The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-03
NEW YORK TOPICS.
DRIFTS AND UNDERCURRENTs OF
THE METROPOLIS.


Boss of Tnmmany-HOw He and
Capt. F. Norton Goddard Are Alike
in Some Things and Unlike In 9th
ers-Devery stands for Boss Rule
and Goddard for Municipal Reform
With All That the Term Implies,
hut They Have Both Captured the
Voters in Their Districts-Wn
They Head Opposing Forces in
Some Future Municipal Battle.
New York, Aug. 2.-The two most
interesting men in New York just now
are Capt F. Norton Goddard and ex-
Big Chief" William E. Devery.
They have just begun to float Capt.
Goddard's boom for the Republican
nomination for lieutenant governor, as
you may have seen by the dispatches.
Ex- big CHIEF Devery is in the midst
of his campaign for the Tammany
leadership of his West Side Assembly
district, the Ninth.
Devery is probably the better known
of the two men throughout the coun-
try by reason of his doings as Tam
turesque vocabulary which has re-
ceived so much attention during the
last few years from the newspapers;
but Capt. Goddard has become a po-
tent factor in this town, and, whether
his boom is successful this year or not
he is sure to be a coming man.
In T1anv WAYS the two mon are
unlike as daylight and darkness, yet
in many other ways they are much
alike. For instance, each is a firm
believer in the efficiency of the grand
free excursion" as a vote getter and,
as the wire may have told you, each
has given evidence of his faith in that
direction during the present week.
Devery gave his excursion on Wednes-
day, Goddard his on Thursday, and
each excursion was a bowling, boiling
success. Each chartered a small fleet
of steamers, tug boats and barges and
each entertained several thousand
men, women and children, including
the satisfying of their hunger and
thirst, for whole day, at an expense
undoubtedly running into the tens of
thousands of dollars Yet neither
begrudged the expense nor the per-
way-for each was thoroughly con-
WINGED that both expense and trouble
will be fully justified by the results.
The grand. free excursion" by the
way, is an institution typical to New
York. In no other city in the world
does it exist in anything like the mag
nitude as here, and no where else is
anything like so much money eX-
pended in it's promotion. The two
49, 4.
ably the most extensively attended
and the most costly that have ever
been given.
Goddard and Devcry are alike also
in the fact that each is a sort of feu-
dal lord, Goddard in the Twentieth
Assembly district on the East Side and
Devery in the Ninth on the West Side.
Each is absolutely master of the To-
cal political situation Devery having
wrested control of the Ninth from men
of his own party, the Democratic, and
Goddard control of the Twenty first
from men of the opposing party also
! the Democratic, by the use of methods
that are at once curiously alike and
unlike. Their similarity consists part
| ly in the circumstance that each has
convinced hiss constituents that he is
absolutely sincere in his profession of
viction is undoubtedly well founded. 1t
has been proved over and over again.
Is any one in the Twentieth district out
of work, unable to pay his rent or in
legal difficulties? To whom does he
turn? Capt. F. Norton Goddard to be
sure, and with the certainty that the
appeal will not be in vain. Is any one
in the Ninth out of a job, or locked UP
on a criminal charge or involved in
any sort of tangle? To whom does he
appeal for assistance? Why, the big
Chief" of course, and never without
prompt response.
But here the parallel is broken for
Devery represents in the minds of the
people all that Tammany is supposed
to stand for, while Goddard represents
municipal reform, and higher level
of personal morals, with all that these
terms imply.
Unlike many Of New York's inter-
esting figures both Goddard and DeVery
are products of the town. Goddard
was born in the district of which he is
the Republican leader, and Devery in
the district in which he asDires to be
the Tammany leader. Both Goddard
and Dcvery have money to burn. .
Goddard burned many thousands of his
in acquiring his district leadership.
some years ago and has been burning
it ever since for the good of the dis
trict. Hitherto Devery has been close
with his money, but now he is burn
ing 1t as fast as he can. Devery ac-
quired his money in politics and as a
policeman. Goddard inherited much
of his from his father. a successful
merchant, and has made the rest by
continuing his fathers business God
lard does not hope to make money
through the political combustion of his
money. Devery, with engaging frank
ness, practically announces that he is
in politics for what there is in it,
Each is an extreme type of his class.
Goddard believes in reform and is will
ing to spend himself freely in its fur
therance DeverV believes in boss
rule, with him for the boss-his ulti-
mate object no doubt being the win
ming of Cookers place at the head
of Tannmany-and is willing to blow
himself to the limit" to gain his point.
If he should win and Goddard's ca
reer should suffer no set back the time
may come when these two will lock
horns as the champions of the oppos-
ing ideas in city government here.
For despite the facts that those who
profit and believe in boss rule some
times speak of Goddard with a wink
Of the eye and that the better ele-
ment' is highly contemptuous of Dew
cry, both these men are unusually
clever. both of them are very much
in earnest, and each has the strength
to put up the most desperate sort of
fight. If in the years to come God
dard shall head the Good Government
forces and Devery the opposing hosts
there Is sure to be a battle royal.