New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-10
ALDERH4NIC CANDIDATES.

Mr. James McKeen has performed an impor-
tant public service in signifying his Willingness
10 be IN anti-Tammany candidate for alderman.
For years the Board of Aldermen has been dis
credited in public estimation. The low charac-
ter of the ward politicians who were frequently
elected to 1t reacted on the reputation of the
body itself and that in turn discouraged the
better class of men from seeking membership
in it. and opened the way to the progressive
decadence Of the conventional aldermanic type.
So little esteemed has been the alderman that
parties when striving to put up strong tickets
lave generally been content TO throw these
nominations TO the mercenary hangers-on OF
the organization or use them as instruments Of
practical politics in the districts. And even
reformers when they came 10 naming candi-
dates for alderman. generally picked out I'M
known men of proved capacity for public
business, who if they managed now and then
TO secure election. were mere nonentities who
could neither direct majority wisely nor in
minority make effective opposition.
We need renascence Of the Board Of Alder
men The body has large powers in the city
government, which in the hands of able men
might he used most henefcially. The reputa-
ton for impotence is in considerable measure
due 70 the incapacity and ignorance of mem
hers who have had no ambition to busy them
selves with anything except petty schemes. The
new charter has created municipal legislature
which is by no means to be compared with the
CID boards OF anteconsolidation days. which
year 10y year were stripped of powers which
they exercised scandalously: and II 1t should be
composed of men of high character and capacity
its functions might be increased. and our Deepen
dence for even an endurable government might
not always be placed on an executive with des
potic powers.
The fault for bad aldermen has been as much
with respectable citizens rs with the politicians
They were content with saloonkeepers for alder
men. and considered ii beneath their dignity 10
accept such petty office. Yet they felt honored
invitations TO become directors of banks or
charitable organizations. though in such boards
they could not do half the good or exercise half
the influence that they could in the Board Of
Aldermen. Mr.. McKeen has been frequently
mentioned as fit man for higher office than
alderman Though not aspirant. his seec-
ton was urged by a large number Of people as
the reform candidate for Mayor of Brooklyn in
the year when Charles A. Scheren was nomi-
mated and elected. For man of this type TO
be willing TO run for alderman is a novelty and
it ought TO set a fashion. The nomination of
men of like character in every district would
greatly improve the prospects of anti-Tammany
VICTORY. NOT all OF them, nor perhaps major
ity of them, would be elected: but those who
were would leaven the lump. Imagine even n
few James McKeens in the present Tammany
board. Moreover, their candidacy would arouse
new interest In every district good citizen
ship would be awakened to activity by such
immediate leadership. and the whole city ticket
would profit from 1t. II one first class man for
Mayor is in himself n campaign cry. seventy
three first class men running on the same ticket
would appeal TO the pride OF the voters to
still greater degree and command the support
o. earnest thousands who would be filled with
enthusiasm at the idea of putting not merely
the mayoralty but the whole city government in
good hands,