The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-03-25
TAMMANY In SADDLE.
HOPES TO RECOVER NEW YORK
FROM THE REFORMERS.

Wthin Wheels.
1t has been noted that Tammany,
with characteristic energy, has al
ready begun its campaign for the May
orality of Greater New York, and l.
unfolding plan Of attack on the Re
formers. who hope for four year.
more to keep control of the city rcs
cued from Tammany three years ago.
The organization has entered upon
the campaign with almost as much
confidence in victory as 1t felt III
1892, when it had no opposition cX-
cept the feeble fight put up by the de.
blitated Republican machine. 1t Is
of interest to understand upon what
this confidence is based. 1t is based
upon the belief that reaction" is
due. Signs of this reaction have been
shown in the town elections through
out the state. 1t is almost impossible
to beat Tammany twice in succession.
Even after its crushing defeat in
1884, Tammany won in the local elec-
ton the following year; and last No
vember, In spite of the big Sound
Money Democratic revolt, it rolled up
$4,000 votes for Bryan. 1t has al
ways been difficult to arouse the cti-
zens of New York to supreme ef-
fort for reform city administration,
and after having aroused them once,
1t seems impossible to get them to
make another such effort in the next
Mayoralty election. 1t is true that
'S
Union' exhibits a gratifying deter.
minatlon on the part of the Munic.
pal Reformers to make an early start
this year, but there are special rea-
sons, to be explained, why Tammany
believes this movement will not have
the force and momentum of the Com
mittee of Seventy campaign of 1894.
In other words, its leaders believe
that the political pendulum is swing
Ing its way this year, and that 1t will
reap the benefit of all the discomfort,
the various petty hardships, and the
personal disappointments resulting
from the Strong Administration. In a
local election few people have the
courage and public spirit to rise su
perior to their private interests. Even
though the administration, as a
whole. may have benefited the city, if
1t has hurt any personal interest, that
personal interest will work and vote
against it, independent Of any other
consideration. And the Strong Ad-
ministration has tread upon the toes
of many small personal interests,
which, in the aggregate, represent
small army Of discomfort and enmity.
II there Is any one achievement of the
administration which may be called,
without exception, signally success
full, it has been in the cleaning of
streets. In fact, even If Tammany
elects the next Mayor, it will either
retain Colonel Waring in office or
maintain his methods. But, never
theless, Colonel Waring has undoubt-
edly lost many votes for reform at the
coming election. Every grocer, baker
and small merchant who formerly
stabbed his truck in the street, but
who has been obliged by Colonel War
ing to store 1t elsewhere in order to
clear the streets of encumbrances, will
probably vote against reform" and
their name is legion. The city as
whole is benefited by this change
worked by the Commissioner, but
thousands Of small merchants are suf.
fering in pocket because they can no
longer use the streets as storage places
for their private property. In some
of the other departments it must be
confessed that reform has been a fail
ure. There have been scandals in the
Fire Department, and the condition Of
things in the Police Department is
such that even Mayor Strong himself
says that Is "a shame and n dis
grace" Moreover, the Strong Ad-
ministration has resulted in an in
crease in taxes, with no decrease In
rate Of property assessments. AS
Strong is Republican, such acts Of
the Republican party in the state as
have caused discomfort and injury
will be used by Tammany to it's ad.
vantage in fight against any com.
bination that may be formed against
it in the city election. Thus, every
ptisoh VIM hdS UGH iuJuTtu Dy lne
Raines law, 1t Is claimed, will vote for
Tammany. Moreover, there are a
number Of leading men who have
taken part in the non-partisan or hi.
partisan movements for municipal re.
form who are beginning to be con.
vinced that after all that has been
said or done, there can be no really
effective city government except
through parties, and that non-par.
tisanship is dream. EX-Mayor
Grace, who aided materially in elect.
ing Strong, has expressed himself
plainly to this effect. 1t is significant
in this connection that the new char.
ter has been drafted on the principle
Of party government. 1t may be
asked why, If there is any basis of re-
ality in Tammany's confidence of vic.
tory in the Greater New York elec.
ton, Senator Platt should be so de.
termined to create the Greater New
York. Some Of the Republicans up the
state have been asking this question
and doubling the wisdom of passing
the charter. But Senator Platt may