New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-02
THE PEOPLE vs.. THE BOSSES.
TODAY'S BATTLE AT THE POLLS.
SIMPLE ISSUE INVOLVED, AND THE
CONSEQUENCES MOMENTOUs.


CAMPAIGN OF THE CITIZENS UNION
AND THE CONFIDENCE or ITS
LEADERS OF A VICTORY
OVER THE DICTAToRs.
To-day. with the casting Of the ballots, cnds 'he
most memorable municipal canvass in the MS
tory Of this country. Ii has been long ana blt-
ter one full Of the most remarkable and nnex-
pccted shifts aid changes. 1t may be SAID 10
have been begun early in the year. when Inc
Citizens Union was formed to carry out the
provision OF the Constitution as amended III
1894. designed to give 10 cities OF the STATE non
partisan government. Months ago the pubic
began gradually To turn toward Seth Low as
the leader in this cause. and the Citizens Union.
prompted by this unmlstakable sentiment. asked
Mr. Low If he would consent to bear Its stand
ard. Mr.. Low in his letter of June SAID he
would he the candidate provided he was con
vinccd that the people wanted him to run. a
large proportion # the voters demonstrated
their desire that he should he their candidate
and on September he was formally put in
nomination.
The methods by which the other candidates
were put in the field are too fresh in the pun
lie mind TO need rchearsng. General Tracy
was forced upon the Tammany ticket at the
dlctation of Croker. The canvass. So fun OF
pcrplcxitles at the outset quickly narrowed
down 10 the question: shall the people rule or
shall the bosses?' This question, first present
cl by the Citizens Union and its candidates. was
later taken up with great vigor by Henry
George. the candidate of party to which ne
gave ;he name the Democracy OF Thomas JEFF
,In
great force and eloquence In all parts of the
greater metropolis up 10 the day OF his death
His tragic end in the midst Of the contest has
drawn added attention 10 the significance anu
import of the struggle.
Confused as il was at first. the situation III
the last few weeks has become clarified, and
tho neople now understand that the issue Is
distinctly one Of civic freedom. They realize
that National and State issues have nothing 10
do with it. and that the whole question ut stake
ls one of honest and efficient administration of
local affairs. They have come to realize, TOO
that the issue Is not merely political one, Dut
moral one as well The cause Of nonpar-
tisanship has gqned in strength every day. ana
most Of the newspapers in the greater city, the
business and professional elements. the work
| jncmcn who have been vastly benefited by the
work Of the local administration since Tam
many was forced ont Of power in lSf ana
who kecnly appreciate those bencits-in short
men in all cangs and positions OF lie nave
! 'fio-I1cd 10 tlr support of Mr. Low.
| Seeing the plain drift Of public sentiment, the
| two machines have become desperate IN the
| cxtreme There Is no doubt in the mind OF any
observant and intelligent citizen that there Is
a thorough understanding between the leaders
of Croker's organization and the leaders of the
Plat organlzation They will leave no stone
unturncd no irlcl, untricd and 10 resource llIl-
| used ,o encompass III" defeat of the peoples
candidate. The Tribune and other papers have
printed convincing proofs OF the alliance be-
tween platt and Croker. The political exist
cucc Of these machine leaders depends upon
rho defeat of the non partisan candidate Their
cousc /, "A common one. and they have made
and ,rc making n common fight against
a common enemy. 1t was understood per
fcctly well among politicians yesterday that
money vns being used freely in all the
districts bv both machines. II was declared
ro,,tiycly that Tammany was putting ut
| lcos, $40 in each election district for purposes
of corruption and il was asserted that more
NANCY could be had II 1t was needed. II Is a
/ f,ct thot orders have been ISSUED 10 machine
Honuhlicons 10 east their votes directly for
!
| Van Wyck. and many machine politicians
! frankly admit this II is also a positive fact
! thot Mr. Platt is willing 10 sacrifice his local
! ,,clot II n, can arrange to retain the control
! NJ thc Icrislaturc. and It Is known that he VIII
! ord.r vo,cs to bc thrown 10 Van Wyck and his
associates on the Tammany ticket In return Tor
Tommany support of Republican candidates FOR
! tho Assembly The State for Platt, the city
for Crokcr-that is the play OF the machines.
| II Is perfcctly Obvious that General Tracy
u,il, no left hopelcssly In the rear ana any Re-
nublicon votes cast for him are votes thrown
| ow,v In fact every vote given for him VIII
| d,roct,r contribute to swell the Tammany vote
7, ia believed that few Republicans outside or
tho most active supporters Of the machine VIII
consent 10 promote the success OF the Tiger
rho citizens Union has prosecuted this cam
noion with great energy. completeness ana en-
| thusiosm i'm all parts OF the greater city, anu
,,s leaders are confident OF success. lis meet
,roe I'm nil districts have been largely attend
| od and the people have manifested an intense
/ interest I'm the non-partisan cause Mos' oi IT'S
meetings have been preceded by lliustra'cu
| lectures delivered by men well versed Ill Hiu-
| niclpal matters, showing the immense au'ah-
| taccs of the honest administration OF local III
| fairs and the great improvements thht nave
hccn made since Tammnny was OVerthro"h
three years ago The most PROMINENT anu III
Gucntlal men In the community reSarui'SS vi
no,,tical affiliations have taken the stump III 'he
| citizens Union cause and have presented the
| issues involved with overwhelming force ana
| cIoouencc The peoples cause mas Deeh ad'o-
Gated by the people themselves anu Dy the peo-
n,c Of this city only. The machine leaders
I'D. ,o enlist the services of many men In
,,.hom thc pcople OF New-York have confidence,
,r,norted sneakers from remote quarters OF The
| tr. 10 advise The electors OF this city how