The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-29
The New York Campaign.

Study of the political situation in
New York is interesting and study
Of the vote when counted will be in
structive as well. Perhaps never be-
fore in the history of this generation
has there been a more sharply defined
issue between two antithetcal con-
coptions of public duty than is exhib-
tied in the opposing candidates. Of
RooscN cit and Van Wyck.
The relationship of Judge Van
WyCk to public affairs Is that of a
reserved but ohedient partisan, will
ing beneficiary of the power of COM
pact political organization without es-
pocal scruple as to methods; a man
who probably is mildly conscientious
when not interfered with, but whose
view of political struggle is that it is
mainly battle for spoils, in the wag-
ing of which there is allowable lati-
tude, and who therefore would not
permit conscience at any time or un-
der any circumstances TO lead him far
away from his associates. In other
words, he impresses one as being in
| all respects save perhaps in personal
| reserve, which Is abnormal, a very
commonplace man. without ideals or
enthusiasms, who does not greatly
care how the public in general fares
so long as he and his friends are polit-
| ically comfortable.
Theodore Roosevelt, on the other
hand is as energetic in his moral
courage and as tenacious in respect to
principle as he Is physically virie and
| iTepressible. When he says that if
| elected governor he VIII keep his
promises, swerving neither to the
right ror to the left by so much as
a hairs breadth, and when he dis
tinctly proclaims his intention TO car
ry into public Office the same moral
standards and the same requirements
as to diligence and fidelity of service
that are recognized as indispensable
in private relations, there isn't man
within the borders of the Empire state
who doesn't feel that to the extent of
his ability Roosevelt will keen his
word. The very fact that he Is abso-
lutely fearless and honest has come
to be rcgarded by many students of
mis- canvass as an element Of danger.
Those used to handling governors
generally prefer a governor that they
can handle. Some Of the large COM
mercial financial institutions of New
York city are believed at this time not
as a matter of politics so much as
matter of business, TO be ready to
choose the Tammany kind of COVER
nor i'm preference TO the Roosevelt
type, on the principle that when they
need Tammany's help they know ex-
actly how to get It, And it goes with
out saying that if there are any crooks
in office in New York state or having
hope in that direction their instincts
would incline them long way in the
opposite direction from the Republi-
can nominee.
This being true, how large a vote
will Roosevelt draw from the better
elements The answer To this ques-
tion, when given in the election re-
turns, will be worthy of study. II
with all the advantages OF a winning
personality and the glamor of military
heroism added to the absence of Or
ganized party division Theodore
Roosevelt shall be unable to secure a
majority Of the votes cast in the fore
most state in the Union, which ought
at this time IL ever to be overwhelm-
ingly Republican, because as a public
} servant In past positions he has done
neither more nor less than his duty
as he saw 1t, cringing TO no man. ths
set back TO good government will be