The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-05
THE STRUGGLE IN NEW YORK.

The contest for and against good
government in the city of Greater New
York has assumed a most interesting
phase. 1t is acknowledged by all that
the coming election is the most impor-
tant that the people of the metropolis
have ever known. Under it's charter
the mayor of Greater New York, who
is about to be chosen, will have power
and patronage at his disposal such
as have never been contended for as
the prize in any political struggle
short of national election. 1t is
doubtful. indeed, whether the powers
of the president of the United States,
under the constitution, as far as place
and emoluments are concerned, are a
match for those of the executive of
Greater New York. This being the
case, there is naturally a hot contest
for a position so desirable Further
than that, the control of the new mu-
nicipality is absolutely essential to
the. control of the state machine. All
politics in New York state is divided
between the big Democratic machine
with Tammany at its head, and the
big Republican machine, now entirely
controlled by Senator Plat. Dick
Croker, who runs the one, and Tom
Platt, who manages the other, are in
perfect accord with each other. Eacn
of them wants to bag the mayoralty
of Greater New York, or his machine
will be knocked out of gear Each of
them would rather see the other sue
coed than to have any reform element
enter into the game. This is the old
play of politics in New York city and
state, with which the country has be-
come thoroughly familiar
The unusual element is introduced
by singular disposition on the part
of the people to have something to say
about their government themselves.
They have apparently taken kindly 10
clean streets and decent political ad-
ministration, and they are unreason-
able enough to have formed a Citizens
union, which claims an enrolment of
100000 voters. This union has put for
ward Mr.. Seth Low as it's candidate
for mayor, and the bosses on both
sides are desperately embarrassed.
Seth Low is almost an ideal man for
the position. He is a well known mu-
nicipal reformer. 1t was by his work
that Brooklyn obtained its new char
ter, and under him municipal govern
ment became something worthy of the
| name. He is man Of purity of char
| acter, of remarkable executive ability
and of such other requirements that
he honors the position of president of
Columbia college. Against such
mans candidacy it would seem that
nothing could be urged; yet the whole
energies of Croker and Plat are de-
voted at this moment to forcing him
from the field.
All that the union asks is the in
dorsement of Seth Low as it's candi-
date by either party, thus assuring de-
cent municipal government. Croker, of
course listens to nothing of the kind.
Plat, through his chief of staff, Quigg,
insists that Seth Low must be with
drawn and threatens, if this is not
| conceded, to take up Mayor Strong for
a denomination. How desperate is his
case may be realized from his willing
ness to use man whom he hates and
abuses, as he does Mayor Strong, as a
club to beat off a still more formidable
enemy. The circumstances show that
the people of New York city have the
situation entirely in their own control.
If they insist upon Seth Low as mayor,
he will be elected. If they give
up to the old partisan game, lin
ing up on the cleavage of national
politics and voting for bad man for
mayor because he is called Demo-
craft or Republican" then a Tam
many man or a Plat man, as the case
may be, will be chosen, and Plat and