New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-01
DISTRICT LEADERS TO TIE FRONT.


The return of Charles f. Murphy from Hot
Springs disposes of some disquieting rumors
The notion was abroad that Tammany would
Try 10 ''pander TO the better element" and that
Mr. Mcclellan would keep the district leaders
In the background. That apprehension is re-
moved 10y Mr.. Murphy, who says: 1T is all
nonsense 10 talk about keeping the district
Headers in the background. When it comes TO
appointments they should be preferred" That
VIII he good news to the district leaders and to
the thousands who regularly attend their chow
der parties They viii likewise appreciate
Mr. Murphy's tribute to them as strong re-
spectacle men," who otherwise could not have
been elected leaders. These strong. respect
able men" viii accordingly come up from their
several saloons. real estate offices" or other
places Of business and prepare 10 run the ad-
ministration after January l.
And why should they not? This is their vic
tory, and they are under no obligations to abdi-
cate. In fact, we think they are under obliga-
tons not 10 abdicate. The people Of this city
AOied by large majority 10 have Just such a
government rs they can give. The people did
not vote Cor an administration Of respected citi-
zens not connected with the organization. They
had had all they wanted for a time Of respected
citizens, and wanted a return to the well known
with the perfect understanding that he had ap-
proved the Van Wyck administration and found
In it nothing for which to apologize" Croker
and Murphy and Tim" sullivan were good
enough for him, and he just suited them. He
had always been content 10 stand for the organ
ization and its district leaders. Ii would hardly
he fair 10 the voters 10 dlsappoint the expecta-
tion that his future would be ia harmony with
his past which they cherished when they re-
stored Tam,-any government If they had
wanted something different from Tammany
government they would have retained the ex-
cellent administration OF Mayor Low. After
Mayor Lows emphatic rejection. Mr. Mcclellan
certainly has no incentive 10 pose his organiza-
ton for something different from what it is.
Moreover hypocrisy is never cOmmendabIe
Tammany is much more respectable when it
stands frankly for what il is and puts forward
for honors its typical members than when it
pretends 10 be something else and puts up a
lot Of figureheads behind whom it carries on its
Characteristic operations. On all accounts, we
are glad 10 know that the district leaders are
10 be preferred The district leaders them
selves VIII be happier The people viii more
readily see what is going on. They viii start
of better satisfied that they are getting what
they voted for. If the administration is good
they VIII know whom 10 blame. The organiza-
zion VIII not be able 10 escape condemnation by
pleading that its respectable fgureheads got
away with IL and went chasing reform ideas
The safe and proper thing is for the district
leaders, the responsible powers Of Tammany
themselves 10 take UP the work which was in
trusted 10 them. The people should not be de-
yrived of their services, and they should not be
deprived of rich people through any squeamish