The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-23
Mr.. Lows Alliance with Socialism

The length to which a reputable man may
be carried by the lust for public office has
never been exhibited more strikingly han
1t is by the combinations into which Mr..
Low has allowed himself to drift. He who
repudiated fusion with the Republican
party is now sanctioning a coalition with
the followers of HENRY GEORGE. That is
to say, the "good government" for which
Mr.. Low processes to stand is, as he hopes,
to be inaugurated with the help of So
cialist votes.
1t follows, either that the men who cast
those votes will be defrauded or that Mr..
Low, If successful, will administer the city
Government on socialistic principles. On
which horn Of the dilemma does he prefer to
standa About the existence of a fusion be-
tween the Citizens Union and the hackers
of HENRY GEORGE there is no doubt what
ever. 1t is admitted that q bargain was
made between young Mr.. REYNOLDS and
Mr.. JOHNSON, in pursuance of which the
Low nominees for county offices and for
seats in the Assembly have been placed
upon the George ticket. Mr.. GEORGE has
publicly declared that he would consider
a victory for Low as the most desirable
outcome OF the election, next to q victory
for himself. Mr.. Low has permitted him
self to speak night after night on the same
platform from which the support of his
ticket was advocated by a notorious Anar-
chist. All these facts indicate that, at the
last moment, when Mr.. GEORGE perceives
that he has no chance of becoming Mayor,
he may advise his followers to cast their
votes for Mr.. Low, on the ground
that he Is more likely han any of the
other candidates to give Socialists the kind
OF administration for which they wish. It
Is, of course, too late for candidates to
withdraw their names, but, in spite of the
legal bar to that proceeding, 1t would be en-
tirely possible for the Low men and the
George men to effect a practical fusion on
the city ticket, for which a basis has been
obviously laid. How is it possible that in.
telligent and honest citizens, who are
vitality interested in the welfare of the city,
and who believe In the right of individual
property in land and in the earnings of
labor. can countenance Mr.. Lows coali-
tion with a man who, IL he had his way,
would confiscate the lam of every indl-
vidual owner, or, what comes to the same
thing, the rent thereof; and who has re-
peatedly asserted that he accepts the Chi
cage platform only as a makeshift and
stepping stone toward a more sweeping and
ruthless application of socialistic views2
1t may be said that Socialists do not
recognize Mr.. GEORGE as a representative
of their doctrines, seeing that they have
put forward a candidate of their own.
Their professed unwillingness to rati-
fly the nomination of Mr.. GEORGE Is
a trick, intended to hoodwink the COM
munlty. Their avowed approval OF him
would have blocked the George movement
in Its inception. Their pretended oppo-
sition was an indispensable prerequisite
to the launching of a George boom.
On the eve of election day, however, the
necessity for deception will disappear, and
we may take for granted that every Social
ist vote In the Greater New York will be
cast for Mr.. GEORGE, or, at his suggestion.
for Mr.. Low. Men who give their votes
expect a return, not necessarily In offices,
but, at all events, In methods of admins
t~ration. and we may be certain that the
Socialists are no exceptions to the rule.
They would not support Mr.. GEORGE or Mr..
Low, unless they believed themselves to
have private assurances that their assist
ance will meet with some recognition.
The alliance between Mr.. Low and Mr..
GEORGE, which has been accomplished
already, 80 far as the nominations for New
York county offices and seats in the Assem-
| bly, are concerned. iS unmistakable. " Ia