The Washington times., 1894-07-29
LUCK, PLUCK, AND BRAINS
These Are Some of the Qualifications
of Seth Low.
HAS A NAME TO CONJURE WITH
Political sages Casting Chances at Columbia's
President as Ono Who Can Lead to Vic
tory-Men Interested in Public Affairs
Will Do Well to Watch Him.

New YORK, July 29.-An old Hibernicisr
says that there is luck in odd numbers. A
year or so from now, when political wiseacres
are Juggling with the name OF Seth Low, pres
ident of ancient Columbia college, ex-mayor
OF Brooklyn, member of the Rapid Transit
Commission OF New York, possible, and, ac-
oording to good judges, probable candidate
for the mayoralty of New York city, the Gov
srnorship of New York state, and, finally, the
Presidency, this saying may be much quoted.
1t will be noticed that there are seven let
ters in the name Seth Low. Therefore, GER
tain astrologers hold that it is name to
eonjure with. seven for some reason being
held a. lucky as thirteen is unlucky.
believe there was a wise man once who
said wise things as wise men sometimes do
not and among the things he said were these:
at is well to be born with wealth.
at is well to be born with good brains.
cit is better TO be born with both wealth
and brains''
The subject of this article is happy in the
respect that he has all the qualities called for
in the old saw that l quote. He is young as
men 60, being yet in the forties. He is
wealthy. He Is OF an old American family
who were engaged in what was then known
as the China trade before the famous Boston
tea party took place, and when the English
flag few from the peak of pretty much every
vessel that came into New York harbor, and
when We still paid taxes to King George or
whoever might be sitting as king of England.
The name of the Low family has been stead
fly identified with the best shipping and mer-
camille interests for century, and noted as
well for sturdy Americanism of the very best
sort, the sort that won American success on
sea and land when this country was rich
neither in money nor friends.
1t is given to some OF these old families that
their representatives of to-day should be
weaklings. 1t is but natural that the wick
should burn out and the oil be consumed.
Even blood will fail to tell after the lapse of a
sufficient number of years.
1t has not failed In the case of Seth Low
He is to-day among the most distinguished
types in this country OF the brainy, resolute,
ambitious American Of good stock and train
ing who owes his prominence to no fuke of
fortune, but to his own brains, energy, and
courage. The old saying that all men are
born free and equal is lie and shame.
None of us ace born altogether free and equal.
Some of US are begot by madmen. by thieves,
or sots and come into the world foreordained
to be idiots or criminals of drunkards.
For this reason it may be said that Seth
Low started in life with especial advantages
born rich and with an honored name
So much for the station in life into which
whole life fretting his brain over polo ponies,
or yachts. or the comparative values of such
red paints as are on sale in the more notorious
districts of such great cities as he chose to
patronize.
But he did nothing Of the sort. He broke
lsose from even family traditions, and instead
or tieing himself to desk in the dingy-look-
ing mercantile house of A. A. Low IL Co., that
Is known to every shipping man in New York
city, he chose TO go into politics. He is in
politics yet, and deeper in than some persons
think.
Some twelve years or more ago Brooklyn,
the sister city of New York, was run by about
ss corrupt a crowd of politicians ever
ruled any municipality. 1t was worse than
the much-abused Tammany hall, for Tam
many Hal! sometimes plays fair. It was pri-
marily Democratic ring, but there were
Republican leaders in league with il. A
more shnmeful and shameless gang never
looted bank or picked pocket The hon.
est voters had no confidence in either party.
Then there was gathering one night OF
men who were merely citizens and Taxpayers
and not politicians at all. They wanted some
one for mayor who would be for the people
and not for the ring. The name of General
slocum, the old comrade of General Sher-
man, was mentioned, as were other names,
that were rejected on the ground that they
represented old issues that had better be
dropped Finally one delegate suggested:
why not try Seth Low and better govern
ment?"
Seth Low had been president of the most
prominent young mems political club of the
Republican faith IN town. He was known TO
be rich 10 be more than ordinarily able
man. and almost in a twinkling ne was nomi- |
mated for the mayoralty
On the stump Mr.. Low more than confused |
his enemies. He was and he has not much |
changed, except that he has grown somewhat |
stouter, man of medium height and build, |
dark as to eyes and hair. wearing only a |
mustache. OF easy and graceful address and |
presence, Mr.. Low is a most pleasing speaker. |
he has not possession OF the Niagara OF |
words and the rather turpid manner of |
Bourke Cochran, the classic but somewhat |
cold eloquence that was Roscoe Conklings. |
the more fiery and human intensity of James |
G. Blaine, or the peculiar grace and charm |
OF Robert G. Ingersoll.
But Mr.. Low had what the people wanted |
He had self poise and self possession. He |
spoke in the same way from platforms in the |
lowest parts of the city and in the Academy |
of Music in BROOKLYN when men and women |
of his own set went in full dress to hear him. |
The Republican bosses became frightened. |
They indorsed Mr.. Low for the mayoralty, |
and, If my memory serves me right. he did |
not even thank them for that. He had al |
ready made his plans. During that cam
paign-l enlarge upon it, for il was the corner
stone on Wnlcn WAS Dullt MS pOlltlcal career |
he made new departure in election methods |
He went personally into shops and mills and
and spoke man fashion TO the
workmen. He made no especial promises
His statement was: 'If you elect me | will |
give you a clean government so far as i can"
Some of the old leaders laughed at the young
mans methods Of campaigning. 1t was some
thing new and unique.
They did not laugh when the election re-
turns came in, for Seth Low was elected The
machine thought better OF the man after that.
and when he was q candidate for office again
they selected a prominent and popular news
paper man, now in Congress, to run against
him. 1t was the old story. Seth Low won.
No man could have beaten him. He had the
confidence of the voters and he was unbeat-
able.
While he was mayor he surprised the old
men in politics by being mayor in fact as
well in name Brooklyn. be it known
and New York are very near the race tracks.
and some of the public officials of both
towns are in the habit OF spending more
time playing the horses than at their
desks.
One day shortly after Seth Low was elected
mayor he received letter from citizen.
The citizen had some substantial ground for
against Il city official. The mayor
sought the city official. The city official was
at the races, or baseball match, his subor-
dinates did not know which.
Then the mayor took q STROLL through the
other departments. He found that the re-
,ponsible heads of these were also at the
races or at baseball matches
The newt rnprninp there "a rne n potica frop,