The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-10
EARLY Nominations.

him by making him It's head.
Early Nominations.
After tho first of next January Now York
andBuffalo will be the two cities which the
law designates as Of the first class In this
State. and certificates of Observation-Disclosures.
nicipal offices in them must be filed not less
than twenty-five nor moro than thirty.ive
days In advance Of election. The first Mayor
Of the enlarged New York will be voted for
on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Hence o certificate
Of nomination may lawfully be filed In the
latter part of the month of September, but
1t need not be filed until October, the month
in which usually nominations for elective
Office have been made in this town.
A nomination in June is therefore I'M
necessary to comply with the law. 1t Is
also, as experience has shown, dangerous
and sometimes disastrous to those making
1t. BY tacit agreement among the repre-
sentatives Of all parties, the duration of po-
litical campaigns in the United States has
been materially shortened Of late years, to
the great public advantage and with no
injury to any valuable interests, political
or other. In State politics, too, the task of
acquainting the voters with the issues OF
the campaign and the qualifications or de-
fclencies of the candidates has been COM
pressed within q shorter period than
used to be the rule. Candidates for
Governor. formerly nominated In July
or August, are now put up In Sep
TENDER or October. A proposition to NOM
mate a candidate for Mayor Of New York
in juno or July is accordingly 90 far
contrary to the present policy Of political
leaders generally hat it could come from
amateurs only, with zeal exceeding dis
erection, but who get q better understand
ing at the end Of the campaign than they
had at the beginning.
Nominations for Mayor of New York
have usually been made in recent years In
October, but the fledgling politicians Of the
Citizens Union have not yet learned that
lesson, and may nave to be taught it by
notifying experience. They and their
social labor annex, the Industrial Guards,
are seeking excuse for precipitation In
the early nomination Of HENRY GEORGE
for Mayor eleven years ago. A few
Of the men who were in that move
ment are In the Citizens Union demon.
s~tration now. Mr.. GEORGE, however, was
not nominated until the Esd Of September,
1885, and he did not accept the nomination
n enter into the race as n candidate until
Oct. 5. On Oct. IL of that year the allied
Democratic factions put in nomination Mr..
GEORGES successful opponent, Mr.. HEWITT.
II, then, there be any merit in early politi-
cal nomination, it is not to be found
in the case Of Mr.. GEORGE at least.
Tho practical consequence Of a prem
Rture nomination is the exhaustion of
the energies and the abatement of the
enthusiasm Of those whose services are en-
listed in aid of the candidate. A nominee
put up in May might be vigorously sup
ported until the end of June, but then the
canvass would flag. public concern in it
decline, the most enthusiastic supporters
become lukewarm or Indifferent, and 1t
would be found difficult or impossible to
revive their ardor and restore their activ-
ity when it is most needed in October.
Again, Withdrawals and defections from
the n of the supporters of a candidate
not backed by an organized political party
are always to be apprehended. Mere en-
thusiasm, useful, indispensable even, in its
way, is an unsafe reliance for a candidate
as a permanent force; it is not always
a sufficient substitute for capable and
efficient organization. An Independent po-
litical movement started in June, for in.
stance, tasks and strains the loyalty, in.
tegrity, and steadfastness of those engaged
in it. and the test may be too severe for
them II 1t is applied continuously dur.
ing the three or four months before
the regular nominations are made and
the political battle 10 actually on. Such
movements usually run a course Of popu.
larity for five or six weeks, but when
the day of election comes the zeal is likely
to have been exhausted. A candidate for
Mayor nominated in June may have be.
come q bore in the view Of the people long
before November Is reached. They may
grow desperately tired of him and welcome
as a happy relief a candidate put up shortly
before election. Premature nominations
invite almost inevitably q general break
down of the movement, however promising
1t may have been at the outset.
These observations do not particularly
apply to the Citizens Union at the present
time, for even II 1t makes nominations In
June no men of sufficient Importance to
would take them, but to more serious and
sober demonstrations in the line of politics
from among those who have become i'm,
pressed, somehow. with the notion that the
enlargement of New York should be &C
companied by a corresponding ~lengthenine
out Of this years campaign.
The Phariaeo I'm Harlan