The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-06
Samuel Conover on His Rivals, His
Policy and His Prospects.
JOHN 7. AGNEW IN A SIMILAR VEIN.
Ring Rcminiseences-Thc LabOring Classes-
The PaVemtntS-COmptrOller Green
Us q BlGckader.

ing municipal election and thousands OF men who
not only VOTE but astually think or care
for elections, daily bordering the HsKALDs prob
lem, NV no shall be Mayor Of New York;" Several
prominent citizens have been named 10 this connsc-
ton, and concerning ,hem the HERALD has already
given reports OF the feeling entertained by their ie-
low citixens In other way could the great body
OF voters ascertain who and what these nopedfor
didates are.
Among others the name OF Samuel Conover has
been suggested In certain quarters, and yester-
dag, in order that the readers OF the HERALD
might learn precisely what Mr.. Conover thinks oil the
case himself reporter called upon him IN the parlor
the Produce Bank OF Park place and Church
street. Mr.. Conover IL tall, dark compiexionod and
noticeably careful In dress. He Is about forty-two
years Of age native OF tho Ninth ward wears q
mustache and drives Q good horse His bearing Is
pleasant, his manners easy and his conversation fu.
snL .Are YOU" asked the HERALD reporter, "a can.
didate for the democratic Mayoraliy nomination."
SWELL" answered President Conover, as he pulled
the end oil a dark brown mustachc. al couldn't say
yos and couldn't say no with perfect truth"
"Would you accept a nomination If It were ten.
dercd your"
.Certalpiy. believe every citizen should DO ready
TO respond call OF his fellows provided be AZ
to DO So"
"Do you think you could be olectedr
"Without doubt. VI course could"
swell, then, assuming that you are elected, will you
kindly tell the people through the HERALD what your
policy would beg"
"You push matters rather furiously. declare
can hardly be said 10 have policy any than any
other citizen anxious for the welfare Of tho city.
believe that cleanliness is goodness OF
the FIRST duties OF the hour 10 the care Of our
streets. In the lrst place, they arc wretchedly
paved Miles OF patent pavements are little
better than traps Tor horses and snags Tor
vehicles. Some OF the avenues disgrace to de
cency First OF all, those pavemonts should be at
tended to. and whom once In repair they should be
kept in order and thoroughly cleaned. Money spent
In that way is judiciously invested"
Have you thought Of any special way to clean the
strocts9"
, II has occurred to me 1t would be q capital idea TO
draw OIL the water from tho great reservoir Forty
second street, connect IL with the river, pump the
riverwator into II by steam pump, and thence clean
he sewers Of tho city by continuous low OF water
II could be done at small EXPENSE certainly at small
expense when compared with tne great boneat to be
derived"
..Aow arc you affected toward rapid transit"
swell, pn tell you. Toward rapid transit which
means saie speedy and cheap transportation to the
upper part OF the island, Westcnesisr anu SO on,
feel most iavorabiy. bu, have sympathy with
bogus partial rapid transit. The greatest good Of
ihe greatest number Is very sensible plan TO work
pn. l would 40 ali could 10 compel the companies
10 continue aud complete thor fines. I have
special objection to their making good thing OF
IT, That was to have boon expected, but do de-
ciaedly object nave them stop their route ut tho
point where fortune ceases aud lair interest only
b's GYMS :, :, ,,,, ,,,. n.,,..,.. ..nu
such unwonted attention aud Interest p"
because in some respects the times arc pho nom
epa, US thsy csrtauiy are abnormal. Everybody Is
condition. Although business really looking
brighter ana prospects are improved you can't make
sands oil iaborlng mon are DISSATISFIED, hungry ana
ready tor seed. Now wc should be careful ~ attend
10 me sowing o. seoa ~. ss,ae from .ne popular
people, tue physical condition Of tho cty forces
tsci the attention Of taxpayers and all who caro-
Tor the welfare oi the CITY know, aud VIC all know,
that politician can ill the dill winter."
have you thought out any plan for The relief OF the
al have great sympathy Tor laboring men-none tor
beggars. There arc many improvements needed,
might be done in that way to heip the poor Why
the streets alone, with paving and cleaning, and the
parks aud the docxs-oh. man who really cares TO
help tho poor can do IL without insulting their self
respect and Without taking dollar wrongiuily from
Inc pockets OF the taxpayers"
'Is there ikely TO No any contest over tho munici
pal uppolntmcntsf"
although that contest 10 far away II unquestion-
ably has q great influence the average political
mind, and very properly. for the appointments TO be
IN The hands OF the now Mayor ara OF greut impor
lance"
''wha. are thsya"
"The Comptroller In place OF Mr. Kelly, the Corpo-
ration Counsel in place Vt Mr. Whitney, two Police
In place OF Mr.. Campbell Now politics aside, sup
poso no taxpayer could AK better Comptroller than
Mr.. Kelly. he has cut down expenses, brougn, down
taxes, fought would0e roOOors the city treasury
managed affairs that credit Is restored
destroyed His personal honesty aud official integrity
"from all which IL is u fair inference that under
any circumstances Mr. Kelly rs to DO the next Comp
troilcr?"
%. DIDN'T say that but do shy that he's entitled to
great credit Tor his administration OF very dhcult
and delicate duty. Aud that Is more than eau say
Of the Commissioner OF Pubic Works, whose oLstruc-
uvcnehs 10 wonderfully developed. such streets,
such pavements-why, thsy are enough 70 drive
''Ars you politicanw
mo- sir; never was ana never will be. Ny Info
has beun spout In eusiness banking business, and
have never held public office except that OF PARK
Commissioner"
'srnen do you sy mpathizo at oil with the movement
70 nominate aud eject an independent Mmyorr'
''lf We wcro living IN Utopia wo misnl do much
hat as RESIDENTS OF New York wc can expec to ac-
,omphsh. IL would, Of coussc. be jolly GOOD tbns
some superior power wero to Indicate unInistakaDiy
the nstsst man for Mayor and put him tnere. But
that can't happen. We aio nvIne IN u democratic
city, whore tho democrats are In power. Common
sense therefore suggests that pubic opinion would
class man 10 the position. l am Ia favor OF doiDo-
cratic Mayor ho would, of course. be elected with
means that tho moment he takes the oficc no
viii the Mayor OF the entire city, with de-
tefmnstiou 10 do tue best no can ior his fellow citi
sens, without fear or favor"
"fhen you prefer straight party nomination 2"
DECIDEDLY and would take no other, Tor u would
simply defeat"
"what do you think OF tho men thus far sus-
gcstedf'
'.Such as whom Z"
SWELL mr. William H. Grace, for Instance. What
do you THINK OF bimy"
al Know nothing about him. 1 believe he is a
Brookyn man aud a umDcr dealer; but really never
heard vi hlm.n
GLOW aoout Bonnerr'
"bonnerY Well, Mr.. Bonner publishes q very nice
story paper and has excellent Stock bus--wcil,
don,t know 50 much ABOUT him AS nave heard
about his horses He seems 70. stand well. however"
"And Mr.. Agnow ~
well, MI. Agnev Is nice old gentleman, one OF
tho choicest spirits OF the Manhattan Club. 1 think
very well Of Nj. Agnew.v
"From all thus II Is evident that you rather approve
the selection made by your TREND aud that suggests
question. Have you ever filed public Office 2"
IL nave Invariably declined all positions except that
OF Park Commissioner In that place have como
what could One vi tns plessantest possibilities OF
my lie was that which enabled 10 aid luo or
fifteen thousand poor people near Crook vsaut ul
music on tue Battery. nave done what could, too,
IN tue ioinpkins square matter The Park never
looked better aud the drives exec