The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-04
Many Republicans in Philadelphia
Anxious to Overthrow Ashbridge
for Giving Away Franchises.
TAMMANY is IN DISREPUTE
AND NEW YORK FUsIONISTs ARE
TRYING TO PURGE THE CITY.
Clean, Honest Government to Take
the Place of Vice and Corruption
if Seth Low BE Elected.
star Corresponding of the Journal.

Staf Correspondence Of the Journal
NEW YORK Nov. 3.-Whichever way
goes the election in Greater New York it
is not apt to be of immediate Importance
in political way. The downfall OF Tam
many would be of the greatest consequence
to New York. but that is a question of
decency. not of politics. The success of
the fusion ticket would mean a regime of
fair-minded, honest, able men were in con-
troll in the Nations metropolis, but il would
be neither Republican rule nor Democratic
rule. If the fusion control should prove
wise and acceptable it might result in the
city passing permanently to Republican
control. but that would depend entirely
upon leaders who are not yet conspicuous.
In a political way there is nothing DEM
ocratic about the present gambling COM
bine which rules Tammany. Neither is
there anything Republican about the Ash
bridge clique, which rules the Republican
organization in the city of Philadelphia
Both are organized for spoils and sig
naIly successful. Yet the fight which is
being made against these forces in the two
cities is essentially different. In Philadel-
phia they really want reform. Ashbridge
is offensive to the good people of that city
because he is using the organization to ben
eft himself and associates. Philadelphia
wants TO get rid of him and his methods.
This is sincere. The Quaker City is genu-
inely tired of the alleged corrupt reign.
TAMMANY'S METHODS.
In New York there is no particular OBJ
lection to the lax enforcement of laws
which characterizes the Tammany admins
tration- Tammany opens the back doors
of saloons after hours and on Sundays but
this is eminently satisfactory to all, even
20 the conservative business element. Tam
many allows the woman of the street to
become conspicuous in all sections of the
city, and gives her the greatest freedom in
practicing her immoral trade. The dom
inant element of the city does not object
TO this. Gamblers are given the greatest
freedom, and this is satisfactory. What
the people protesting against is the
big price the Tammany organization is
charging. They object 10 the ruling gam
bling combine" becoming rich through the
vicious practices of others. Objection is
made TO the enormous backmail levied by
Croker.
Within three years the expenses of the
city government have increased enormous
~. Now they amount to approximately
one-nourth the cost of running the national
government. Rents have gone up. Taxes
have gone up. The administration of the
departments is conducted so as to get ev-
erything in tangIes and conceal thefts. Pay
rolls are stuffed. The courts are the hired
agencies of the gambling combine The
cost is great that the people are tired
of the expense. The graft is more than the
people can stand. 1t is not because New
York resents the liberation of what are
town. One might suspect that the great
city Is so bad in this respect that the fU-
sionists are out TO reform the city. Moth
ing could be a greater mistake. Unless the
people are convinced that Low is not going
in as a refOrmer he will be beaten. He
would be expected to nut the government
on organized business basis and give a
wholesome administration of affairs. but
Il he starts in to reform the morals of the
city there would be protest from those
who worked TO elect him. Ii is pretty hard
for the ordinary citizen TO understand this
state OF affairs. but it is a fact and may be
accepted as such.
QUAKER CITY CONDITIONS.
In Philadelphia there is a rigid enforce
ment Of the excise laws. This is not ac-
complished so much by the police as by
the liquor vendors themselves. They have
an organization which decided long ago
that it was better TO enforce the strict
Pennsylvania excise law. They employ their
own detectives and see that the licenses of
violators of the laws are revoked. I'm
moral women do not throng the streets of
Philadelphia. The social evil is out of
sight. ON the surface the Quaker City is
fairly decent and orderly. IL has its own
criminals and grafters, but they are not so
bold as in New York.
The Philadelphia city government is a
gang of organized spoilsmen. They are
accused OF taking all and giving nothing.
Tammany gives a gay and riotous regime.
Il
rich goes over TO New York or 10 Europe
to spend his money The Philadelphia
City Hall cost more than any other build
Ing in the United states. The cost now
IS over $500. 900 and IL is not done yet.
The Philadelphia Republican organization
IS accused of planning bold schemes for the
stealing or the streets OF the city. The
money which il eXacts from the semi-pub-
lie corporations IS on a scale which is
ceeded in other city In the country.
The uprising against the gang is genuine.
but IL remains 10 be seen whether il will
be effective. The managers OF the inde-
pendent movement are amateurs. num-
br Of ministers are on the executive COM
m.ttee and have furnished a great deal
OF the campaign OratOry. This reflects
a sound and vigorous opposition. but per
haps not a very practical one. If the
ground swell Is heavy enough il will wash
the gang out or power, but II Is met by
fine machine political work-the finest.
In New York there would be no difficulty
IN fOrecasting the result III the opposition
10 Tammany was sure OF it's own mind.
The fusiOnists want 10 set rid Of Tammany
without getting TOO biz a dose OF reform
The business or the city Is in an ideal con-
clifton The upper middle section of the city
f. almost being rebuiided. 10 is on the
inside Of the limit 10 say that over a bill
lion dollars worth OF work is being done
IL me way or building. There never was
such time. No one need be idle And
the workers are getting good pay 1t is
easy for one TO argue and say that Nc
Kinley prosperity centr3lizes I'm its effect
In New York Tammany claims credit
for the great commercial activity in New