New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
A WELCOME CAMPAIGNER.

We hope that the Hon. W. Bourke Cochran
will continue to make speeches for Mr.. Shepard.
We like them. Mr.. Cochran is an eloquent
man, and his addresses must always be an
intellectual treat to his hearers. He will amuse
them. charm them. and, so far as yet appears,
do no harm to anybody but the cause which he
champions.
Mr. Cochran told his audience at Carnegie
Hall the other night that he was opposed TO
bossism. Therefore he was supporting Mr..
Crokers nominee. He was opposed 70 bossism,
but not TO any particular boss. He wanted to
uproot the system, not to change bosses That
was meant for hit at Mr.. Platt who this year
has needed Mr.. Shepard's rebuke OF four years
ago to those who were "betraying the welfare
Of a noble city, by refusing TO join in support
ing Mr. Low against Tammany, and has joined
IN supporting him. In 1897 Mr.. Cochran was
one of Mr.. Platt's most devoted and voluble
followers Now he is equally volube in advo-
eating the choice of Mr.. Croker's candidate.
When it comes TO 4 question of bosses il would
appear. that, whatever Mr. COckran's purpose,
his accomplishment is not the uprooting of the
boss system. but merely change of bosses.
Contrasting Mr.. Low and Mr.. Shepard, Mr..
Cochran blamed Mr.. Low for not Furnishing,
while Mayor of Brooklyn, John Y. McKane for
his crimes in Gravesend, and eulogized Mr..
Shepard for his part In sending McKaDe to
State prison. Mr.. Cochran In his eminence and
superiority 70 facts naturally did not know
what everybody in the audience was perfectly
aware of, namely, that from 1881 TO 1855, when
Mr. Low was Mayor. he had no more authority
in the town of Gravesend than Mr.. Cochran has
in St Petersburg, or than Mr.. Shepard will have
in the District Attorneys office if Mr. Unger is
elected, or than Frank Farrell and Tim" Sulli-
van will have in the same place IL Mr.. Jerome is
elected. Gravesend was then and remained for
many years thereafter a country township In
Kings County, entirely Independent of the city
OF Brooklyn. Therefore Mr. Cockran's hit at
Mr.. Low was bad shot His compliment 10
Mr.. Shepard was not much better. Mr.. Shepard
did prosecute McKane, and is entitled to credit
for having performed professional duty with
his accustomed ability. 1t was not, however, he
who drew public attention TO the scandals in
Gravesend, who attempted TO force an honest
election there TO prevent which McKane took
his last fatal plunge into crime. After McKane
had been brought TO book Mr.. Shepard was
employed as Special Deputy Attorney General
10 conduct the prosecution. He did it success
fully. The proofs which others had secured
were used by him with diligence and faithful
ness 10 secure conviction. For that professional
activity he was duly paid out of the public
trcasury-how many thousand dollars was It?
We do not mean in the least TO say that there
anything improper in Nr. Shepard's accept
ing this employment md getting his pay for it.
Quite otherwise. An able lawyers services
were needed. He furnished them, and the
laborer Is worthy OF his hire. We merely remark
that the MeKnne transaction as nm argument
for electing Mr. Shepard Mayor OF New-York
and for not eiecting Mr.. Low Mayor has its
peculiarities Has Mr. Cochran a few more
gems of argument yet TO give us. or did he
reach the top notch when hc suggested that
''the local leader"-not "the boss" any more
perhaps wanted To retire TO Vantage and pre-
ferred to turn over the city 10 q good man like