The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-11-11
NOTES FROM GOTHAM
the EXCITING ELECTION IN GREAT
ER NEW YORK.

The Result n surprise-The Remarkable
Tribute to Henry George-women for
the Klondyke Country-Oponing of the
Magnificent New Astoria Hotel.
No city election ever before held in
this city has created so much excite
ment as that of this year. This is
owing to the fact that the Democrats,
naturally In the majority, have been
out of political control for the past
three years and of course made a de-
termined effort to win. while the op-
position was equally anxious to retain
xS control. The result was by no
means surprise, except in the size of
tha majorities. The election of Judge
Van Wyck was foretold two weeks be-
fore the election and the size of his ma
iority was unquestionably increased by
the sudden death OF Henry George. But
surprising as the result appears to be
ut first glance, the real fact is that Mr..
Van Wyck has received but a few more
votes in the Greater New York than
Mr.. Bryan received last year, when he
was beaten by large majority. 1t is
clearly case OF divided opposition.
fhe vote polled for Tracy and Low
was greater by more than 10000 than
that polled by Van Wyck, and besides
this there were over 10000 more votes
cast for Henry George and p. ]. Glea-
son. While, therefore. Tammany wins
by more than $4,000 over its highest
single opponent, it Is still more than
10000 in a minority of the total vote
polled. In the midst, therefore, of all
the rejoicing and exhuberance of spirit
the cold and calculating politician is
looking at that aggregated majority OF
10000 adverse votes, and wondering
what will be in the ballot boxes the
next time they are opened.
The election places the Tammany
Democracy in complete control of the
government Of the great city. The leg.
fSlative branches, composed of a coun.
ell and board of Aldermen, is strong.
ly Democratic and If patronage and
party power is of any real benefit in
building up party Tammany has the
greatest opportunity It has had in
many years. Henry George is dead, but
the enthusiasm which he evoked in his
followers unquestionably lives.
His funeral was one of the most re.
markable ever held in this CITY, Ter
thousand people attended in the great
crystal palace and thrice that number
were kept on the outside by the police
after every seat in the vast palace had
been filled. Before nine o'clock in the
morning. as the body lay in state
three thousand persons passed and took
look at the dead leader. If the names
of all of them were printed none would
be recognized beyond their own fam
lily circle. An elevated railroad engi.
neer, grimy and in overalls and jumper
-orced his way to the front behind a
woman whose clothing must have cost
more than his earnings in month. He
paused when he reached the casket,
bent over the face that was lifelike
even in death, murmured a few words
that must have gone straight to the
throne and moved away, weeping, and
not ashamed of his tears. Fifty chill.
dren who had been at mass in a neigh.
borin Catholic church, came silent and
reverent, as they approached the cas-.
ket. tiny girl clutched rose and
dropped the flower on the glass tina,
was over the dead face. my papa tolG
me to do that. He is sick in bed" Ar
aged woman, tottering with the weight
OF four score years. walked painfully
along with the crowd. Somebody with
kind heart went to her rescue and lee
her out of the line and up to the cen.
tre of mourning. She stood for full
two minutes, her gray head bowed
tears running down her cheeks and
falling on the glass above the dead.
Virgin most merciful," she prayed
speak to your blessed son for this
man"
or such were the tributes of the
masses to the dead philosopher and
friend OF mankind. The public cere-
monies were no less remarkable, and
the unique spectacle of a funeral ora
ton aplauded to the echo was prob
ably witnessed for the first time in this
city. Not alone was there the ap-
plause of hand and foot, but even
cheers resounded through the build
ing, and the bereaved widow clad in the
1abiliments of woe, lifted her veil and
smiled at this surprising tribute TO hef
dead.