New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
GETTING MIXED.

Just what did General Tracy mean when be
said to the business men the other day: MI.
Low Is a good man. He will give us the best
government he knows how. But ne ooesh0
know how? Also what did he mean when
he said in the same speech: when take my
"oath Of office my first and only allegiance VIII
"bc TO the people. and not 10 the party. All
that n man in office has to do is to be com
'petcnt and faithful and to try to gain the
goodwill Of the people? Coming from him.
those two expressions mean great deal, or
they mean nothing Either they are the hol-
lowest sort Of campaign bluff or else they are
the refutation Of the speakers past sincerity
and also the population Of his present plat
form.
General Tracy in his anxiety to beat Mr..
Low saws the President Of Columbia would
not know how to be good Mayor. 1t
would be interesting to know when General
Tracy came to that conclusion. Certainly he
did not think so sixteen years ago. When
as he boasts. he himself picked out the then
untrled Seth Low for Mayor OF Brooklyn
He did not think so two years later Wheh
Seth Low had proved he knew how to be
good Mayor and all good citizens OF BROOK
lyn regardless Of party. were joining 10 re-
elect him. He did not think 80 when In April
of this very year ne said at the charter hearing
before Governor Black: Seth Low is the great
lest authority on the administration OF munich
pal affairs in the United States. lie dld not
think SO even q few weeks ago. when ne was
hoping that the Citizens Union would so con-
duct itself as to induce the Republican or
ganization to accept Seth Low. lie DID not
think so still later when. on the eve or his own
nomination. he was quietly using his influence
In favor of The Endorsement of Mr.. Low what
has come over the spirit OF General Tracy's
dreams! Seth Low is the same man he was
a month ago, or last April or in 1851. 1t must
be General Tracy who has changed And how
suddenly. unless, indeed, we are TO believe
that that testimony before Governor Black did
not voice his real opinion, but was only the
lawyers argument in support Of measure Ia
yored by Mr.. Plat and he used the lawyers
privilege of making the worse appear the bet
ter reason. Just as be did In his defence Of
Parker and in many another case. from the
time of Governor Dix, when he unsuccessfully
sought to show that Winchester Brtto1 should
not be removed from office. General Tracy
kept quiet for a long time about Mr.. Lows in
competence.
And how about the freedom which General
Tracy proclaims he would have as Mayor?
He has been making speeches night after night
declaming against non-partlsan irresponsible
ity In one Of his latest utterances he urged
that city questions should be under the con-
troll OF political party ns much as those Of
State or Nation. How can he have no ale
glance to party on such a platform? II be re-
fuses to abide by the official requests OF his
party organization in matters Of policy or pat
ronage. or forgets his partisanship 40 far as
to select STRENGTHENING commissioner be-
cause he can clean streets regardless of his
party affiliations. he will bc partaker Of Seth
Lows non partisanshp His only reason for
running Is because his organization demanded
q candidate pledged TO party responsibility. He
cannot be partisan and non-partisan at the
same time He cannot serve two masters. and
his whole campaign is declaration Of ale
glance to master whose watchwori IS: Pet
''ter q Tammany man than man responsible
/ Ito no party. General Tracy seems TO be get
| ting mixed. And there is p whole week vet OF
campaigning