New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-03
ORR PANTHEON.

Messrs. Horgan and Slattery are really the
creditors OF this city. They add. much to its
gayety. We regret to note that some people are
inclined 10 criticise them and assert high views
about the insult which Mr.. Croker offers to
New-York in employing such men TO do its
building and revise the work OF trained masters
Of the architectural profession That is mar
row view TO take. Horgan and Slattery are
precisely the sort of architects that the people
accepted with their eyes wide open when in
1897 they permitted Mr. Plat to carry out the
policy so frankly announced by Mr. Lauterbach:
t'Better have as Mayor a true Democrat or
''even Tammany man. than man responsible
ito no party" Morgan and Slattery were just
the kind Of architects that Mr.. Plat thought
better for this imperial city than some aesthetic
-dilettante in favor at Columbia University who
might have been imposed upon us by Mr.. Low.
The fight Of 1897 was sQuarely on the issue be-
tween expert administration and political ad-
ministration in every department, architecture
among the others. Mr.. Plat persuaded the
people to choose political architecture and they
have received the goods barganed for In full
measure, pressed down and running over. No
body will make bold to say that Morgan &
Slattery are responsible TO 10 party and have
no party behind them" They are the most re-
sponsible architects in New ork-responsible TO
Mr.. Croker-and In intrusing city work to
them We must in all fairness say that Mr.. Gro
ker has exactly kept the pledge on the strength
OF which he received the city government at
the hands OF Mr. Platt There has been no
buncoing. no Misrepresentation. nothing but the
plain, frank barbarsm nominated in the bond.
Taking broad view of the situation, we
can but rejoice in Horgan and Slattery. They
may not know anything about architecture,
they may be favored to an extent regarded as
outrageous by independents with calf con-
sciences who do not accept Mr.. Platts and Mr..
Cookers theory Of party responsibility. But
the same people who would kick about such use
OF government for private purposes would be
unreasonable enough TO kick against making a
private project like the Astoria Gas bill. for
example, party measure. The boss theory OF
party responsibility provides for just such
transactions. Party machinery is in the hands
Of leader to be used 10 favor architects or gas
companies, as the situation requires, and nobody
but College Settlement young men. who were
taught their place pretty thoroughly In the Low
campaign, will find any fault with the system.
OF course, certain class of people who think
artists must have French or Italian names will
have great fun with Horgan and with Slattery.
They forget that this Is an AnsloSaxon COM
munity, full Of pride in Anglo-Saxon brother
hood, and that there is more Joy in Horgan or
n Slattery than in dozen "Dagoes" like Bru-
ntllesch or Leonardo da Vinci. There is no
good reason why the Horgans should all be
''aloonkcepers, or why every SIattery should be
sent 10 the island for assault and battery Isn't
q Morgan as good as a Coogan? And in the
name OF the golden harp,in the arms Of these
free United States, shall city which rejoiced
to see Guggenheimer Acting Mayor tread on
the tail Of a slatterys coat, No! Horyan and