New-York tribune., 1901-10-26
COCHRAN DODGES ISSUES.
IRRELEVANT TALK AND BAD LAPSES AT
MEETING WHICH CHEERS THE
NAME OF Low.

Prolonged and heartfelt applause greeted the
name Of Seth Low. anti-Tammany candidate for
Mayor, when Albert Stickney pronounced il last
night in speech for Shepard in Carnegie Hall
before audience of Democrats. The outburst
was caused by a feeble hiss uttered. probably.
by one of lot of Tammany district heelers.
many of whom had been sent from nearby Tam
many strongholds.
Our friends the other side say vote for
Low" said Mr.. Stickney.
Then came the hiss, quickly followed by the.
burst of applause; then another hiss and a.
groan from Tammany man. followed in iurn,
by wave after wave OF applause that completely
drowned out the Kisses.
The other features of the meeting were the
superb rhetorical effort of w. Bourke Cochran,
his exhaustive exegesis OF the boss system IN
the State IF Pennsylvania the mayoraIty adj
minstration of Mayor Hewitt fifteen years
ago. and Mr.. Cockran's forgetfuness of local
political history
Down with bCssism. but elect Shepard on
trust.'
This was Mr.. Cockran's speech boiled down.
How about Dick Croker?' asked man in
the gallery. wearied with Pennsylvania politics.
He's all right" yelled Commissioner Lantry's
contingent before Mr.. Cochran got a chance to-
reply
of the Tammany organization. I am glad that
my friend called my attention. to il. / was on
the point of forgetting IT, think il he lives
two years ander Mr.. Shepard's rule he will for
get II himself"
This ready retort was greeted with laughter
and applause.
LAPsEs ON LOCAL HISTORY.
Mr.. Cochran said two things that made hin,
in,
the eloquence that flowed and on. He said
that while Seth Low was Mayor OF Brooklyn
friendly Governors and legislatures were in con-
troll Cleveland and Hill Governors dur
ing three years of Mr.. Lows incunbency ot
his Office. Mr.. Cochran blamed Mr.. Low. as
Mayor of Brooklyn, for not Furnishing John Y.
McKane. Of Cravesend. for ballot box stufing.
while on the other hand he said Mr.. Shap-
ard a private citizen sent McKane TO prison
in 1894 Gravesend was not part of Brook
lyn in 1SS1-'S5. and. matter OF local his
tory it is a we'll known fact that the efforts
of William ]. Ciaynor had more TO do with caus-
ing the downfall Of McKane than anything Mr.
Shepard did.
Mr. Cockrans friends asked him 70 correct
these errors afterward but he laughed them
away He had written out his speech. but tore
it UP Just before starting for the meeting.
The meeting which was held under the
arsnfces Of independent Democrats who are
supporting Shepard. called TO order by
Henry D. Hotchkss. who introduced Albert
Stickney the presiding officer The vice-presi-
dents named on the printed matter included
Daniel s Lamont William c. Whitney, Con-
trouer Coler. Isfdor straus J. Edward simmons
and Perry Belmont. but not all of these were
present.
Mr. Stickney considered Mr.. Shepard a far
more acceptable candidate for Mayor than any
other candidate. He said that the Mayor would
have absolute control of the Board Of Estimate.
no matter who might be elected on the Tam
many ticket
MR. COCKRAN'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Cochran was received with hearty ap-
plause. He said in part:
I suppose if anybody had foretold some six weeks
ago that some Of US here would De supporting a
sanctioned BY the Democratic organization.
would have we Seeh eSad GndeT any have
doubted the pre-eminent fitness Of Mr. Shepard. but
because We could scarcely conceive that such a
Now know there are some excellent. but eccen-
tric gentlemen in this community whose aims
admire, whose presence like. whose Judgment
eTs SesTs haf a1 Pt tS Identity Of the nominee Should pas
part in the decisions of the electorate as to
after the most careful observation Of Mr. shep-
weighing We'll the import of nv words I saw thst
no man. himself honest and sensitive. who has
the declarations that he has made of a firm pur-
pose 10 administer this government with inde-
pendence. with honor and with efficiency: who
fiects above all. the circumstances under which
those speeches delivered. doubt for
moment that In waging this contest and seeking
this election he is governed by the lOftest civic
virtue by the purest patriotism. by courage that
is almost heroic and by a general devotion the
public interests without parallel In the history OF
municipal affairs Cspplause)
THE OPPOSITION CRITICISED.
Now nv friends il we examine the speeches that
have been delivered and the editorials that have
been written in support of the opposition, think
YOU will agree with me that they are remarkable
FOR vehemence rather than for conference. do not
know on what point they all agreed, unless II
be upon what they call opposition TO bOssism- Mr.
ponents OF bossism but singularly barren of any
suggestion OF uprooting IL. and defy any man 20
ieuce all these phrases sonOrous and attrac
i've but largely empty and meaningless. which
nave formed the stock in trade of the opposition
any definite plan for the removal Of the conditions
which they themselves affect to deplOre.
When they say they opposed TO bosSism.
IRE at with them. We independents be-
.ause opposed TO bossism but Opposf-
ion is 10 bosssm and not TO any particular boss.
Ne want uproot the system. not TO change the
posses. (Applause-) IL we must have a boss. let
ather have the know than the
lon't know. (Applause)
Bossism. the other hand depends and is built
lpon the capacity 70 do favors or 20 exclude per-
ons from the public service. Leadership Demo-
To-day the Hudson River Day Line make their