The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-19
RACEFOR MAYORALTY ISCLOSB
QUESTION NOW WHICH SIDE is
BEST AT CAMPAIGNING.
start at the Beginning OF the Last Fort.
night Believed 10 he About Even
Considerations which Sway Votes
-I,roekIyn q Democratic Sore Spot.

,icians who VIII inquire out TINS morning,
"a their fancy or political predictions
dictate, tho probable outcome on election
dov Of the four days registration. They
will not agree and you pay your money and
take vour choice.
The purpose of this article ia to reflect
as nearly as possible the present situation,
two weeks before election day, as gathered
from conversations with all sorts Of people
IN this cosmopolitan city Of nearly 1000, 900
soul. and nearly G00,OOO voters.
That the opposing armies, one flying the
Low emblem and the other the Mcclellan
banner start pretty nearly on even terms
this morning is the opinion of conservative
mon in the two camps, Items they give
in tho general budget are: While the Low
administration has done many excellent
things, Jerome in the Dist riot Attorney
office. Woodbury. in the Street Cleaning
Department. Lederle in the Department Of
Health, Hynes in the Department OF Cor
rection, and 50 on down the list; and has
reduced taxes even with the higher real
estate assessment, yet it has made itself
unpopular in certain parts Of the city by
enforcing the city ordinances; and this
must be reckoned with on election day.
Mayor Strong enforced these city ordi-
nances in his day and met with an oppos-
ton that was one of the effective influences
that preclnded thought Of him as a candi-
date to succeed himself Yet these city
ordinances are upon the statute books,
10 he enforced for the well being Of the
vast majority Of the citizens. Tammany
administrations have always gone light"
upon the enforcement of these ordinances,
believing hat the popularity of its organiza-
ton was of more importance.
Again the Low administration has been
in power nearly two years and it has been
the estimate of political wise men for centu-
res that an administration is invariably
weaker with the people and the politicians
at the end of term Of power. Necessarily
il must make enemies. excite criticism,
pointed Office seekers.
The Germans, for another item, do not
like the Low administration, and the liquor
dealers are openly arrayed against it.
Many Germans believe that the Low admin
istratiou has been too rigid in the enforce
mNnt OF the Sunday law and the liquor
dealers insist that Mayor Low, acting in
conjunction with Gov. Oiell, violated the
pledges of 1902 in the Gubernatorill cam
paigu when he helped hoist the iiuuor tax
from $500 to LOO 1t has been a SAYING
in New York city that Tammany never
loses when the Germans are with that
organization.
Yet, on the other hand vast number
Of people including Germans, too, believe
that the Low administration has been a
decent one, free from scandal; he purchase
Of place has been done away WITH there
have been no contractors scandals, no scan
das which showed the destination of big
profits into the pockets of politca sachems;
and altogether there is healthier tone TO
the civic atmosphere. There have been
one or two measures, it is true, the result of
the appointment to office of men who, in
former days were cheek by jowl with Tam
many chieftains and who, like Richard
Croker, are in politics for their own pockets
all the time But these men are travelling
about town in the garb of responsibility,
and it is a saving that If you swear solemnlv
that you are respectable and honest most
folks will believe you.
Coming down to the parts played by po-
litical organizations in the fight the high
est praise for sagacity and industry 10
dent of the New York Republican county
committee, and upon Timothy L.. Wood
ruff, leader of the Kings county Republican
organization. Bruce and Woodruff have
done mighty little talking, but they have
put in heap of practical, intelligent work
in getting out the registration. They have
bowed politely to the decree of the Citizens
nj lka n hta nd Jat ha
named by the Citizens Union organization.
The Bruce organization and the Woodruff
organization and their coadjutors in Queens
and Richmond have graciously accepted
all suggestions advanced by the Citizens
Union rather than appear to the conserva-
tive sentiment of the city to be stumbling
blocks in the road to permanently decent
government. The Republican organiza-
tons in the city have rather leaned over
backward in this matter since they must
furnish IS per cent Of the vote for Low on
election dlv, with the result known al
ready: il Low wins, the Citizens Union
folks will reap all the glory and most OF the
Offices
This policy of complete self -enacement
has not the hearty Endorsement of ertain
republican district leaders. As a matt er
Of fact sone disapprove ST rongly Of it, and
in case Low wins want to know, in view
of the experiences of the past two years,
Wla' is 10 become OF he Republican OrRani-
2atons in Manhattan, The Bronx, Kings,
Richmond and Queens, These leaders. how
ever, who dissent from the self-ef1acement
policy do not talk out in meeting. and some
Of them have received ow-whispered as
sIrances that should Low win, the Mayor
viii he very much more liberal to the organi-
2ation than he has been hitherto.
With all the good and all the i'll that has
been said of the Low administ ration, the
minds of the voters are now believed TO be
in an exceedingly receptive state, and the
side which makes the sharpest impression
within the next two weeks will be the win
ner The 81 at ement heard on every side.
though, is summed up in these words:
II Low is pulled out Of the ditch again
Jerome will have done it,"
Now as TO the Democratic side OF the
night. McClellan's name is respectable, and
he will get the unanimous support OF the
Iammanv organization. and in business
circles it is known that he will receive the
support Of many Democrats who two years
ago voted for Low. This at atement is not
made by 1ammany leaders, but is the re-
sun Of careful inquiry. Many Of these
democrats say they voted against Tam
many two years ago in order to punish q
cliIle which had run the organizat ion int o
NE gutter; but they see no reason now for
Young for Low. They proclaim: 4Tnis is a
democratic year and we should stand by
our party" Remember this stat ement
zones from Democrats in business life, in
Ue dry goods dis riot and elsewhere.
Concerning Grolit and Fornes, some Tam
many leaders say they are to be -cut" on
ee"lon day by Tammany men, and some
are fearful that il this "cut" amounts to
much Il NAV in lure Mcclellan the head of