New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-18
4 WfLLOILED MICHINE.

The Democratic machine in Brooklyn was
exhibited on Friday in perfect working order
There has been considerable discussion on that
side for many weeks respecting the municipal
nominations. Alderman Qnintard, Mr.. Olena,
and other ambitious politicians have aspired to
succeed Mayor Low, and ex-}Iayor Howell and
other prominent Democrats have received
strong support in various wards. On Tuesday
last Mr.. Mclaughlin decided that there had
hocn talk enough and that it was time for him
TO nominate candidate for Mayor ana To MI
the other places in the city and county tickets.
So he summoned his principal workers ana
henchmen to a private council. The details
were rapidly arranged, and before the conference
ended both tickets had been agreed upon.
The next morning Mr.. u. ID. Whitney was an
nounccd as the Bosss man for Mayor. Up to
that time nobody had heard Of him as camel
date for the Office. But the fact that he had
been nominated by the authority of Mr.. Me
Lsughlin was decisive. NJ wc!l-intormed poll
tician doubted for an instant that the Demo
cratic CITY Convention would promptly confirm
the nomination.
When the Convention met dclcg tions OF
three Reform organizations were present to
urgc the cnoicc of candidate representing all
classes of gopd citizens, and the adoption Of
resolutions in favor of municipal reform and
home rule on Il non partisan basis. The reso-
buttons were Immediately Incorporated in the
platform. The convention apparently would
have been willing 10 come ont uncquivocalIy IN
favor Of the Darwiulan theory OF any approved
Sunday-school method, If any bumptioUs re-
former had offered Suggestions on these points.
Mr. McLaughliu's followers are always accom-
modating in this respect. }ut when 1t comes
to selecting candidates for office, that Is mat
ter of practical politics. Mr.. Mclaughlin had
looked about and found a man who would ~ut
his purposes. That settled il. The reform
resolutions were well enough in their way, and
would read nicely in the newspapers; bat the
nominations. of course, were matter OF 0usl-
ness. and there must be ~ nonsense about
them. So up Jumped Colonel Hester to name
Mr. Whitney as a candidate for Mayor, and then
IN bounced some one else to second i; and a.
there were no other nominations. the delegates
prccipitately voted Tor the Boss man. y place
had been found tor Allcrmln Qulniard on the
county ticket; other candidates had received
notice i'm time to Withdraw from the canvass
more or less gracefully; the biz booms and the
little booms had collapsed; and Mr.. Sic
Laughln after allowing long interval Tor dcs-
ultury discussion aud political manTavcs has
thoughtlully saved the delegates from the
trouble of making MP their minds
The county and city tickets were both made
up in this fashion. When the seven Aldermen
at argc were nominated, the work OF the
smoothcst political machine in the country was
simply perfect. There were seven of these can
didates 10 be selected, aud under ordinary cir
cumstanccs interesting contests might have
been expected But no the roll was called for
nominations and by the time the last ward was
reached, seven men bad been named. Now by
a curious coincidence this WI, the precise num-
Der of candidates required, There were only
seven Offices to fill and consequently there was
no need of naming more than seven candl-
dates and the Boss had distributed the places
in advance so rs to save time and trouble.
What could the delegates do but vote for the
full list without discussion! What sense
would there have been in talking about the
availability of fourteen or twenty candidates.
when there were only seven Aldermcn-at-
Large to be elected The conventions time
was valuable and was not wasted with the cX-
ccpton of the single matter Of the resolutions.
1t was there to register the decision OF the ma
chine and for no other purpose.
Mr. Mclaughlin has done the thinking for
the delegates. If his men are elected, he will
DO responsible for the government Of the city.
DO the people of Brooklyn like the prospect of
a revival of ring and machine rule Do they
want this notorious politician to govern their
city in their name