New-York tribune., 1896-12-13
NOT AGAIN, SAYS STRONG.
HE DECLARES HE WILL NOT BE A CAN
DIDATE FOR REMUNERATION

IN SPEECH AT THE DINNER OF THE WEST SIDE
REPUBLICAN CLUB HE ALSO MAKES PLEA
FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE DINGI.Ey BILL.
At the dinner Of the West Side Republican
Club. held last night at No. 1O2 West Eighty
second-st, Mayor Strong asserted that he would
not again he a candidate for Mayor. II cannot
he said. in the course OF his speech consent to
become a candidate for a further term Of office
under any circumstances. have served In this
position for three years, and that Is just as long
as any one can be expected to III such an office
In this city. My ambition carries me no further.
and l take this opportunity tonight to make
this declaration. You have now before you the
duty Of selecting a successor to my position. and
I hope 1t will be one who will continue TO carry
out the principles OF municipal reform. without
any leaning to partisanship.'
The dinner last night OF the West Side Club
was an extremely bright and jovial affair At
the head table with Frank Brainard. the presi
dent OF the club. in addition to the Mayor.
the Rev Or. r. S. Macarthur. Robert
Mazet. Stevenson Constable. John l.. n. Hunt.
l.. NJ Stanton. John Proctor Clarke. Charles
b. Page. w NJ X. Olcott. George r. Bidwell,
c. n. Bovee. jr. and Kilaen Van Rensselaer,
After the president had formally welcomed
introduced as the first regular speaker. He
said. in part:
I'VE have achieved a great victory. and pre-.
sumo the object Of this meeting is to celebrate
that great vctcry And all Of us. particularly
that class Of people who were not exactly Of our
faith-hey want to know what the fruits Of the
harvest will be. Gaugh.er) Now, YOU know.
gentlemen. I an a Civil Service Reformer
right up to the Queens taste-just as
Mr.. Cleveland Is (Renewed laughter) But
what we want now is conservative legsla-
tion. and personally feel that what we
want Is this Congress to pass the Dingley bill.
l have given a great deal Of attention to tariff
legislation for the last ten fifteen years. and
for even a longer period-becausc a., you know.
I am no chicken-and also particularly to the
Mckinley bill. may say at once that when that
bill was introduced was opposed to any addi-
tiona duty on wool I am not high protec-
tionst despite the fact that have always been
in the commission business. An extreme meas
always becomes unpopular. What our
people want Is protection for our labor. ani
not for manufactures. We have the largest
and most colossal manufactures of cotton wool.
iron and other things In the world. We are we'll
equipped to oust the manufacturing producers
Of Europe.
What require Is TO have our payroll OF
these Industries In this country properly ad-
jused. If can deal fairly with our labor
ing people. we can easily maintain our stand
ing If could possibly induce the President
TO allow the Dingley bill to become law. we
Should have no extra session TO harass the
business interests Of this country. Every busi-
ness in this country would be affected by an
extra session OF Congress. And ! say again.
that what would harmonic the business of the
country would be to pass the Dingley Dill IL
would be a harbinger Of peace to the business
world OF America. But this will proba-
bly, not become law because such wise pro-
vision has never been enacted by any Legis-
ature within the last forty years. Apparently
they don't legslate for the American people,
but for political advantage. tCheers)
The Rev. DR.. Macarthur. who followed. paid
many complimentary tributes 10 the West Side
club for the part the members had taken IN the
Presidential campaign and asserted that their
efforts had done much Ia change the polltcai
complexion Of the district Then at some length
he reviewed the main features or the result or
the election and dwelt particularly upon the
enthusiasm manifested by the people ~ America
for the honor Of the flag and the integrity or
the country. He also compared the speeches OF
Mckinley with those of Gladstone. Blaine and
Harrison and declared that they had never been
surpassed by any effort on the part of those
thres statesmen
John Proctor Clarke. W. NJ. X Ocott G. r.
Bidwen and Charles r. Page also spoke.