The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-02
TODAY'S ELECTIONS.
All Interest 0enters on the Cam
paign in New York,
FOUR PARTIEs TALKO OF VICTORY

Point 20 PaSt EiecbiOnss
New York, Nov. 2.-The most sensa-
tional political campaign in the his
tory of New York ended last night.
Not a day for the past month has been
devoid Of exciting incidents. A few
months ago Il seemed as though there
would be a straight fight between 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 re-
quires saloons to pay a high license,
to remain closed from 1 to 5 a. m, and
TO remain closed on Sundays. The law
is highly unpopular among the foreign.
born inhabitants of this city.
-Four events have occurred which
nave in turn upset the calculations of
the political leaders. The first was the
formation of the Citizens Union, which
drew its strength chiefly from the Re
publican party, and whose leaders were
so Hercely hostile to Senator Plat and
his methods Of directing the regular
Republican organization that a coali-
ton Of all the anti-Tammany forces,
an end that Mr.. Plat repeatedly de-
clared he desired, was impossible, The
Citizens Union leaders asserted that
the regular Republican organization
and its manager were quite as offensive
TO good citizens as those of Tammany.
The second startling event was the re-
turn from Europe Of Tammany's old
leader, Richard Croker, or rather his
immediate assumption of the man
agement Of Tammany Hall. He swept
aside all opposition, dictated the nomi-
nation of Robert A. Van Wyck for
mayor and carried matters with such
a high hand as to lead to serious de-
fections from the wigwam.
hi third epoch of the campaign be-
gan with the call of Henry George to
the Democrats who believed in Thomas
Jefferson to join him in a fight for hon
est government. His veterans in the
campaign of 1868, when he pollled 6S,
100 votes, locked to his standard as
the soldiers Of France did to the ban
ner of Napoleon returned from Elba,
and in a few days Henry George, APP
parently lacking none of the resources
of war, was waging a fight that
amazed all the other political parties.
From the Battery to the Bronx, from
Staten islam to Rockaway, he preach
ed the rights of man and denounced
the so-called party bosses" with a
fierce energy that electrified 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.
At the campaign headquarters each
party processes the utmost confidence
OF victory, The betting favors Van
Wyck, the Tammany candidate for
mayor, Seth Low ranking next. Old
politicians are quoted as saying that
the vote for young George will not be
large.
The regular Democracy's platform
characterizes the excise law as "iniqui-
tous and intolerent;" alleges thai ut
promotes intemperance, furnishes a le-
galized refuge for vice, imperils the in
nocence of children and destroys the
sanctity of home" while extorting Tex
orbitant revenues from this city to ag-
grandize other portions of the state
The George platform is in spirit very
similar to that of the regular Democ-
racy. The law was passed by a Re
publican legislature, and is one Of q
number which, according to the Demo
cratic party idea, infringes the prin-
ciple of home rule, being carried
through the Legislature by the pre-
pondering rural vote, which %preponder'
ance is established under the consti.
t%utional provision regarding Legislative
apportionment.
The potent candidates for the Office
Of mayor are four in number, though
there are four additional candidate!
for the peoples suffrages. BENJAMIN
r. Tracy, secretary of the navy in the
cabinet of President Harrison, is tn,
Republican nominee; Robert A, Val
Wyck, chief judge of the city court
the Tammany Democratic candidate
Seth Low, president of Columbia uni
versity and twice mayor of Brooklyn
the candidate of the Citizens Union
and Henry George, son of the late ad
vocate of the single tax theory, the in
dependent or Thomas Jefferson Democ
racy nominee.
Three of the parties indicated Oppose
In their platforms or in the letters o
their mayoral nominees the present ex
else law; the Republican platform de
clares hat statute the best that coul
be devised"
Seth Lows letter of acceptance sail
that the excise law stands midwa!
between the laws that everybody be
lieves in and the lead laws that no
body believe in" wherefore he "shoulC
LdhG the appear " the pGOpie Iuclil
selves.
There is no difference, in substance
between the platform declarations OF
the subject of municipal franchises
upon which point the greater New Yorl
charter practically embOdtes the doc
trine that the city shall not part will
the ownership of it's franchises, blu
shall lease them for limited periods
subject to occasional revision of tn
terms, but Judge Van Wyck has gonI
a step beyond his party and his Re
publican and Citizens Union RIVALS b!
saying in his letter Of acceptance tina
1.-THE municipality itself should boil
own and control its franchises, am
where now such franchises are Op
Grated under grants to corporations
fair charge, and that only for the ser
vice rendered or convenience furnished
should be permitted"
Seth Low wrote upon the same point
81 think legislation should be had, how
ever, that win enable the city to trea
every consent to a change of power b.
street railroads as a new franchise"
The Georgeite platform Is in terms a
strong as the strongest Of those quote
upon the subject of public franchises
The Republican platform directs par
ticular attention to the fact that tn
adoption Of these principles Of compen
satiOn for franchises was largely du
to the strenuous efforts of the chair