Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
They May Join Against Non-Parti-
sanship in New York.
EFFECT OF MAYOR STRONG'S COURSE
Influence on the Politics of the
State Next Year.
THE FIG HT THUS FAR

1OTk city
POLITICIANS of both parties are watching
with intense interest the contest now in
progress between Thomas c. Platt and
Mayor Strong in New York over the ques-
ton of local political control there. A
very great deal Is thought to depend upon
the issue. The case at this distance is
not accepted according to the presentation
of either side. Mr.. Platt AYERS that his
only object is to help put his party into the
rightful control of the fruits of last No
Yember's municipal victory. He contends
that the victory was republican victory,
and that any line of policy on the mayors
part calculated to deny or obscure this
fact must in large measure defeat the
will and the aim of the people. He dis
claims all selfish purposes ascribed to him,
and asserts that his emily desire is to see
good local government established in New
York. Mayor Strong on his part simply
points to the movement which resulted
in his nomination. to the platform upon
which as candidate he stood. and to the
public interpretatio of 1t he gave prior to
the election. He regards his elevation to
the mayors office as triumph OF nom
partisanship, and as instruction to him to
eliminate as far possible al! partisan
ship from the business affairs of the NUM-
cipality He is proceeding on that line.
Democrats, republicans and mugwumps
are all receiving recognition, and the town
will soon be officered in way that will
set all precedent at defiance. Mayor
Strong refuses to treat with Mr.. Platt as
q republican leader with rights to be con.
sidered. but will hear him as resident CT
the town desirous Of seeing its business
interests promoted.
What Old Canpnigncrs Say.
Old campaigners go behind these ire
turns" and construe matters for them
selves AS rule, they agree with Mr..
Platt, and sympathize with him in the
fight. A fellow feeling possesses them. He
is politician and they are politicians. and
they know how they should act in like cir
cumstances. They have no quarrel with
him because, as they believe, he does not
show his full hand. The extent of his dis
closures of his plans at any given time is
a matter of individual Judgment They
fancy they see what the real play Is. Mr..
Platt not only wants republicans put in
office. but the local party organization
strengthened. He Is looking to next year.
and his desire Is to make the voice of New
York more potent than ever in national
convention. He wants, If possible. to name
his party's presidential candidate upon
whom his favor at present rests Is not 50
much to the point The first thing to be
considered is the state delegation. and how
that may be controlled. When that is set
tied will be time enough to work up the
Reed or the Morton boom, as the support
of New Y York may be calculated to affect it.
The difficulty is thought to lie in the
great power exercised by New York city
over the affairs of the whole state. The
city has time and again spoken for New
York. Party organization there has been
the most complete in the country. The de-
sire is on the part of the politicians to
keep this up. They only disaster
in the Strong program of eliminating partl-
san politics from the affairs of the town.
They are confident, indeed, that this can
rot be done without serious injury to party
feeling and party prestige respecting state
affairs. The new plan of conducting the
municipal affairs of New York on nom
partisan, business principles if successful,
Will, they think, extend itself, and present.
ly, instead of effective party organization
and coherent party purpose, party demor-
aliZation must appear 1t would not be
possible, 1t is thought, once this sort of
thing was established, to stop its growth.
1t might not last long. But while 1T did
last il would be certain, the politicians
think, to create confusion and bring about
disaster in the party organization. And
what Mr.. Platt is so alarmed at is the fact
that the experiment should be thrust upon
1.-The state on the very eve of a presidential
campaign. The loosening of party lines in
New York city now will mean, Mr.. Piatt
contends, a world of trouble for the party
leaders in getting ready for the national
contest.
The Fight So Far.
So far in the fight Mr.. Platt though re-
garded as a good general. has appeared to
get the worst of it. Mayor Strong has held
ON his course with stubborn resolution, and
has scored heavily against the regular
publican organization. Some of the most
important of his appointments have gone
to democrats, and even whtn republicans
have been remembered they have not been
Patt republicans. Things partisan are at
skies and sevens, and no old-timer from
Harlem to the Battery is in the confidence
OF anybody near the seat of power. Not
only new system, but new leadership
is Springing up, and old tactics avail moth
ing.
Can Senator Hill assist Mr.. Platt in any
way? The question seems strange. but it
is thought to \ oSsess a certain relevancy.
The fight between the mayor and Mr.. Plat
is regarded by the politicians at bottom
involving the welfare of both the old par
ties in New York. Non-partisanship in the
sffairs of the town means as much, or even
more. to the democratic as to the republi-
can managers. democrat accepting Of
flee from Mayor Strong, and in that Way
connecting himself with the Strong move
ment, will become as independent of regu-
lar party influences as Strong republican,
1t Is feared. In this way the seeds of parti-
rebellion may be widely sown. This is
of moment to Senator Hill. He is looking
to the democratic organization in New
York city for valuable support within the
next twelve months, and he wants it to. be
In the very pink OF condition when he calls
upon it
He fights in the regular way and always
discourageS side issues. Once n democrat,
always a democrat and q democrat about
everything. is his shibboleth. He is going
into the next campaign with this cry. and
he will benefit greatly if he can manage to
make it heard loud and clear at home.
This puts him for the time, and on this
one issue, In the same boat with Mr.. Platt.
Whatever is designed and likely to weaken
party organization and discourage partisan
activity in the metropolis will affect both
men alike. Mr.. Platt is the recognized re-
publican leader, and Mr.. Hill the recog-
nzed democratic leader in New York, and
both are Interested in preserving party
spirit in it's most serviceable form.
Hill Within Easy Reach.
Senator HILL 1t is pointed out, is at AL
bany in easy reach of all tLose who may
desire to consult him. He is rich in eXpe-
rience in handling difficult legislative prob
lens. A suggestion from him now and then
might help along the Platt program in the
effort to check the march of the Strong
forces He doesn't want Strong to win any
more than Mr.. Platt does. and by helping
Plat he would be helping himself. On per-
sonal grounds there is good feeling exist
ing between the two men, and this adds
interest and a certain persuasiveness to
the speculation indulged in.