New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-28
THE BROOKLYN MAYORALTY.

The people of Brooklyn have before them
the important duty of electing Mayor. III the
result proves as satisfactory as That OIL lour
wears and two years ago, they will have excel
lent reasons for congratulating themselves
For to whatever criticisms Seth Low may have
laid himself open, it cannot be denied that MS
two terms as Mayor have been highly credita-
BILE. Business principles have dominated IN
city affairs and -partisanship has charac-
terized his administration. The experiment OF
home rule and undivided responsibility mas
had a thorough trial and has been found to
work we'll Brooklyn has become known the
country over as a model city so far as local
government Is concerned. This result Is
mainly due to Mr.. Low, who was elected on a
non-partisan basis and has succeeded admir-
ably in being a non partisan Mayor.
In city like Brooklyn, where there is n large
Democratic majority, it is plain that no Repub-
licon candidate can be elected unless consider
able number of Democrats support him. Inc
| Republican nominee for Mayor must therefore
apneal to the better elements of both parties
and must command the votes of all who con-
slider good local government the thing TO be
sought rather than mere party success MI
Low was such candidate, and the man VINO
il TO succeed him should be OF the same stamp.
Ii is hardly likely that such state OF Things
can exist this year as prevailed four years ago.
Then the Republican City Convention hau
named for its candidate General Tracy Many
independent Republicans who had grown
weary of ring rule by the Democrats and oil
machine rule by Republicans had nominated
Ripley Ropes for Mayor. leading part in
this movement had been taken by the Young
Republican Club, of which Mr.. Low was an
active member. and number of Independent
Democrats had Joined in it. The regular
Democratic nominee was Mr.. Howell, who was
running for the third time General Tracy and
Mr.. Ropes both withdrew in favor of Dir. Low
this action was ratified by the regular Republi-
can Convention and by the Independents, ana
with earnest work on the part both OF Repub-
licans and Independent Democrats Dir. Low
was triumphantly elected. Two years ago he
was renominated without opposition and
elected by a reduced majority over the candi-
date named by Boss Mclaughlin.
The people of Brooklyn have nothing to hope
for from the Democratic party. That has long
been in the hands of the Boss The candl-
date nominated by that party will be the man
whom he selects. OF course he will poll the
votes OF al tne regulars -Jhc D'ch WIN
whom the success of their party is the principal
thing. Unless the candidate named by the
Republicans is man of the highest character
who will draw the votes of many self-respect-
ing Democrats, the chances of electing him will
be slight. We do not believe that the people
of Brooklyn are willing to put into the hands
of Mayor who is simply Boss McLaughlin's
man the control of their city government, with
the absolute power of appointment and re-
moval which the Mayor possesses. If this is so,
Mayor Lows four years administration has not
done for Brooklyn what it should have accom-
plished.
An article on another page of to-day's TRIB-
UYE reviews the field in Brooklyn and dis
cusses the qualifications of several gentlemen
who are mentioned as possible candidates on
| the Republican side. In the Democratic ranks
of course no candidates are talked of as yet {;
they are waiting for. Boss Mclaughlin to
pass the word.n 1t is not likely that he will
make such a blunder as he made two years
| ago. when he named an obscure and insignif-
| cant man, thinking that because he was unknown
| he would run better than one long identified
with the Ring" He understands the situation
better now and will doubtless select a strong
candidate; and the Republicans will have to do
| their best to win. 1t will not do to name a
mere politician. The Mayoralty nomination
must not be the reward for past services 20 the
party The candidate must be strong, able,
| spotless Such candidate will probably be
elected it is certain that no other can be.