Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24
DEPENDS ON BROOKLYN
Result of New York City
Election.
HOPE OF FUSIONISTS
THAT MCLAUGHLIN FACTION
WILL STICK TOGETHER.
Tammany, However, Has Many Strong
Influences at Work in
Its Favor.
HOPE OF FUSIONISTS
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From Stan Correspondent.
NEW YORK. October Pin Brooklyn,
near the approach to the great bridge
which spans the East river. is an immense
banner, fifty feet high and as many wide.
bearing a legend The banner is strung
with scores of red lanterns, which at night
cast a lurd glow over the picture of a
gigantic tiger creeping stealthily upon its
prey through an open door. Beneath the
tiger is the query, Shall he cross the
bridge?' The banner and the legend typify
the spirit of the exciting political cam
paign which is now convulsing Greater
New York. The tiger represents Tammany,
and the red lights stand for the system of
evil which Tammany is alleged to foster.
The whole is typical of the spirit of the
campaign, for upon the question, Shall
Tammany cross the bridge?" depends the
election. If Tammany crosses the bridge
and polls anything like the full democratic
vote Of that city, only miracle can pre-
vent the election of the democratic candi-
date for mayor and the overturning of the
existing municipal government.
Whether the evils that are predicted OF
Tammany'S invasion would follow Is an
other question, and a question susceptible
of affirmation or denial, according to the
viewpoint.
But there is no doubt as to what the ef-
becomes the center of the political cyclone
which Is sweeping through New York.
Brooklyn Democracy Divided.
The democracy of Brooklyn is torn with
dissension over that question Shall he
cross the bridge?" One faction is for well
coming the creeping tiger; the other is for
repulsng him. At present the main hope Of
victory entertained by the opponents of
Tammany in New York lies in the contin-
uance of the dissension and a split of the
party at the polls. The good people of
Brooklyn are appealed to by the reformers
to resist the skulking tiger. fathers in be-
half of their homes. their wives and chill
dren, and the taxpayers in behalf of their
pocketbooks.
Although the appeal Of the dissenters is
delivered in the name Of virtue, honesty and
reform, it is prompted in some degree by
political exigency. This may sound cynical
but 1t is nevertheless fact. The reply to
the assertion is that whatever the motive
| of the appeal, its purpose is good and the
danger real.
The Brooklyn democracy has for years
been an organization independent of Tam
many. Before now. it has fought Tammany
in state conventions and whipped It, The
organization broke UP the Tweed ring.
Under the leadership of veteran boss,
Mclaughlin, now past three score and ten,
1t has been virile political force, to be
reckoned with in every election.
WheCe the lTOuDlc Lies.
McLaughlin would retain the old organi-
| zation intact Some Of his lieutenants ex-
| ercising almost feudal power among their
| followers, rebel at the idea of acknowl-
| edging the suzerainty of Tammany. They
| now rally heartily to the cry that Tam
| many's rule threatens the home and the
municipality. They would prefer the cleo
| ton of the republican fusion ticket to the
! IN ion of fai al
| The other faction of democrats, waving for
| the moment the moral question raised, want
| 10 elect the regular democratic ticket to
secure the offices. They propose to settle
| the question of Tammanys suZerainty at
| teTward
Mclaughlin has cast dssimulat!on to the
| winds and comes out openly in favor of
| knitting the regular ticket. 1t is a question
| how many democrats he can hold at the
l. last moment, the moment of entering the
| polling booth. His weakness lies in the
| fact that he has no tangible reward to
| offer the rank and file. There Is nothing
| In it, for them. To him and his lieutenants,
! organization and the leadership are enough.
| But the ward man, the worker who has his
| little job under the city government in
view, sees no ray Of promise. If the op-
| ponents of Tammany win, they will not re-
| ward McLaughlins men. The latter ask,
''Will 1t not be better to go with Tammany
and share the spoils in case of victory?"
| This is the practical question which viii
| face them In the booth.
Brooklyn in Fever Heat.
Brooklyn is in fever heat over the cam
| paign The city Of homes and churches is
| aroused as it never was before. The men
| ace of the red-light system is before the
people, or at least they are being led to be-
lieve 1t is, which is all the same for effect.
The good wives shudder as at the ap-
proach of some unknown horror, some
| creeping evil thing which they do not fully
| understand. The words red light" are
| ominous If not luminous to them. The men
| know them to refer to the system of graft.
| political tyranny and protection OF vice
| which marked the government of New York
under Richard Croker's regime.
In New York city the issue between the
| parties is clearly drawn and is the same
| upon which the municipal battle was fought
and won two years ago: The question IL,
| shall the great metropolis. with its stupen-
| dous interests, be governed by bipartisan
| reformers. intent first upon clean city ad-
ministration, or by a political organization
| and personal profit? AS every one knows,
| the opposition to Tammany is a fusion
| party. composed of republicans and reform
democrats. There are democrats and re-
| publicans upon me fusion ticket and the
| offices VIII be divided in the event Of VIC
| tory.
Fusionists at Disadvantage.
The fusion forces are laboring under one
| disadvantage In this campaign which did
| not confront them two years ago; there
| are not so many elements of democracy
| fighting under their banner now as then.
Some of the Independent democratic organ
izations which supported fusion two years
| ago are now allied with Tammany. Their
| excuse is that this election furnishes an
| opportunity for the democratic party to get
| together for the national and state cam
| paign a year hence.
1t is the dirtiest campaign New York has
| seen in years and promises to grow worse
| in that respect. Personal animosities are
| rampant. Every night there are fights and
| conflicts between warning factions. and be-
| fore election day comes 1t would not be
| surprising II there should be grave riots.
The fusionists do not mince words in
! characterizlng their political opponents.
| Across the main streets are banners su IN
| as this: Thieves. gamblers and grafters
| will not vote for Low. For whom will you
| yoteT' Every saloon In New York is work.