The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-02
VAN WICK THE FAyORITE.
His Election as Mayor of Greater
New York Predicted.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-The most SEN
sational political campaign in the his
tory of New York ended tonight. Not
a day for the past month has been
devoid of exciting incidents. A few
months ago it seemed as though there
would be a straight fight between the
Republicans and Democrats, with the
odds in favor of the latter, on account
of the opposition to the Raines liquor
law, a Republican measure which re-
quires saloons to pay a high license,
a. m. and to remain closed on Sun
day. The law is highly unpopular
among the fOreign-born inhabitants of
this city.
Four events have occurred which
have, in turn, upset the calculations
of the political leaders. The first was
the formation of the Citizens Union,
which drew it's strength chiefly from
the Republican party, and whose lead
ers were so hostile to Senator Platt
and his methods of directing the regu-
lar Republican organization that a CO.
alition of all the anti-Tammany forces,
an end that Mr.. Platt repeatedly de-
clared he desired, was impossible. The
Citizens Union leaders asserted that
the regular Republican organization
and its manager were quite as often
sive to good citizens as those of Tam
many.
The second startling event was the
return from Europe of Tammany's old
leader, Richard Croker, or rather his
immediate assumption Of the manage
ment of Tammany hall. He swept
aside all opposition and dictated the
nomination of Robert A. Van WXck
for mayor and carried matters with
such a high hand as to lead to serious
defections from the wigwam.
The third epoch of the campaign be-
gan at the call of Henry George to the
Democrats who believed in Thomas
Jefferson to join him in a fight for
honest government. His veterans in
the campaign of 1886, when he polled
6S, 100 votes, fiocked to his standard as
the soldiers of France did to the ban
ner of Napoleon returned from Elba,
and in a few days Henry George, ap-
parently lacking none of the resources
of war, was waging a fight that
amazed all the other political parties
From the Battery to the Bronx; from
Staten island to ROckaway, he preach
ed the rights Of man and denounced
the sO-called party bosses" with
fierce energy that electrified the city.
Last Thursday night the tide seemed
to be flowing irresistibly to George
On Friday came his DEATH an event
that moved New York as nothing has
since the civil war.
At the campaign headquarters to-
night each party professed the utmost
confidence in victory tomorrow The
betting favors Van Wyck, the Tam
many candidate for mayor, Seth Low
ranking next. Old politicians are
quoted as saying that the vote for
young George viii not be large.
Tammany hall was dark and desert
ed tonight The lieutenants had re-
ceived their final instructions during
the afternoon and the lines have closed
up for battle tomorrow. From Chief
Croker to the humblest worker of the
lot, Tammany hall was confident of a
sweeping victory for every candidate
under it's standard.
The George headquarters were de-
serted tonight, save for the presence
OIL several UlIlD6IS Ol the
committee. The general feeling was
one of confidence. "It is our belief, I"
said a member of the campaign COM
mittee, that our candidate will poll
all the votes that would have gone to
his father and many more beside. I
do not think Mr.. Low will profit much,
if at all, by Mr.. Georges death. We
are not making predictions, but from
that confidence gained by close touch
with the plain people we feel that this
city will give the politicians big sur
prise. So. too. will the borough Of
Brooklyn"
Felix Wiler, DR.. William S. Rains
ford and Richard Watson Glider ad-
dressed one of the most interesting
meetings of the campaign tonight in
Apollo hall, on the lower East side
Five hundred men and a few women
mostly Hebrews, were jammed into
a hall half filled with seats. The other
chairs had been taken down stairs for
a meeting of clothing workers, who
wanted to hear about Seth Low The
majority of the upstairs meeting was
composed of workingmen, but there
were a number Of students and clerks
The German-American branch Of
Thomas Jefferson Democracy brought
the campaign to close by meeting
tonight at Cooper union. Despite the
rain there was large attendance.
About the hall were hung protraits Of
George, draped in black. Father Du-
cey took a seat among the audience