The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-20
THE ASsEMIBLYM1N.
No Longer n Parsonage of Much Importance
Politically in This city.

In n majority OF the Assembly districts NJ
New York city Democratic nomination Tor
member OF Assembly is equivalent to an e."c-
ton TO that office. and in all the Assembly DIS
tricts OF New York. in the opinion OF W''I.,n-
formed persons. there Is one way only In which
the regular Democratic nominee can lie "e-
tented and that is by the election OF MS Neluh-
lican opponent. In other words under me
operations OF tho present ballot law such
thing as successful independent candidatnle
for member Of the Albany Assembly is really
ont of the question and the most strenuous
effort of aspirants Is, therefore, to secure NOM
nation by the dominant political party, DEM
ocratic or Republican, as the case may be-
Under these circumstances the political i'm
portance Of an Assemblyman has become very
much diminished in New York. The threat or
"A popular candidate of either partyto appeal 10
the voters Of his district and secure from them.
independent Of the party organization. IN elec-
ton, is no longer practicable. Neither Is inc
method. once very much in vogue among can-
didatcs having many friends. to announce .
determination to run for the Office OF Assem-
blylnan. whereby the nomination OF such cam
didate by the regular organization. Democratic
or Republican. AS the case might be. wonld Pc
rendered almost compulsory. These were the
longer in New York city politics. The impqr.
lance Of the Assembyman mas shrunk. he
wt no to 9nf bs proristed to be feared and
to be politically considered dc has become
the local Of the orgS nn0
Assembymcn he has practically become the
Albany rerresentativc Of the -, leader ndd and ne
but BY The wishes Of the organization, which
| nominated HIM as conveyed to the district
in Albany, The Assent yman owing his clec.
| upon the organization represented by his dis
trict leader has herome diyested II any former
necessary to make. friends among the boys.
| 1t is no longer necdful TO prosecute q barroon
| quently not only Tom. Dick and Harry. but
likewise Michael, Fritz and Domenico. 1t is
6ona ase Wh his
ents by doing them fayors, of small kind.
giving them counsel and aiding them in mat
portnnities in the Tammany Hall organization.
at least. for rendering such service would be
| found to be very much reduced.
| The Assemblyman has no longelT, any voice
through The. channel OF the district leader.
Even such familiar pre gro as pnttttins
OF Endorsement to the railroad superintend-
ents have been taken from the Assemblymen
the Peneht Of the 9rgShIiTati9n OF which he
for the purpose OF seeing the Judge for the
benefit Of politically deserving VI, prisoner come
duties. The Assemblyman. nowadays, in New
York county, is dctrict committee represen-
| tatve who looks wise and does not say too
much; whose professions OF allegiance to the
| district leader and his fortunes are many and
repeated. and whose participation at functions
of Il social character Is humble even to the
| point Of self-effacement.
Some former New York Assemblymen,
elected when the conditions OF nomination and
| Of voting were radically different from those
| Theodore Roosevelt. William Waldorf Aston
James NJ. Varnum. Henry j. Raymond Fred
Dugro, now Supreme. Court Justice; Charles
". Dayton, formerly New York's Postmaster:
tce; Gen. Martin T. Mcmahon and County
Clerk Sohmer There are more Assemblymen
have BEEN at any tme bedre but he
| ence OF each Is less. probably. than at any
| previous time for reasons which are more cas-
| lily explained than approved.