New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-15
DUTY or BROOKLYN REPUBLIC1NS.

The Republicans of Brooklyn cannot estimate
too highly the Importance of their local election
this year. The first Office to be filed is that OF
Mayor; and the Mayor who takes his seat on
the LIST of January next will be invested with
greater power than any official who has ever
fill ed that position in Brooklyn. This results
from the operation of the so.caled " Ono-hcld
Bill" which was passed by the Legislature of
1850 for the purpose of reOrganizing the
various municipal departments in that city. Ii
reduced the number of Commissioners in the
Departments of Police, Fire, City Works and
Health from three to one each and also changed
the method Of appointment. Previously an
pointments had been made by the Mayor with
the consent of majority Of the Board of
Aldermen. The new law provided that within
a certain time after its enactment Commits
soner for each of the departments named
| should he chosen by the Mayor, Controller and
City Auditor As two of these officials were
Republicans the result was to transfer the
patronage of these departments from the Demo-
Gratis, who had majority in each board under
the old system, to the Republican party.
The most important provision of the new
law, however, is that after the end of this year
the Commissioners are To he appointed by the
May or alone. This of course gives the Mayor
extensive and unusual powers, and Introduces
Il new element into the political canvass this
year. If IA Republican Mayor is elected next
month nearly the entire city patronage can be
retained in the hands of that party, as the pres
cnt Commissioners will be rcappointcd or will
be succeeded 10y men of the same political faith
That the Republicans have fair chance of
choosing the Mayor, if local differences are ad-
justed, there can he no doubt The Democrats
are divided, and apparently hopciessly divided
Many of the better class have long been disSat-
listed with the control of the party exercised
by Boss Mclaughlin, who has ruled the
regular General Committee Cor many years
and from time to time various attempts have
been made to start an independent movement
While these have met with sonic success, and
| although occasionally audacious men within
the General Committee have oudcavorcd to
loosen McLaughlm's grip upon the party 10
very tangible result has been reached. The
present opposition, however is really worthy OF
the name. The Central Democratic Associa-
ton contains on it's rolls the names of many
prominent and influential Democrats, and it
has shown so much strength that ovcrturcs in
the direction OF harmony have been made by
the McLaUghlin Democrats. DESPITE these,
however, the Central Association has named
candidate for Mayor in the person Of General
Henry W. Slocum. He viii undoubtedly prove
"A strong candidate, and VIII draw the votes of
| all Democrats who, for whatever reason, have
ground for complaint against the one-man
power so long and 80 harshly exercised by
" Boss Mclaughlin.
This Is golden opportunity for the Republi-
cans of BROOKLYN Let them not fail 10 improve
II. Let petty disScnSlouS be forgotten and all
local differences hc healed. The TElBUNE has
| already pointed ont that only narrow majority
OF 5000 is TO be overcome; and m view OF the
divided condition of the Democracy this will
| not be difficult thing to Ito. A good candidate
for Mayor should be pat in the field but efforts
should not be directed 10 securing The Mator-
| atty alone. There are other important Offices
to be filled; notably that of Sheriff. With
well-dircctcd canvass there is no reason why
the entire Republican ticket should not be
elected