The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-02
Republicans Handicapped by the
Split i'm BrookIyn. Caused by the
Candidacy of Seth Low.
BETTING FAVORS VAN WICK
WITH Low NEXT IN POPULARITY,
AND GENERAL TRACY THIRD.
Tammanyites Bubbling Over with
COnfdence-statemen of the Nam.
ayers of the Leading Parties.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-The most sensa-
tional political campaign in the history 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 be-
tween 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 requires sa-
looms to pay high license, to remain closed
from l to o'clock a. M. and to remain
closed on Sunday. The law is unpopular
among the foreign-born inhabitants of the
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 leaders were fiercely hostile to Sena-
tor Platt and his methods of directing the
regular Republican organization The Citi-
zens' Union leaders asserted that the regu-
lar Republican organization and its man
ager were quite as offensive to good citi-
zens as those Of Tammany.
The next startling event was the return
from Europe of Tammanys old leader
Richard Croker, and his immediate assump-
tion of the management of Tammany Hall.
He swept aside all opposition and dictated
the nomination of Robert A Van Wyck for
mayor, and carried matters with such
high hand as to lead to serious defections
from the wigwam.
The third epoch of the campaign began
when Henry George was asked by the Dem
ocrats who believed in Thomas Jefferson to
lead them in q fight COR honest government.
His veterans in the campaign of 1885, when
he polled sIxty-eight thousand votes,
focked to his standard as the soldiers of
France did to the banner of Napoleon when
he returned from Elba. and, in few days,
Henry George, apparently lacking none Of
the resources Of war, was waging fight
that amazed all the other political parties.
From the Battery to the Bronx, from Sta
ten island to Rockaway, he preached the
rights of men and denounced the so-called
party bosses with fierce energy that cleo
trifed 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;
The potent candidates for the Office of
mayor are four in number. though there
are four additional candidates for the peo-
pies suffrage Benjamin F. Tracy, secre-
tary of the navy in the Cabinet of Presi-
dent Harrison, is the Republican nominee;
Robert A. Van Wyck, chief judge Of the
City Court, the Tammany Democratic
candidate; Seth Low, president of Columbia
University and twice mayor Of Brooklyn,
the candidate of the Citizens Union, and
Henry George, son of the late advocate of
the sngle-tax theory the Independent or
Thomas Jefferson Democratic nominee. Be-
sides the mayor, controller and president
of the Council, the officers of the munich
nalitv that are to be chosen there are to be
elected members of the State Assembly,
county officials, borough officers and mem
bers of the judiciary. In addition to these
is to be elected successor to Francis II.
Wilson, who resigned his seat as represent
ative in Congress, of the district, to become
postmaster in Brooklyn. The nominees are
William A. Prendergast, Republican; Ed
mund H. briggs, Democrat, and Horace c.
King, Independent Democrat