The sun., 1899-07-08
HAHEM'S ODD POLITICiL FIGHT


Tho battle for political control OF the Tam
many Hall organization in the Thirty-lrst dis
trict, now going on with much accrbitv be-
tween the followers OF Commissioner Of Jurors
Weldo and Contractor Isaac A. Hopper. is not
without its amusing features. To start with.
there has never before been political contest
lor control on the Democratic side in the
Ehirtyhrst district for the reason that the
Ehirty-nrst is only four years old. and unlike
ihe other districts in town it has. SO to speak.
no political past. being made up Of parts OF
other districts and itH politics being controlled
by newcomers. some OF whom are voting at
this years primaries for the first time.
The Thirty-nrs Assembly district runs prac-
tically from the northern boundary OF Central
Park. 10th street. 10 134th street and from
Park to Eighth avenue. These are not tho
exact boundaries but they are. substantially.
the boundaries Of the district in which the
fight between the Welde and Hopper factions
10 going on. for number Of persons belonging
In the neghbo rhood, Just outside OF the boun-
daries OF the district. are taking part in
controversy. the most peculiar feature OF which.
perhaps. is that the Thirty-nrst is an over
whelmingly Republican district. having a Te-
publican representative in the Senate in Al
bany. a Republican representative in the As
Sembly In Albany and a Republican reprcScn-
tative in the Board Of Aldermen. and district
which. at last years election. gave Theodore
Roosevelt J 200 puralitv.
Usually in New York politics the minority
party In an Assembly district is harmonious
affair-not because il likes to he. but because
Il has to be. Voters Of minority party realize
that only by pooling their issues and combining
their interests can they hope to overcome the
first district control OF th" Tammany W orgamiza-
tion would carry with II nothing of much pollti-
cal %s yet ne TIht 6ss nr" b With
OF the district ia Wfre swipgpg M y the ,hn'ancn
yaDtinpnllV VI In
lem" are familiar with the fact that for many
years 125th street has been the chief artery Of
Harlem, east. the chief thoroughfarc Of which
is Third avenue. and Harlem west. which in
In all public. patriotic and commercial mat
ters Harlem, has been regarded as M entity.
has s' separated @ Harlem % east and ' Harlem %f II
new new Harlem ALTERING from aIi tn" "%,f ncishbor %t
ing districts in The fact that, it has no
and. for the most part, Of new resid"nccs, ,i,t,S
some Of them so new that the occupants OF
names Of the @ occupans Of thS ncxt oor Tt" one
diton OF things which is quit" an obstacle To
nSGS new noH8 IN the
district than in any other in town, and an n b.
normal propqrton Of these are new voters who
are rarelyto b" seen in III" district during the
day clerks. professional men, statesmen. bank
employees ana skilled mechanics.
Campaigning among those voters has numcr-
GUS disadvantages aggravated by the fact that
clear majority Of them ar" Republicans who
have no concern In Tammnny primary. wh e
still larger number, perhaps. are voters Who
have no concern in any primary. Dcmocratic.
Republican. Popust or Prohhitlonist. Up to
date the most exciting episode Of the fight be-
tween theWelde and the Hopper part isans turns
on the removal Of Judge WcdoS picture from
the OSceola Club. som" time ago til" eE-JudG0
presented his pictur" To this Democratic organ
iZation,a picture representing the Harlem lurist
In an unofficial capnclty. as he was accustomed
TO sit at the desk Of his sash and window blind
factory giving orders to- his suborhinatcs. So
hnliRhtnl nf hp la
Club with the opportunity OF having constantly
before them the features Of :hc Judge that
they not only gave him vote OF hanks, but
organization. At that time the Osceola Club
was favorahlc to tho political aspirations OF
Judge Wclde. but it appears to be such no
longer, having gone overt the Hopper faction.
As the disappointed ColOrCd vocalist in tho
popular song wanted TO Noto his presents hack
including his chair looking glass and cook
stove; So Judge WclLtr's friends, tn. spokesman
boniace. demanded the return Of the Judges
picture. 1t was delivered, hut the course Of
the Welde men IL demanding 4 rro?yokrd III"
hostility OF the Huppcrltcs "Thr W"ldr pic
turc issue has been AN important one in tn"
primary contest in that part OF the Thirty first
district which is in the section whore tho
Osceolns meet. though in the uppcr end OF tho
to predominate Overwhelmingly.
Another rather hrGuiiar iraurG "l the CON
crs is the fact that the German America
voters. so numerous elsewhere in town, should
he so few in this district, wh"r" Judge Welde.
one OF their number, Is the present leader II
factions claim that tho lnmmany Hall urgani-
cation is neutral between them. the trcnhi-
ness ot IN" central organization should haNn
ls veteran in Tammany politics and who has
been parsonage Of some Importance in the
Harlem heighborhood for many years