The sun., 1903-11-04
In Defeat How Illustrtous.

had In the rarest degree the art OF con
oiliation and Precipitation,
& We recall that once some people WERE
conducting reputable and conspicuous
business, long established and of, perhaps
veil marked standing They employed
many men and paid them the highest
wages known in the trade and enjoyed
the reputation of being the most consid,
srate Of employers. They, however
had trouble of the now familiar kind
having resisted blackmail on the part OF
the walking delegate, instigated by an
other manufacturer. Their men went
out and they successfully replaced them
and went on with the business. Failing
to coerce them by the ordinary processes,
the union in the case had recourse to the
boycott and widespread conspiracy
was organized to destroy the business.
Mr.. Low was quick to detect the political
opportunity which the occasion present
ed. He conciliated and propitiated that
union, being at the time candidate for
the Mayoralty, and he joined in the boy
colt. He gave the conspirators who
were seeking to destroy their employers
business all the aid he possibly could.
and that aid was by no means inconsid-
efable. It must be recorded to Mr.. Lows 8
credit that he did not, rs so many un-
gracious politicians do, make any empty
promises. He delivered the goods, as
Mr.. DEvERY would put it, and, both be-
fore and after he was elected, left nothing
undone to aid in the praiseworthy work
of destroying business whose owners,
ss it happened. had conferred substantial
lavors on him.
Nothing was said about it at the time,
nor indeed since, for the reason that
then as recently it befell that the cause
of good government was represented by
Mr. Lows candidacy and it seemed better
that it should succeed rather than that a
grievance somewhat personal and pri-
vatei in its character should seek redress.
Then, too, things have changed very
much in regard to boycotts and con-
spiraoies to destroy the business of per-
sons who have incurred the hostility
Of the leaders Of the unions They par
take rather Of the nature of the higher
politics than formerly. 1t was the GUS
tom, when the Mayor of a minor city
took part in a boycott and fomented
outrage and abandoned the traditions of
his trust to aid and abet lawlessness,
to hold him up to the severest public
reprobation. Public opinion condemned
him roundly and be was visited with the
contempt and scorn Of all right-thinking
men.
II is different in these days. Any
thing is permissible, or, at least, is con-
doned, in a man who is running for Of
fee or who is candidate for reelection.
We recall when in the course of boy
colt of extraordinary virulence one of the
most reckless and desperate offenders
against the law was indicted by the
Grand Jury, convicted and sentenced to
six months in Jail. The Governor of this
State, at the request of the boycotters,
promptly pardoned him and restored
him to his lawlees career. 1t is true
that this particular Governor lost his
standing and that his political future is
nil; but the act described had nothing
to do with that result; indeed. nothing
was ever said of it; and for the same rea-
sons that prevailed in the case of Mr..
Low. The Governor was candidate
and there we're votes wanted, and letting
a. fe!on out of Jail, especially when he
was in there for so trivial thing as try
ing to ruin a mans business. was plain
sailing. At least the Governor thought
10 then and he may have continued to
think so since; but other matters which
the public looks upon more seriously
have doubtless claimed the better part
of his attention.
Such considerations us are in this way
derived lead us to share Mr. Lows sur
prise at his failure to be reelected Mr..
Low is a very good man. He is philan-
.hropist and an eminent publicist. He
was president of Columbia College, and
being before ali conscientious and
Just man, he gave the college a million
dollars and resigned. The faculty
thought it was about right. Mr.. Low
is and always has been an ideal Citizens
Union leader, born commander of men
able to impose his will upon the masse.
and upon the conventions. Nothins
could have been more masterly tina,
his passage through the Citizens Union
Torn with their natural fears and ap