The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-10
The Next Battle with Tammany

The Next Battle with Tammauy,
Very pointed advice is offered by
Senator Plat to those citizens OF
Greater New York who imagine that
the way to defeat Tammany next fall
IS to divide into several parts the forces
OF Tammany's opponents, The impor-
tanCe Of the issue of that contest for
the control of a municipal government
embracing within its jurisdiction a
greater number of souls than were
comprised within the thirteen colonies
at the time of the declaration Of inde-
pendence is perhaps underestimated,
not only in New York. but throughout
the country.
we are about" says Senator Platt,
"to enter upon the greatest experiment
in municipal government that has been
undertaken in this country. The dam
ger IL the restoration OF Tammany
Hall. Tammany Is the regular Demo-
cratic party. It's leaders have identified
themselves and their organization with
the Chicago platform. Their main
TO secure that they would nominate n
silver Democrat, gold Democrat, or
any other sort of Democrat with whom
they thought they had, in tho situa-
sion existing at the time, the best
chance of winning. Bu. the effect of
this victory would be the same in any
ease. It would give to Tammany Hall
seventy millions of dollars a year to
spend for three years ir the upbuilding
of an organization which, as every
body knows, will act with the national
Bryanite party in the next pres de ltiGl
election. It Is all well enC.:s;h to say
that national issues have NJ plac, in
local elections, but saying q thing does
not make it so. Politician: do not
create issues. Their function is to dis
cern them and to frame platforms,
nominate candidates, and conduct cam
paigns accordingly. The real issue to-
day, whether in New York or else
where, is not he best citizens no.
tion of how to administer municipal
affairs. 1t is the issue which twenty
years of socialistic agitation has grad
ually pushed to the front, the issue on
which a great political party has at
last been captured, and which now
sustained by party organization,
menaces law and order and the rights
of property and the opportunities of
labor throughout tho United State.
one defeat has not suppressed nor
much discouraged the great forces be-
hind this issue. am every election, To-
raj. state or national, occurring in this
country during the next four years is
bound to contribute it's share, small
or great, to their confusion or support.
The voters of New York who gave so
splendid a majority to Mckinley and SO
great "A vindication to the sound prin-
clples for which he stood, cannot afford
to allow lot of reCkles, amateu" poll
ticians to enable Tammany Hall to say
that Organism has captured New
York"
Mr.. Platt's idea is that opponents of
Tammany should get together; but
even here his pen takes on vitriOlic
mood, as when, in defining what con-
CessiOns the regular Republican or
ganization in Gotham can make, he
adds: 1T can agree to no basis of
union which substitutes the govern
ment of an individual acting wholly
of his own whims and caprices for the
rule of an organized responsible party
performing an authoriZ. ! party pol
icy, 1t can permit no situation to
arise in which, masquerading as a Re-
publican, a mayor of New York can
conduct a purely personal government
misrepresenting and injuring his party
not only by comforting power on its
enemies, but by identifying it in the
minds of the people with intolerant
and offensive administration, with ex.
travagant appropriations, and with
petty acts of despOtism that interfere
with the commonest rights of the citi-
zen."
How Mayor Strong win relish this
lance-thrust remains to be seen: but
in any event the chief point must not
be overlooked that a victory for Tam.
many in the coming autumn election
would be a direct triumph for tn,
worst elements in our politics and {
menace to the future of our govern
ment, Great will be the responslbilit,
of those who, by pure contrarlness o.
disposition or zeal of individual opin
ion, contribute to such a consumma
tion.
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