New-York tribune., 1873-05-17
WILL THE M1YOR THROW AWAY HIS
OPPORTUNITY

Moyor Hayemeyer stands at the dividing OF
ways. The half-formed resistance of the Al
dermen was abandoned before it was organized;
and the Mayor has to-day the unquestloned
power to give us in the more important
places which yet remain to be filed the very
best officers he is capable of selecting out Oh
this city of a million souls. Is he to abandon
this splendid opportunity in the very hour or
his triumph, and surrender to the ward poll
ticians just as they are surrenderlng 10 MN
We are told from day to day that he halts
between the choice of Mr.. Sheridan Shook or
Mr.. Hugh Gardner for Police Commissioner.
Take which horn of this dilemma he may,
the Mayor will commit a grievous blunder,
which all the months of his term will not
afford him opportunities to retrieve. His
wiser alternative is to disregard the recon-
mendations of both, for neither has good
claims or recognized qualifications for the
office. Both are merely politicians. Mr..
Hugh Gardner would never have been
thought of for the position had it not
been that he is Chairman of the
Republican General Committee. Admit all
his respectabity as O gentleman, and still 1t
is clear that little in his character, and moth
ing in his education or career, gives him special
fitness for this position. Mr.. Sheridan Shook
also is without peculiar aptitude for the posi-
ton. Neither has anything to recommend
him except position as party manager.
1t is this very connection with the domi-
nant political party which is the chief
disqualification of these two candidates. How
ever honest the men the Mayor may put at
the head of the Police Department, they can
not mako the force the effective crime-pre-
venting and peace-preserving organization
which our growing magnitude as metropolis
each year makes more imperative Tor
our safety, if they are active, managing pol
itcians. In spite of them, and even against
their best intentions, the force will be-
come mere political machine. How
powerful and INSCRIPTIONS it has been in
the hands of other parties, Mr.. Havemeyer
knows better than we can tell him. How
completely subservient TO party purposes it
would be in the hands of either of these gen.
temen and like associates, Mr.. Havemeyer can
surmise as well as We He has the OppOrtu-
nifty to prevent such an unfortunate cOnsum-
nation. II he docs not take advantage of it
now, the police force in all probability will
continue for many years to be subservient to
party influences, and thus have its best strength
wasted. If Mayor Havemeyer, on the
contrary, embraces this opportunity to
compel true reform, the chances
are that this greet organization will
forever remain as Independent of party control
as that model force which governs and gives
security to London. No such an opportunity
to accomplish a great reform can come to
him again.
The situation is simple. The people of
| New-York demand of Mayor Havemeyer a
Police Board who shall make it their busi-
ness to protect the city, AID not to meddle
in elections. He is urged instead to appoint
politicians, whose supporters only want to
get them into the Board to control elections.
No matter which party profits by such work,
the people suffer- Thus far the Mayor has
been on the side of the people. He is to give
answer on Monday to the schemers who urge
him now to desert them.