The New York herald., 1878-10-29
The Important Issus An the Cam
paign.


Paign.
Both the democratic and Cooper-republi-
can county tickets are personally SO unob-
jectionable that no issue on the score Of re-
spectability can be made in the approaching
election. So far as the city government is
concerned the choice between the two May
orally candidates will turn on the question
of supporting or opposing Comptroller
Kelly in the policy he has inaugurated in
the Finance Department, and of which we
have already had two years experience.
Mr.. Schell, as Mayor, would, of course
harmonize with and aid Mr.. Kelly's
financial management. Mr. Cooper, as
Mayor, would antagonize and obstruct
the Comptroller's policy, and might, with
Governor Robinson's concurrence, remove
Mr.. Kelly and place ex-Comptroller Green
again in charge of the department. Mr..
Cooper's course in this matter has been
foreshadowed by his leading organs, both
ception in his claim of reduction OF the
city debt and have disparaged his financial
management, while lauding that of his pre-
decessor.
The main issue to be decided by the cleo
tion is, however, unquestionably political
one. Mr.. Cooper has long been recognized
as Mr. Samuel J. Tilden's trusty lieutenant
inside Tammany Hall. He led the Tam
many branch of the Tilden forces in
opposition to Mr.. Kelly when the
latter opposed Mr.. Tilden's nomina-
ton at st. Louis, and left the Tammany
General Committee on Mr.. Tilden's account.
He has been in close and constant commu-
nication with Mr.. Tilden for two years past,
and has no doubt received the benefit of
that gentleman's shrewd counsels in his
we'll arranged efforts to secure the nomina-
ton for Mayor. If elected his task will be
to take possession of the Tammany ma
chinery in Mr.. Tilden's name, through the
power and patronage Of the city govern
ment This is not denied. The Tribune
says:-"Mr. Schell represents conspicu-
ously the anti-Tilden wing of his party.
Mr.. Cooper is popularly supposed to re-
present as conspicuously the Tilden wing"
The Commercial advertiser says: EVERY one
of ordinary intelligence must understand
that the defeat of Tammany means the res
toration of Tilden to power in the State"
Mr.. Hewitt, who is Mr.. Cooper's nearest
friend and business partner, says to an
Euening Post reporter:-"The election of
the anti-Tammany ticket is the only thing
that will displace John Kelly. Kelly's
power consists in his control of Tammany
Hall. Tammany Hall is the key to the
situation. II it's next General Committee
shall be opposed to Mr.. Kelly his power
will be broken. Tammany Hall has changed
hands many times, you know, and it can be
made to do SO again." It is very clear, there
FORE that the democratic share in the Cooper
republican alliance reaches beyond the mere
question of city Offices, and involves the
restoration of Mr.. Tilden's political ascen-
dancy in the Democratic State Committee
ard conventions in time for the Governors
election next year and the more important
Presidential election of 1880.
This issue makes the local election most
important event for Mr.. Tilden and his
friends. It is in fact their last and only
chance of wrestling the State Committee
lIOu Lue uduuS VI tuoiI eucmlos. 1C mas
been argued that Mr.. Cooper could make
no such use as is proposed of the Mayoralty
without obtaining possession of the Board
of Aldermen; but it must be rememb bered
that the power Of removing the heads Of
city departments vests absolutely in the
Mayor and Governor, and that appoint
ments for unexpired terms are made by the
Mayor alone. Should Mr. Tilden's friends,
through Mr.. Cooper, obtain possession of
all the important departments by means Of
removals that would assuredly be approved
by Governor Robinson, the Dew appointees
would hold over in the event of refusal Of
the Board of Aldermen to confirm such sue
cessors as might'be appointed at the expira-
tions Of their respective terms. No person
who knows of what material the Tammany
Hall General Committee is composed can
have any doubt of the power of Mr.. Tilden's
friends to secure the change in the organi-
zation suggested by Mr.. Hewitt, provided
Mr. Cooper could obtain possession, through
removals and appointments, of such of the
municipal departments rs control the pat
ronage, labor and finances of the city.
The Outbreak sc 81. Croix.