New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-13
MR.. WHISTLES POLICY.

MayOrelect Wurster evluenuy HaS wiz
conception Of the duties and Responsiveness oi
his Office He is a Republican, and was eiec.eu
to office largely by Republican votes. Ills "P
! pointments will, no doubt, be mainly kepuohc"n
and properly so, for the Republican party VIII
appcal TO the people two years hence on the
record made during his administration. But ne
publican LOYALTY in an office holder does not mean
the surrender of individual judgment or the
DELEGATION of power TO any set Of men on the
ossumnton that party asceudancy means the
discharge of governmental functions by party
managers That Is what 1t did mean under
Democratic rule Authority nOminally belonged
to Chaplin or Body, but really TO the sell-cohsti
tuted club which met at Kerrigan's dictated
Nominations and claimed the fruits Of Demo
cratic victories as personal perquistes. Inc
people declared that they preferred 10 De gov
crned by Mayor rather than by poii'lcai
trust Mr.. Wurster appreciates that fact anu
means. to be himself the Mayor OF Brooklyn.
AT the Oxford Club on Wednesday evening
he outlined his policy concerning appointments
He does not intend to be stubborn anu seii-
willed: he wants all the advice that ah!pou!
has TO offer. and says: II shall pull down Tie
.bors and receive delegations looking for ap-
..pontments TO office on December 16'; but ne
adds II desire to make my own selections not
"that | disda,n advice but as the CHIEF IS re-
.snonsbe for the acts Of his subordinates, L
..n1edpe myself 70 give good government and
"an honest administration" Mr. Wurster says
he wants TO give the city just as good commits
sioners as Mayor Schieren has done, and thinks
that his predecessor has made q record that 1t
will be hard to equal. though he is going to try
of 10
partments men Of affairs who have the conii-
dence Of the people, and who could earn more
ont Of office than ill., Such a course Is no more
than what the voters expected when they erect
ed Mr.. Wurster, and by following it strictly to
the end he will secure the success OF his admin
istrotion. Appointments made on any other
principle would be sore disappointment 10 the
citizens They expect and want Republican rule
carried on by Republicans, but they have no
wish to see the departments made bureaus for
the management Of ward politics, as they "ouid
inevitably be if the Mayor were to apportion
office even among respectable men WIN vie"
to the satisfaction Of claims.
No Republican whose interest in the party Is
other than selfish can object to this policy 10
which Mr. Wurster gives his adhesion me
party exists as a municipal organization to pro-
mote the welfare Of the city, not to provide sala
ries for its members or enable any man or set
Of men to control primaries. The party has no
legitimate interest aside from making the gov
eminent it administers better. Nor does sue
cess lie in any other course The steadfast de-
voton Of Mayor Schieren to public duty regard
less of the camor Of mercenaries who are in
every party camp, standing in marked contrast
to the subserviency Of his immediate predeces-
sors was what made Mr.. Wursters election pos
sible and that same devotion, and that only, can
continue Republican ascendancy. The people
who really decide elections do not care cent
to have a ward leader get policemen who can
be of Use to him sent to his precinct. but they
do care a great deal to have city affairs managed
solely with Il view to giving the city the best
pavements for the least money, and they do care
for department heads and deputies who believe
in Civil Service rules, and will work in harmony
WITH instead Of IN antagonsm to- Civil Service
Commissioners and aid them in the strlctest
enforcement Of law. Mr.. Wurster will not live
ND TO his ideal without outstanding pressure.
That he realizes his responsibilities and foresees
the pressure is the best guarantee that he Will
resist it and give to Brooklyn the bllsnesslike
administration which it desires. He was already
trusted and did not need to make his Oxford
Club declaration, but glad he made 1t.