The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-02
TODAYS ELECTIONS.
Ill Interest Centers on the Cam
p paign in New YORK.
FOUR PARTIES TALK OF VICTORY

Qeorgeites Declare That Their Can-
didate VIII Receive All of His Dead
Fathers vote-Tho Ohio Democrats
Point to Past Elections.
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 1t seemed as though there
would be 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, Republican measure which re-
quires saloons to pay high license.
to remain closed from TO u. 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
have In turn upset the calculations Of
the political leaders. The first was tho
formation of the Citizens Union, which
drew Its strength chiefly from the Re-
publican party, and whose leaders were
30 llcrcely hostile to Senator Platt and
his methods of directing the regular
Republican organization that coali-
.tfon of all the anti-Tammany forces,
an end that Mr.. Platt repeatedly de-
rlared 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 nom-
nation of Robert A. Van Wyck" for
mayor, and carried matters with such
q high hand as to lead to serious de-
tectfons from the wigwam.
The 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 fight for hon.
est government. His veterans in the
campaign Of 1868, when he pollled GS,-
100 votes, fiocked to his standard as
the soldiers of France did to the ban
ner Of Napoleon returned from Elba.
and in few days Henry George, ap-
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 Island to Rockaway, he preach
ed the rights of man and denounced
the so-called party "bosses" with
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 Tanmany 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 that ut
promotes intemperance, furnishes a le-
galized refuge for vice, imperils the in
nOcence of children and destroys the
sanctlty Of home" while extorting Eek
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 a
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-
tutional provision regarding legislative
apportionment.
The potent candidates for the office
of mayor are four In number, though
there are four additional candidates
for the peoples suffrages. Benjamin
r.. Tracy, secretary of the navy in the
cabinet of President Harrison, is the
Republican nominee; Robert A. Van
Wyck chief Judge of the city court,
Che Tammany Democratic candidate;
Seth Low, president of Columbia uni
Nersity and twice mayor of Brooklyn,
the candidate of the Citizens Union
md Henry George, son Of the late ad-
vocate of the single tax theory, the in
dependent or Thomas Jefferson Democ-
facy nominee.
Three Of the parties indicated oppose
in their platforms or in the letters of |
their mayoral nominees the present ex-
Else law: the Republican platform de-
elares that statute the best that coulC |
be devised"
Seth Lows letter of acceptance said |
That "the excise law stands midway |
between the laws that everybody be- |
)ieves in and the dead laws that no.
body believe in," wherefore he should |
lake the appeal to the people them |
belves.
There Is no difference, in substance,
between the platform declarations on
the subject Of municipal franchises,
hpon which point the greater New York |
Dharter practically .embodies the doc
brine that the city shall not part with
the ownership Of it's franchises, but
shall lease them for limited periods,
Bubject to occasional revision of the
terms, but Judge Van Wyck has gone
b step beyond his party and his Re-
publican and Citizens Union rivals BY
bayng in his letter of acceptance that
1.-THE municipality itself should both
pwn and control its franchises, and
where now such franchises are op-
erated under grants to corporations a
lair charge, and that only for the SER
vice rendered or convenience furnished,
bhOuld be permitted"
Seth Low wrote upon the same points
n think legislation should be had, how
sver, that will enable the city to treat
every consent to a change of power by
btreet railroads as new franchise"
The Georgeite platform is in terms as
strong as the strongest of those quoted
lpon the subject Of public franchises.
The Republican platform directs par
licular attention to the fact that the
edoption of these principles of compen-
sation for franchises was largely due
10 the strenuous efforts of the chair
man of the charter commission, Gem
eral Tracy.
Tammanv Hall was dark ond de. |