New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-16
HIS FAITH IN BOODY DEAD.
DISIRUST HAS REPLACED 1T.
SINGING CRITICISM OF BROOKLYN'S MAYOR
BY T. NJ SHEPARD.
PUBLIC RESPECT TURNED BECAUSE OF HIS ACTS
INTO ALMOST UNIVERSAL DIsTRUsT-
LITTLE HOPE FOR THE CITY.


administration the Mayor replied in an open letter.
| To this Mr.. Shepard made rejoinder yesterday.
1t was written from Lake George, and says that
! the first Mr.. Shepard knew OF the Mayors letter
was from the newspapers. Mr. Shepard then adj
dresses himself to the public questions involved
in the discussion He refers to his magazine arti
Gle In the following words: THAT, in the public
opinion Of Brooklyn. the city was. several years
ago. well governed; that now, under your Mayor
atty. in the public opinion. the city H. i'll
! governed-very ill-governed; that, although the
charter has devoved upon you. and upon no one
else, the power and sworn responsibility Of execu-
tive administration you have suffered yourself, as
Mayor. to be efaced by irresponsible and danger
Gus inhuence-and that by so doing you have turned
public respect for you. well worth having, into
nearly universal disrust OF your political ability
and character Upon these facts the rest of my
| article sought draw general lessons in the field
| of political science"
| Mr.. Shepard then goes to say that he has
not seen from the Mayor any one else. de-
nial of the statements of facts which he made, or
single dissent from the conclusions. As to the
effacement OF the political will of the Mayor. which
the Of his article, Mr.. Shepard says that
the Mayor tells the public that for him ITO have
attempted to administer the government on the
line of an Independent policy would have been as
much a violation of honor for Presidential
elcctor TO ignore the implied obligation to vote
for a certain candidate for President "
Commenting this. Mr.. Shepard says II said
nothing in The Forum so extreme these words
of your | said nothing so utter in its con-
demnation of your service a Mayor under the
Brooklyn charter. The Mayor is, then, so COM
pletely. properly rightly, political puppet
that it would be not only futile but dishonorable,
for him to attempt to be anything else. His
model then is the American Presidential elector,
the EXTREMIST illustration used by political writers
for political powerlessnessthc officer whose ap-
pointment is more completely formal compliment
than any other known to American politcs-the
only officer known to who must on no account
exercise a single particle of his intelligence
his will. 1t is you. sitting in the chief room
Of our City Hall, who tells us that our Mayor,
spite of the solemn mandate of law, is no more
than highly paid and ceremonial amanuensis-
a do-nothing and think-nothng and withholding
magistrate. behind whom. behind the worthless,
helpless kings of ancient dynasty of France. its
rois faneants, rules some mayor of the palace.
exclusively and irresponsbly controlling and formu
lating every act of government And this the
Mayor of Brooklyn tells the eve Of his
denomination and not improbable reelection
After denying the Mayors assertion that he (Mr.
Shepard) wrote that the Mayor received an nde-
pendent nomination two years ago, he goes on to
say:
1T because you received Democratic nom
nation we'll for other reasons that warmly
supported you. Do you tina: Democratic
nomination implies the surrende. OF Independent
intelligence and will? Was this appalling doctrire,
openly confessed by you contained in the
Democratic platform upon which you were nomi-
mated? Was 1t suggested in a single sentence Of
single speech made by you or for you? Would
you have dared to ask votes Of the sef-respecting
men Of Brooklyn upon that statement?
II do not think so meanly Of the Democratic |
organization in Brooklyn OF the able
within it. to believe that when they nominated |
you they expected wanted a nominee who |
10 bring neither intelligence, WILL outlook !
of his own"
In further comment the reply OF Mayor Body, |
Mr. Shepard writes: You speak of Brooklyn's !
growth in population and wealth. of the promotion
Of scientific inquiry, OF sowing the seeds of good |
government of character strengthened. of life and |
purposes OF a great community elevated-you !
speak Of all these If they flowed from your |
administration. Pronounce TO your fellow-citizens
Of Brooklyn the names OF the six men with whom. /
since your election Mayor your political rela-'
tons Mayor have been chiefly had, the men
who haze carried to you the will OF genuine
political authority, which you have faithfully
executed H. having pronounced those names. you
will say neither finching bushng: These. fell
low-citizens are the who in Brooklyn pro-
mote scientific inquiry, who SOW seeds of good
government. who strengthen character who ele-
vate life and purpose-you will hear a shout OF
mirth and contempt deserved by nothing you have
yet said or done Or instead OF those gentlemen
summon the OF Brooklyn OF whom you your
self will say that they enjoy the gratitude of
ends like these Ask those men for their estimate
OF your administration. for their opinion of your
theory. not yet two years old. of the function OF
the Mayor. Believe me, you will hear something.
and perhaps without single dissent greatly to
the advantage OF Brooklyn"
In finally treating Of Mayor Boodys election two
years ago Mr. Shepard writes: your candidacy
was peculiarly agreeable to me- You had until
then Joined with others. including myself in pro-
fessions of resolute devotion to reform. You had
recently been president of the Brooklyn Democratic
Club a principal organ of that sentiment. | be
lieved in your sincerity and therefore looked to
you demonstrate that. in Brooklyns municipal
administration our party might earn intelligent pub
lie gratitude. No Mayor had fairer oppor-
tunity. The circumstances of your nomination and
election made your problem d comparatively easy
one. My hope continued, though time time
impaired. FOR a year after your naus usuraton. IL
died out finally and completely when, last June re-
tanning for Appearances few good men in a pow
crlcss minority you turned the Board OF Education.
whore lay the last opportunity o. yoLr Mayordlty.
over to the public enemy-you man OF Wealth-a
man whose children and grandchildren did not need
as years ago needed. TO look TO public schools for
OF the public opinion Of Mayor Boodys admin
istration Mr. Shepard says: You ask me whether
before Judging administration. IL would be
wise and just 10 examine each Of its branches
with astonishing and unprecedented energy and
minuteness during the past year. In messages Of
grand jures composed Of Democrats and Repub ,
leans. in decisions Of the courts in protests ana
Of your own naming. and IN the almost daily ,
specification OF the public press you will lind the
result Of the examination. II is foundation OF ,
breadth and strength. unequallcd in late years :
for a superstructure OF public distrusL
II may add that specifications viii be ready 10 r
be- again submitted TO the citizens OF HTookyn,
and In form which will not be criticised by you :
for want OF detail II those citizens shall be ready
this year for genuine contest 20 secure honest
and competent administration Perhaps they are r
not fully ready; all busy this year about
many other things. Very certainly they Will have
no real interest In mere change In the name OF
the Mayor OF the party name he bears. Rather
han treat such change so perfectly unfruttful a
II good as II would be- as n sufficient minlstra- v
lion the present disease. ] should prefer that B.
YOU be- reelected II II be only matter or party "
name, prefer the name Democratic. II II be only I
matter Of mans name ] prefer your name I
Certainly no sef-respecting man. better than YOU y
are a. good. will In the whole city Of brook !
yn be- found content TO take upon him the humil-
ating duties which you hold belong to the Mayor. o
L...La IL llLlA. Il