The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-09
Seth Low the Ally OF Henry George

Two candidates for Mayor now in the
canvass have platforms which are similar
in their spirit, SO far as concerns municipal
government. They are HENRY GEORGE aud
SETH Low.
When the Low enterprise was started
last spring there was no prospect that
GEORGE would be n candidate against him.
GEORGE was then unwilling to enter into
the canvass because of literary occupations
which he regarded as of more moment TO
him and the public than the politics of the
campaign of the autumn. Accordingly,
many of his supporters entered actively
into the Low movement. When the Secre-
tary OF the ~canvassing committee of the
Citizens Union made his report on the
subject he acknowledged especially the as.
sistance in getting signatures rendered by
George men. 1t was justly their due, for
they assert that their following did more
to swell the lists than was lone by any
other part of the population.
At this time Lows agents were assidu.
ously cultivating Labor" They brought
it's representatives into conferences with
them at the Cooper Union, and their
strongest hopes were in the workingmen.
They plastered the districts most inhabited
by mechanics and laboring men with art.
full appeals. Low carefully avoided saying
anything that might give offence to those
of them who are Of Bryanite sentiment or
Tammany affiliations, and the Citizens
Union made its platform with a view to
currying favor with them. Low did the
same in his speech and letter OF acceptance,
rafarinn on fbn nnn hand IN thu ralinip,,o
public with his "fear of COP" and, on the
other, to the social rebels with limitations
that he was favorable to their theories.
~Tammany's pusillanimous course, how
ever, SO Disguised GEORGE that he changed
his mind, reluctantly laying aside his lit.
erary occupations to engage in a straight
forward Bryanite canvass. Tammany hav-
ing relinquished to him the title of Demo
cratic regularity, he became the regular
Democratic candidate. Immediately all his
followers withdrew from the Low move
mcnt and went over to their natural leader
pell nell, and with great enthusiasm.
Lows catering to Labor had been in vain.
Moreover, when the George platform APP
peared it included the whole Low platform
as to municipal matters purely, except the
pa tiouLahip HulllDus, anu ~ Was
a square declaration of vicious principles,
readily understandable by everybody, while
the other was ~cvasive and insinccre.
The bottom of the Low enterprise was
knocked out so far as concerned Labor
and Low was compelled to change his tao,
tics. In his Cooper Union speech lie gave
up all attempts to cajole Labor" as man,
ifcstly vain, and directed his arts to the
capture OF the respectable" vote. His
c~ajolery Of the George people, however,
still remains in his platform, and he can
not get it out.
Low, therefore, is recognized by the
George crowd as their best political friend.
He is doing all he can to aid them in cap,
turing New York under their natural
leader. Except for a division OF the con,
servative vote, caused by his vain and stub.
born candidacy, they would have no chance
of succeeding. With 1t they are absolute
In their confidence. There may be doubt
among the friends of other candidates. but