The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-12
EnR MAYOR oE NEW YORK

Four years ago there were four can
didates for mayor of New York.
There were others who also ran. but
these three were the important fig
ures of the campaign. Benjamin F.
| Tracy, secretary of the Navy in the
cabinet of Harrison, Seth Low, presi-
dent of Columbia college; and Robert
E. Van Wyck, an unknown judge, who
represented Tammany, Two of the
three candidates represented an honest
desire to give the city of New York
an honest efficient government.
The Tammany candidate ran upon a
platform best expressed by the phrase,
"a wide open city" His election was
foregone conclusion and the forces
of good government were split in
twain.
It is not easy to throw the blame
upon any one person. Seth Low would
have been an acceptable nominee to a
majority of the Republican party, but
many Republicans at that time felt
that as most of the anti-Tammany
votes must come from their party or
ganization, they should have some
thing to say about the selection of
the candidate. Tammany found then,
and it finds now, that it was policy to
draw party lines, to represent Cen
eral Tracy as a Republican candidate
equally tainted with the partisan evils
with which Tammany was accused.
The vote was pretty evenly divided
between Low and Tracy. Had the
voters been united on eithe candidate
Tammany would have been defeated.
Whether Tammany will be defeated
this year when there is an apparent
union on Seth Low as a candidate of
all -Tammany parties is a ques-
ton. The newspapers of the City of
New York, both Democratic and Re-
publican, that are counted reputable,
are supporting Seth Low Tammany
has had to have recourse to the bill
boards. the theatre programmes and
the campaign banner to present its
arguments. Tammany is contending
that New York is a well governed city.
1t is quoting Andrew Carnegie freely
in it's advertising matter 1t is COM
mending the government of New York
City under Tammany. 1t is attack
ing Seth Lows record as mayor of
Brooklyn. 1t is comparing the credit
Of New York with the credit of the
city of Philadelphia to prove that New
York is in good financial condition.
1t has for its candidate for mayor a
man who is personally clean, who
was taken from outside the Tammany
ranks on purpose to get a good stand
ard-bearer Edward NJ. Shepard, the
candidate, was one of the most enthu
siastic supporters of Seth Low four
years ago and the Low men are natur-
ally quoting from his speech at that
time.
B. F. Tracy made a speech in New
York Wednesday night in support of
his former adversary. Seth Low. The
Hartford Times takes this opportuni
ty to criticise Mr.. Tracy for his atti-
tude four years ago. 1t is just such
criticism as this that will aid Tam
many to whip their Democratic as
sociates into line for political reasons.
The Times says:
MIR. Tracy is one of those political
politicians who see clearly that in
playing the great game=of politics in
his town 1t Is quite as necessary to
put the rascals into power occasion
ally as to put them out"
With all due respect to Mr. Low it is
generally admitted that General Tracy
would have made just as good a mayor
as he and the force behind General
Tracy was just as earnestly in favor
of turning the rascals out and keeq-
ing them out
1t would be grand thing to have
Seth Low elected mayor of Ney York,
but it will be impossible to keep non
partisan organization back of him in
New York city strong enough to re-
elect him. The burden must fall upon
the Republican party to oppose Tam
many Hall. Tammany Hall itself has
attempted to remain non-partisan, but
in vain. 1t has finally absorbed the
Democratic party of the city of New
York and now practically of Greater
New York. 1t has reached outside of
the county and has strengthened itself
by cooperating with almost every
Democratic leader in the state of New
York. But whether Tammany shall
be fought by a similar organization on
similar lines. but with different prin-
ciples and different men and different
ideals, is a question for the future. A
temporary organization has been eff
fected that should sweep Tammany
out of power. The possession of pow
er is the only anchor of safety for
Tammany They cannot successfully
work without possessing the great
revenues of the city.