Evening star., 1899-04-03
Republican Party Of Cleveland Split
in Municipal Contest.
BETTER CLASS SUPPORTS FARLEY
Effect Of the Result on State Pol
tics is Exaggerated,
HANNA'S ATTITUDE
'pecial From Staff Correspondent.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aprm 1, 1899.
Ohio politics has two seasons. The spring
planting has to be done or there will be no
fall harvest. That is the buckeye idea, though
the questions at stake in the municipal
elections have no bearing on state or ma
tional issues. The control of the party
machinery is sometimes determined by
these preliminary skirmishes, and that is
one reason why they give concern. But to
tell an Ohio politician that he gets unduly
excited in April over what may happen in
November this year or next year is like
telling the parrot that it talks too much.
Neither understands.
Cleveland has a municipal contest which
is of great interest to it's own people. and
there is some incidental interest for out
siders. Naturally the question is whether
Robert f. McKis son, regularly nominated
republican candidate, or John H. Farley,
regularly nominated democratic candidate,
shall be mayor for the next two years.
Actually, the regularity of the nominations
is of small moment. Farley is making the
race as a kind of citizens candidate, sup
ported by the Municipal Association.
non-partisan body. McKisson is running
as the Mckisson candidate, seeking sup
port wherever he can get 1t and bidding
especially for the votes of democrats. The
election takes place on Monday. The result
Is so much in doubt that each side is shout
ing very loud it is sure Of winning and at
the same time is wondering how badly 1t
will be beaten. This means that everybody
is in doubt and will have to wait for the
election returns Monday night.
Claims of McI<isson's Opponents.
The opponents of McKisson tell me that
the only Issue is municipal good govern
ment and the overthrow of boss rule as
personfied in Mayor McKisson. They are
also raising the anti-third-term cry, though
that hardly seems consistent with the civil
service principles which they advocate.
McKsson has had two terms as mayor,
and each time was nominated and elected
with comparative ease, notwithstanding
factional differences in the party. He is
still young man. His development
boss has surprised his own friends. Origi-
naly he was a member of the city council.
He has shown his capacity a political
organizer and has built up strong ma
chine. He just missed being big enough to
develop into a leader of state prominence.
His opponents have persistently underrated
his abilities, and they have been the suf
ferers by their own folly. Old-fashioned
republicans comp ain that he has always
been the leader of faction and never of
the party. That is true of other Ohio re-
publicans who have achieved greater promi-
nence than McKisson. His real weakness
as a leader is the lack of loyalty to the
principles of the party.
The contest against Mckisson has taken
on the dignity of a revolt. 1t is far more
Setl louS lildl was the case TWO years ago.
Then good many republicans, including
part of Senator Hanna's following, content
ed themselves with a silent protest at the
polls. This year there has been a vigorous
campaign against Mckisson. The lead has
been taken by the Municipal Association, a
non-partisan body, of which Harry A. Gar
field is the active head. This is like similar
organizations in other cities 1t aims to
give the voters definite information re-
garding the fitness of candidates for office
regardless of their politics. Back of II is