The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
HE ONCE RAN FOR MAYOR.
IT WAS 4 GOOD MANY FEARS AGO,
AND Nv TIKI CITY.
New ne became = Canaidate-The Enthusiaau
or the CampaiGp-It was an 1ndependent
Party, and warlike-ncsutt OF the Election.

So ~ NNN-"Ao -
or the CampaiGp-It was an independent
Party. and Wariike-nesuit OF the Election.
Once upon n time, and It was a good many
years ago, q New Yorker OF unusual virtue and
sprightliness. who. 1t may DO said. Is yet as
s~prightly and ~virtuous az he ever could have
been, was induced to become q candidate for
the Office of Mayor of New York on an indie
pendent ticket The other dry, when a reporter
for THE Sun asked him to tell Of his experiences
at that time, and took q pad and pencil out Of
his coat pocket 20 as to make notes for print, the
former candidate smiled pleasantly, sat down
In an arm chair. gazed at ono Of the battle maps
in Baron Jominis Life Of Napoleon" which he
had been studying before the entrance OF the
reporter, and said: Lot me think"
ut happened In this way" no continued.
For some years before l was nominated for
Mayor OF New York l had taken part In certain
public movements which were designed TO bring
about . better state OF things. l had made
many speeches, had given some money, being
then richer than I am now, and had used such
influence as l possessed for the advancement Of
the cause In which I was interested. At one
time I had gone to Albany. and. through tho
kindness of two friends. both Of whom will DO
recognized by all New Workers when l say that
one OF them was known as Old Salt and tho
other as the Bald Eagle OF Westminster county
had secured the privilege Of addressing the Leg.
~islature, both branches OF which came together
upon the occasion in the hall OF the Assembly.
1T was doubtless because Of my activity in
some affairs Of politics that q good many people
came to know my name aud that l was occa-
sionally spoken Of IN the daily papers. l was
certainly not q notoriety hunter or an office
seeker. I sought only to do what I could in be.
half OF an object that seemed to me good and
desirable.
while thus engaged some excellent citizens
Of my way of thinking got a notion that l ought
to be put up as a candidate for Mayor OF the
city. SO that I might be OF the more service to
the ideas which l sought to promulgate. They
held conferences OF which l was Unaware and
they formed plans that l knew not OF. 1t seemed
to them that the time was ripe for u political
change. They said that the Republican party
sought only the spoils; that the Democratic
party was false TO its principles, and that there
WIS an opportunity for an Independent party.
which should represent the rights and liberties
OF the people and the interests OF the city.
Months before the time set for the election,
n commit &c called at my house one day. told me
that they were delegates who had been APP
pointed by sundry organized bodies, and had
been instructed TO ascertain whether l would
accept a nomination as the Independent canii-
date for Mayor. l had previously heard that l
was to be waited upon by this committee, and
wss prepared for 1t. At once l demurred TO the
proposition. and may possibly have used Ian.
guage akin to that OF another man: Your can
didate l cannot be- Then came some fiattering
assurances. 1 was told that the hide
pendent party was Organized all over tho
city, that committees had already been formed
in most OF the election districts, that l was
looked to as the standard bearer for the cam.
paign. that multitudes OF voters desired my
nomination. that II was favored by several pow
erful elements In the population. and that. even
II ! should fail In the election, the party was
sure TO make a demonstration which would be
serviceable in times to come. l tried TO argue
the case with the delegates. but my
were promptly answered.. and they were Of no
avail. Finally / was told that my nomination
could not be prevented. and that l would GER
tainly be made the pa! rs candidate upon the
day for the holding OF the Mayoralty convea'
ton. 1t was no use to protest further. The
delegates took their departure, and. when they
reached the street, gave three cheers
Convention day came; the delegates assem-
bled in a hail chosen for the occasion; | was
nominated by a unanimous vote. There never
WAS a more enthusiastic convention in The city
The namo OF the candidate. the platform and
the speeches were cGecred 20 the echo Mex,
day / received the motif! cation from 4 commit
tee appointed by the convention. | accepted 1t
l was in for he campaign.
I'm a few days. posters announcing the candi
dacy were p~lastered upon the dead walls o: this
confronted BY my name. The ratification meet
ing was held. l was on the platform. There
we're plenty Of speeches. one Of which was mad;
by the nominee. II was n great affair. one tina
might make an CfuGidltc eel proud.
iheq cane tho eamp.ten. We bela meet
Cooper at t 6 9xss l i1' in eli H4ri esaF on a"f th S' eass sa q
west sides, in halls. in tho streets. an linton
tail sUeeChes. There was activity by day and
night at campaign headquarters. spoke from
wherever crowd OF any size could 10 got 10
Gc;her. We had PROFESSIONS, In some or "hict
which vol Uttered their services for the sake o
the cause and the candidate. We hat . Liberty
Bell saw hurrahing men march past m!
covered q whole page OF q daily paper. ami there
were small woodcuts Of him in severl Other
papers. 1t was a great time for an unAssumins
ABOUT = fortnight before election day Their,
eral Of the leaders OF the party deserted it
others of them became weak in the knees; ineI
t eha inc Of pfn Winning Ssssn Ihe 70 %sls ses 5na sh shet TIE T Sfs o I2
parties were too strong for It, and that II LOOKED
AZ 4 the Intepe adenls would come out at III,
c~ast.iron machines; they had bigger meetinss
better speakers, louder cheers, and far more
dependent party. abused it, .eeTod at it, and saic
1t didn't amount to anything. Besides. II be
e eaI"i tn9" Ma 10 t assa lHa sfss sea that kst'&S e ,R Mas an an
intractable person. who should never have beer
tSs Mortihx ns he G fo9 ab not t.s ssin thu, the s sSP Mss no o
one Of them; or ofthe Muywumps. whose ADVICE
he refused 10 take; or OF the German or the lrlst
voters; and as it had become manifest that hi
was not going to draw from the OLD parties
which were engaged in a mortal struggle will
each other. and had u complete enrolment o
every ward OF the city. and had brought pres
sure TO bear In every quarter where there wal
disNtfection or where the ranks needed strength
euing.
Nevertheless. and notwithstanding all thes'
things, the Independent party and Its cundidat,
stood their ground without ~tainting. prosecutel
their campaign. kept up their meetings, encour
/; aged their committees, and never aoated q 10
!. OF heart or hope until election day. which som
=, Of the workers yet thought would DO u stunning
day for the old parties, an experience day 70
the Independent party. and an eyo-opener 70
the whole community.
Some OF our best meetings were held tn
, any 1hd n nr9nnd ot tha w sne Gay i.Sm OF m e,eGiIUn' ~
midnight, delivering ten.minute speeches. an
,, every where. The City was in a political fer
8 ment. 1t had been q red.hot campaign for tn