New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-01
THE VASSAR ISSUE.

Mr. Edward s Atwater, the Bryanite candi
date for State Controller. evidently wants that
office even If he has to adopt the methods of
Artemus Ward, who, it will be remembered
was ready to preserve the Union even If he had
to sacrifice all his wifes relations to do It,
Accordingly he has drafted the alumn@ &C Vas
sar College of which his wife is an honored
graduate, and the women who are connected
with that admra BILE institution are expected to
secure for her husband an office on the strength
of his good taste in marrying one of their num-
Der. AT least that seems to be the meaning of a
letter which is being sent out to Yassar alumnn
saying:
vassar graduates do not always interest them
selves in politics. but is there any good reason
why we should not. like English women occa-
sionaIlv use our influence for n good cause? Il
seems to me not out Of way particularly if
a prominent candidate happens TO be at once n
trustee of college a"d the husband Of an
alumna, who has just completed two years Of
hard work as the president of the General Asso-
citation OF Alumna. May rot, therefore, ask
you, a daughter Of the same Alma Mater as l.
to interest yourself favorably in the candidacy
Of my husband.
Now, this is new issue IN politics, and we
are not sure I is not the paramount one that
Mr.. Bryan needs. Free silver here IS worse
than ton of chorate Of potash in a drug store
fire. Imperialism is played out. There Is moth
ing in the trust cry among people who know
Richard Croker and the Ice Trust Mr. Stanch-
field some time ago retired his department store
issue, and it is about time for something new
with which to stir up the masses to vote the
Democratic ticket. Instead of sitting at the
Democratic Club and threatening to break
heads If the vote does not suit him. we are
inclined to think Mr.. Croker would accomplish
more if he took persuasive tone as an expo
nent of higher education. and said: "Vote for
( AtWatGr; his wife is NaSSar Wa fool
sure that the gallantry of an impressionable
and sentimental people would be stirred and
the voters without regard to party would forget
al! about the menace of the Chicago platform
of free silver and free riot, forget all about Mr.
Cookers working for his own pocket all the
time and hasten TO put his twice nominated
candidate for Controller in charge Of tho
hhances OF the State, careless Of everything but
the privilege of electing the husband of a VAS
sar girl to office Fortunately for Mr.. Atwater
there are no Smith or Wellesley annexes RIM
ming for office against him. Otherwise his new
issue might provoke discord, but as it Is he
holds the matinee stage all TO himself and r.
there are any votes to be made by such apneoIs
TO the women OF good taste and good sense who
are graduated from our colleges Mr. Atwoter
will have them
In speaking of Mr.. Atwater's claims tn tha
! Controllership as Vassar husband we do not
mean TO imply that he has not other charms
AS many people have already learned from per-
sonaI letters signed Edward s. Atwater Vale
10, he has two strings to his bow. He has
also third string in the letters of n friend IN
Poughkeepsie who is writing to various per
sons whom he does not know telling what a
lovely man Mr.. ktwater Is. We can well be-
lieve It, He is doubtless a kind man In his
family. Though banker, he is too good natured
TO object to fiftycent dollars. He is also a
confirmed optimist, and in one OF his circular