New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-22
NONE TOO BIG To SERVE
Il. A. Fulton Calls on Eminent Men
to Run for aldermen.

In furtherance Of It's plan of getting men Of
high principles to stand as candidates for alder
men. the Citizens Union put forth yesterday the
names of Richard Watson Glider in the Vth
Jacob H. Schin in the With and F. A. Ringler in
the XXXth districts There are other names
under consideration. Of those whose names
have already been announced. r. Fulton cut
ting and George Haven Putnam have consented
TO run. and IL is thought that the others will.
It is the aim of the fusion forces to get n
clean. working body into the City Hail. board
whose operations will not be conducted along
the lines of party politics. but in accordance
with the best interests of the city's business.
In addition to this. the placing of men of stand
ing the fusion ticket will materially
strengthen the prospect of winning. The hearth
est commentator has been expressed for this
plan by persons who desire the continuance Of
clean government and approach 10 the ideal
municipality. To have intelligent honest men
in the Board of Aldermen-men who would
give their best efforts to the transaction Of the
city's business, would be- these say. an ideal
condition. Grafters would lose their chance to
graft, while party politics could not be used TO
obstruct needed improvements.
Along this line Thomas \. Fulton, secretary
of the Citizens Union. said yesterday:
At meeting recently Of a few men from dis
tricts whence 1t hoped to obtain the nominal
non % ~ ~, III M ,r ii % iiT
present rose 10 me OCCASION WINE otners smiled
and seemed to think 1t was rather funny and Il
good joke to ask any man big in the public estma-
ton to become an alderman.
oh. the shame Of il. that things have been al
lowed to such a pass, No man is too big
70 20 ' 80 ~ naonIa FOR II Is gnIIfLe vx0rE
Let us hope that the revival Of municipal spirit
and pride in our cities will bring with IT desire
ATTEST mem to devote some Of the homo and ability
they have acquired in business or professional life
This city has served these eminent citizens well.
to serve the city and honor themselves in the doing
one OF the papers speaks Of the expectation Of
electing a number Of miInonalIes- Personally l
aatI'fa MN ht the former IS the first necsssitv
and can be found among tradesmen and working
folk just as surely as among rich tolk -,
would pick out from their own ranks their best
men and elect them to the Board OF Aldermen!
them to do it-men who would do for their fellows
what John Burns ana others nave IUi,e c IN WI
for the English workingmen.
OF Tondon!s Board Of Aldermen, There the CITY
Fathers were originally called Eldermen. and they
were that in fact Therein may be part or our
failure Because Of the indsposition Of our more
80 bs rifv land With them lies the chief and origi-
nal faulO. the office was sought and captured by
Pitions The office is probably best filled by elderly
of experience and the sagacly born Of wide
business knowledge. There is really no politics IN
it. rather the conduct Of the business OF great
A Fundamental idea Of the London. system seems
70 be that every alderman should be big enough
and canabIe enough 10 be Mayor OF the city. In
fact the office Of Lord Mayor, whose term lasts
hit one wear rotates among the members Of the
bCer5 81 each alderman. n he remains upon the
hoard in turn becomes Mayor unless he declines
the honor. OF course. this is one Of the induce
,,ents TO take the aIdermanC office.
While this system might not succeed with US. the
idea that membership in the board should seIEe
as a training ground for future MayorS. con-
callers nresidents OF the board OF the different
boroughs is a good one. An intelligent and faithful
alderman necessarily becomes somewhat tamIliar
md Annortionment and Of the various depart
of city government. the dpproprlat ions
for which all have to be passed upon by the aloer
What better training ground could there be than
this board from which to select cahdldateS TOT "
eight chief elective officers and the heads OF the
eighteen or twenty great departments II a man
has anv governmental SaSacity or political acu-
mon N would develop during his aldeTmanic term
man OF the Board OF Aldermen. and AFTER hls
mavoraItv term generally continues member OF
me onnsseS the chair: that is has been chair
man Of the board. or Lord Mayor.
r Fulton Cutting who has said that he would
run in the XVIIIth District. consented because
ne felt that the time had come 10 raise the
standard Of the Board OF Aldermen
Il chose the XVIIIth District said he yester-
dav because I was born in the XVIIItb. and
have more interests there than in any other dis
tric, save the one in which 1 live. l wouldn't
take that, because Tammany could never beat
there l was born in the XVIIIth: / went TO
school there and when I schoclboy had
my first political interest there. / used TO wear
a big blue Lincoln badge. Then. too I've been
Contip ned second pap