Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-05
MAYOR ST R O N G
The Platt Men Accuse Him of Presi-
Dental Aspirations.
TO REPEAT Mr.. CLEVELAND'S CAREER
Parallel as to Personal Character
istics of the Two.
THE MAYOR SAYS NOTHING

The mention of Gov. Morton's name in
| connection with the republican nomination
| for President discloses the fact that the
Platt men suspect and accuse Mayor Strong
| of aspiring to that honor. The reasons
| they offer for their suspicious are hardly
| convincing, but some of their points are
| ingeniously made. They assert, in sub
| stance, that Mayor Strong has been study
| ing the career of Mr.. Cleveland, with the
| view of determining how far the mayoralty
| term in Buffalo affected the latter's sub
seGuent political fortunes, and that he
fancies he sees his own way clear to
| peating that history with the metropolis
of the state, instead Of Buffalo, as the
starting place.
MIR. CIevclnnd's Career.
Mr.. Cleveland, it is recalled, began as a
reform mayor. Buffalo had long suffered
from official abuses The peoples money
had been wasted, and corruption even was
| charged. A non-partisan movement was at
last begun, and Mr.. Cleveland was nomi-
rated for mayor to give it expression. The
large majority by which he was elected
gave him confidence in his powers, and
he at once inaugurated the work of carry
ing out the peoples wishes according to his
own Interpretation of them. This brought
lin into collision with the local managers
of both parties, and developed the fighting
qualities cf the man. Thence proceeded his
| reputation for resolution, integrity and
watchfulness. He made many enemies, and
some men who had supported him for mayor
charged afterward that he neglected them
when he came into his kingdom. But how
ever this may have been, he SO impressed
himself on his people that when. two years
later, the democracy was looking for
candidate for governor he was selected
ton. He was elected, and from Albany the
jump was made to Washington into the
White House.
The Case of Mr.. Strong.
Now. Mr.. Strong. He has been elected
mayor of New York on a non-partisau plat
form. and by majority SO large he is
inspired to put his own interpre tation on
the requirements of the situation he has
found. The peoples money has been vast
ed. and a good deal of corruption has been
unearthed. He has set himself to the task
of correcting all this. and by means of his
own devising and with agencies of his own
choosing. He is already in collision with
the local managers of both parties, and he
is making reputation for resolution and
watchfulness. He has not as yet turned
back from anything to which he has set his
hand. He is heading in the direction of
more fighting. and if he keeps on in his
course he will be good deal in evidence
III tIle next Twelve months. Ihe contract
undertaken is an enormous one. His op-
ponents in his own party are preparing to
sit up with him. 1t is to be a trial of sand
and staying qualities. Albany is not in Mr..
Strong's path, as it was in Mr.. Cleyelands S,
but the Platt men argue that Mr.. Strong,
because of the great prominence of the
New York mayoralty, believes that he can
skip Albany and still make Washington.
He will try and jump direct from the city
hall to the White House.
What the plnff Men Think
The Platt men, of course, are of the
opinion that Mayor Strong is away off in
his calculations. There is just enough in
the parallel, they assert, to mislead him.
He cannot repeat the Cleveland play
With all of his oPportunities-greate In
the mayors chair than those Mr.. Cleve-
land enjoyed-he cannot in good reason
hope to raise himself so high. Who, they
ask, is to be his Daniel Manning? Where
would Mr.. Cleveland have been but for
Daniel Manning? Where did he come with
in an ace Of being even with Daniel Man
ming? 1t was the greatest risk, the Platt
men claim, that ever national party took.
John Kelly was in open opposition, and
an anti-Cleveland feeling obtained in the
democratic ranks in several parts of the
state. Things looked exceedingly blue for
the democracy for weeks after the nomina-
seemed all but assured. Then Mr.. Manning
put his shoulder to the wheel. He stood
responsible for the nomination, and he
now felt that he must exert himself to the
utmost. He was master of the state ma
chine, and he used it with a skill and an
energy never before known. He won, but
as the Platt men say, by a mere scratch
The result was SO close it hung for fort
night in doubt. Can the republican party
be induced to take such a risk? And if So |
they repeat, who is to be the Daniel Man
ming of the campaign? They won't admit
that Mr.. Platt in such event would be
the John Kelly of the contest. The ques-
tion however, is put to them.
No Notice of the Accusation.
Mayor Strong has SO far refused to notice
this accusation in any of it's specifications |
What his opinion may be of his own quail
hcatons for the presidency is not known |
He seems to be man of discretion as well
as of resolution, and to be proof against
all efforts to divert his attention from the
scope Of his present duties. But there are |
men who think he might with entire pro-
priety aspire SO high. Why not? they ask |
He is a man of education, of large ex-
perience in business and has lived a useful |
life. He writes well and talks we'll and |
shows q good grasp of affairs If he shall |
demonstrate the capacity to successfully |
administer the business of great city |
like New York, reform all of the abuses |
laid bare, and give the people good gov
ernment, why could not he hope to rise 10 |
the requirements of the Office of President? |
That place is only a larger mayoralty Mr. |
Strong's admirers claim But the question |
OF the Platt men remains unanswered If |
Mr.. Strong should develop into a presiden- |
tial quantity who would be his Daniel Man |
ming? Who would bring the rank and file |
into line at the polls?
---~O<