New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-02
THE CHOICE or ALDERMEN.

THE CHOICE OF ALDERMEN.
The Board Of Aldermen has steadfastly
blocked the way heretofore to any reform In the
municipal government. The different Mayors
have been restricted in their choice OF depart
! ment heads to men who would meet the APP
! prevail of the Democratic majority III the Board.
| AS a rule, no person could secure that APP
proyal until he pledged himself to distribute his
patronage in accordance with the wishes OF
some political boss
| This unfortunate condition of affairs has been
in great measure due to the neglect of the tax
payers TO take an active part in electing Alder
men. They have been chosen principally from
among the owners of grog shops. The majority
of the present Board is of that class, and if the
Democrats succeed in electing majority of the
next Board it is evident that there will be no
change AbOt twenty-five of the men who are
running on the Democratic tickets for Aldermen
are liquor sellers and proprietOrs of gambling
houses. Happily, there's possibility that the Re
publicans will elect majority of the next Board
of Aldermen. This wouldbe the more fortunate
because it will fall to that Board to confirm
Controller, Corporation Counsel, Commissioner
of Public Works, two Police Justices and other
officers. The two most important departments
in the city government will thus practically be
at the mercy of the next Board of Aldermen.
On the choice of the next Controller and the
next Commissioner of Public Works will de-
pend the political complexion of the majority of
the Aqueduct Board. 1t Is for that reason that
the Democratic faction leaders are bending
every energy to elect subscrvient tools in the
Board of Aldermen. If the Republican and In
dependent voters will actively interest them
selves in this contest the purpose Of the Demo-
cratic leaders can easily be defeated.
The greed of the Democrats is so great that in
all except the With, With, and Nlth Districts
there are two three and even five Democratic
candidates in the field. In the Hid District the
Republican candidate, Mr.. John II. COstcr,
veteran of the late war, has fair chance of sue
cess The same is true of Mr.. Luther NlOrey in
the With and Mr.. John Strcbling in the With Dis
trict Mr. Charles b. Waite in the With and
Mr. Frederick Fincll in the With District are
sure to be rc-cleclcd. Mr.. William IL. Miller
reputable merchant has opposed to him two
liquor sellers in the IXth District The Repub-
lican vote was almost equal TO that Of the
Democrats in 1881, hence Mr.. Miler's success
ought to be assured. There is similar con-
dition of affairs in the Xth District except that
ought to be no doubt of the election of Mr.
Rothman, the Republican candidate.
In the XIth District the Democrats have
united on William Bennett, who was recently
arrested for completely in swindling man out
of large sum of money. Bennett keeps low
grog shop, the resort of gamblers and thieves
With such a candidate against him there should
be 30 doubt of tho recollection of MIR. John Z.
O'COnnor the Republican candidate, who has
made an excellent record in the present Board.
Nevertheless his friends need to do more
work for him, if they do not want to
risk throwing tho district away. There
il fair prospect OF the election of MIR.
Daniel Quinn in the XIIth District. The Xlllth
District has a Republican majority, but has been
lost by dissensions in the past. This year the
Republicans have a good candidate in Mr..
James Pearson and are united in his support,
while there are two Democratic candidates.
The district will be redeemed. In the XINth
District the Democratic votes will be divided
among four candidates; hence Mr.. Nicholas
Guldcnkirck the Republican nominee, ought to
be elected There is even a better chance for
the success of Mr.. Anthony Miller in the XVIII
District.
There have been no Republican candidates
nominated in tho XYIth and XXIld Dis
tricts, although, with three Democratic can
ddatcs in one of those districts and four
in the other, there ought to be no doubt of
Republican success. Good Republican candi
dates should be nominated at once Mr.. Louis
Wendell in the XYIIth, Mr.. William l.. Brockway
in the XVIIIth, Mr.. Joseph II. Wigger in the
XIXth, and Mr.. Robert Betty in the XXth will
only require to poll theful Republican vote to be
elected. The XXIst is a large Republican dis
trict, and success there ought not to bo a matter
of doubt. The election of Mr.. John G. Citing
in the XXIIId and Mr.. James l.. Wells iii the
XXIVth is assured. There never was a better
opportunity for the Republicans to elect ma
jority of the Board Of Aldermen. 1t will require
only little cXcrtion to redeem that Board from
Democratic misrulc