Democrat, as deputy mayor is not unprecedented.  Regardless of the Republican caucus, her endorsement, and Republican Chairman Bill Waller’s endorsement, of Jeff Katz as mayor is not unprecedented. 
The reputation of Carol and Bill Waller, based on their devotion and service to the interests of  the Village of Cooperstown, is well established.  It does the village no good to suggest that their endorsement of Jeff Katz represents anything but their continued devotion to the interests of our village.
WENDELL TRIPP
Cooperstown