New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-08
A LOOK AHEAD.

- g avowed purpose Of the Constitutional Con-
vention in changing the time for holding cleo
lions of county officers so that they fall hereafter
I'm November Of the odd years was TO divorce
municipal from the State and National elections,
(which come IN the even years. And the reason
given for the separation was simply that the adj
ministration Of the affairs of q municipal cor
poraton Is strictly business function, having
little or no relation to the issues OF National
or State politics. with which it should not be
mixed I'D. The change was not made until after
il had been exhaustively discussed in the press
and had received the careful consideration Of the
convention. What Influenced the public mind
most strongly in favor Of the proposition was I'M
doubtedly the corruption and misrule which had
so obviously and SO rapidly increased IN recent
years under an election system which inevitably
and unavoidably connected the municipal con-
test with State and National politics. 1t was
seen that year after year we were choosing off,
Gals to administer purely business municipal ar
fairs, not because they were competent men OF
business training and experience. but because
they were active members of political party
holding certain views Of the tariff or finance
and though the change was suggested IN the
first instance by Republicans, naturally enough
because the abuses complained Of had grown out
of the prolongation Of Tammany control through
the Identification Of that organization with the
Democratic party of the State and Nation, 1t
was not seriously opposed by Democrats.
It being the aim and purpose Of this WELDON
sidered Constitutional provision TO establish mu-
nicipal elections upon footing OF their own. in
dependent so far possible, OF the great polt-
ical parties into which citizens are divided upon
National issues, ii would obviously defeat that
purpose IT, IN the election next November Of mu-
nicpal officers under the Greater New-Iork
Charter-assuming that the charter will be
adopted-the contest should be carried on In the
Old way and along the old party lines. If we are
10 elect Mayor and other officers Of the Greater
New-York next November, not because Of their
special fitness for the positions for which they
are named, but solely on account Of their promi-
nence and activity in one or the other OF the two
great National parties. or their hold upon one or
the other Of the two political machines, the
change will be without any practical effect, and
might as we'll not have been made. But the
most casual observer OF current events cannot
have failed to note certain plain and unmlstaka-
BILE Indications of q disposition on the part OF
the machine managers Of both parties 10 bring
about precisely this result. If they succeed we
shall see next November not n division Of the
voters upon the merits Of candidates nominated
on the score of qualifications and fitness. but q
struggle between two partles-or rather two POI
Utical machines-for the increased power and
enormous patronage Of the enlarged municipal
,tv. And that would mean, Of course, the com.
plete failure Of the effort 10 divorce municipal
administration from State and National politics
the heaviest blow possible for municipal reform
The November election u.s. to be sure. a long
way ahead Not so long. though. but that the
far.sighted and farreaching machine managers
and leaders have begun already their prepare
lions for it, Encouraged by the results Of the
late election to believe that Republican ma
iority is assured In the Greater we'll as the
old New.York, the Republican managers here
and at Albany are laying plans for putting a
straight ticket in nomination regardless Of the
fact that the constituent elements which made
I'D the majority last November could by no pos
sibility be held together in support Of such ac-
ton Even If no other factor entered into the
situation, the manner in which Republican Gov
ernor has discharged his trust in the making OF
appointments has given such dissatisfaction and
created so much dlstrust that thousands who
voted for him and helped swell the majority
Of last November would rise IN revolt and op-