The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-09
SETH LOW, NEW Y0RK'S MAYOR.
characteristics of the Successful
Nominee.

More than ten years ago, in a gather
ing of prominent educators in the city
of Washington, when the question of a
national university was under discussion.
a Western man said: 'If Columbia Uni
versity. ever awakens to its true position
and power, and the city of New York
has its civic pride in that institution
stirred to commensurate and practical
appreciation, there will be no need of
planning for a national university; it will
be Columbia" But TO lift Columbia Col
lege to the plane of a true university,
to quicken and enlarge its life, to make
that life at all equal to its possibilities,
to send the college we'll along this career
Of great usefulness and renown, this were
a task calling for the exercise of the
very highest administrative qualities. APP
proved business methods were demand
ed. These characteristics must be united
in one man if success was to crown the
effort. A scholarly appreciation of edu-
catiOnal needs and resources combined
with rare business ability, thoughtful con-
sideration of the rights and welfare of
others, a strong hold upon the confidence
of his associates ard of the community
at large, accurate observation, sound judg-
lhSul, tact, lOydlly, SOOu Idlln, pdlISnCS-
the best qualities of leadership.
With singular unanimity, says James II.
Garfield in the Review of Reviews, the
choice fell upon Seth Low. He was just
forty years Of age. in the very prime of his
life. He was graduated at the head of his
class in 1870. A little more than ten years
later his ability, his manliness, his abso-
Lutte independence, his strong sense OF
civic duty and his fearlessness had so
commended him to his felloW-citiZens in
Brooklyn that he was chosen mayor I'M
der the new charter of that city. His al
Inlnlstratio1 constituted an epoch in the
history o. municipal government. Men
VINO watched his career most closely dur
ing those four years saw the more to
praise and the less to blame. Adverse
criticism was rare and constantly decreas-
ing; appreciation grew into warm approval.
hen he turned aside from this task
Brooklyn was one OF the best-governed
cities In the Union and every Brooklynite
was proud Of Low.
He hesitated long and sincerely about
accepting the presidency of Colombia.
He made no professions to being an edu-
Gator in the technica or professional
sense; the task was a severe one, the
burdens were very great, the necessary
sacrlnces were unusual. To sell the old
DulIdlnSS and site at a good price, to
purchase simultaneously the land for an
other campus, TO determine I'm all it's de-
tails the occupancy of this new ground.
E $1,000 oha a OAlCI L 4
through to a finish, TO transfer all de-
partments with no serious break in their
work, to successfully refund all outstand-
ing indebtedness, to provide for largely
increased expenditures, to expend the en-
tire curriculum and to thoroughly organ
lie the entire educational machinery, to
accomplish the affiliations of the hitherto
independent colleges, and in ten years to
be able TO leave all this so reasonably
complete that the leading spirit of it all
may withdraw without a Jolt or a lar
DGilS IelI III any part OF the machine and
With no apparent lessening of either
power or speed-all this is surely a note
without a parallel in the history of edu-
cauonal institutions. 1t is a very able
administration who can so determine and
direct the relations and work of others
that his own place and value are
scarcely recognized, and that he can re-
tire without causing what Wall street
1t Is Tar easier and far more common 10
secure a reputation for briniancy by
keeping ones self ostentatiously in sight,
by insisting upon constant personal initia-
tive, but this is not organization. In
this already great university Mr.. Low
has proved himself an organizer, an ad-
mlnlstrator, OF remarkably high and
strong character and qualities.
FOR more than twenty years Mr.. Low has
stood squarely and insistently. and unset
fshly and fearlessly. for the theory OF bust
ness principles and not partisan methods in
municipal affairs. He has been it's most
conspicuous advocate, he has been it's very
incarnation, and for four years he put all
this into practice in a remarkably success
ful manner 1t is scarcely too much to as
sert that the public affairs of Brooklyn dur
ing his mayoralty became as though his
private business. and as far as possible
were administered upon precisely the same
basis and by the same methods as would
direct his conduct of private affairs. He
tried 10 save money for the people pre-
cisely as he would have tried to make
money for himself. He endeavored TO Sc
cure the largest possible returns from the
resources at hand. just as he would have
labored for like results for a firm in which
he was a partner. He regarded taxes paid
by citizens as a definite investment for a
definite purpose, and he was as eager TO
realize upon this investment as though IL
had been made by or for a corporation OF
which he was a director or the president.
He made character and efficiency the sole
test for appointment TO public service and
the sole assurance OF continued tenure. He
carried municipal administration to the