The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
MEET THE BLACKMAIL ISSUE.
NIXON ADVISES TAMMANY THAT
ONLY so SHE CAN WIN.
No Tricks. Subterfuges or Insincerities
VIII Avail to Save . Bad Ticket and
. had Policy From Defeat-May De
Hint From an Available Candidate.

Hint From an Available Candidate.
Lewis Nixon, whom Richard Croker made
leader of Ta,nmany Hall for a brief and I'M
satisfactory period Unsatisfactory both to
Mr.. Nixon and the district leaders OF the
wgwam-issued statement yesterday
implying a criticism Of Leader Murphy 8
supposed policy in the coming campaign
and declaring that Tammany must have
local issues to win on and cannot hope for
victory on the mere ground that the fol-
lowing year is to be marked by State and
national elections,
Tammany was saying last night that the
statement might be looked upon as an adj
mission that Mr.. Nixon would like to run
for Mayor. 1t was suggested that he might
be able to get the backing OF Kings County
Mr.. Nixon's statement said in part;
be taken into consideration by the Demo:
cratic leaders AT the outset Of the municipal
campaign. J. am quite sure that q large
body OF the Democratic voters already have
to act upon them whether the leaders do or
not. Wrong conception or inadequate appre-
citation OF these facts on the part Of the Demo
cratic leaders may easily make the approach
ing campaign a repetition Of the campaign
Of 1901 80 far as the issues which attract nom
partsans or independent Democrats go.
election when Democrats and Republicans
will naturally cling to their party align
n!ens That should mean DEMOCRATIC
plurality Of 100000 in the city election: IL
cratic electorate of this city possessed the
same confidence in its cause which 1t pos
sessed, for instance, in 1902 when it cast
plurality Of 10000 votes for its candidates
The Democratic electorate Of the city has
not. however. possessed this essential con-
fdence in its cause for many years. 10
to refer to the municipal elections OF the
past ten years in old New York and Brook
fyn. the two principal cities united by the
There have been five city elections in
Brooklyn and Manhattan within that time.
The Republicans have carried four OF them
Law these four signal defeats and one I'M
satisfactory victory in ecity normally Demo-
cratic by 100, 900 to variable conditions in
the several campaigns. one common cause
that have befalen the city Democracy dur
ing the past decade.
Let us be frank about it,. 4 majority OF
years ago that, they wanted certain. police
and commercial reforms in the administra-
ton of city affairs and they. have not in any
campaign since been tho ina ,arty
Perhaps they have been wrong IN instances.
but their conviction has not altered,
We are moi. justified in assuming that the
convictions of the voters on matters OF city
politics will change this year because the
party pride Of Democrats lis to be appealed
to with despef5 10 Sra or s ware thas
a vote for fusion this year does not render
them ineligible to vote for Democratic Presi-
Dental electors next year.
So many thousands of these independent
Democrats who helped to defeat Mr.. Shepard
in 1901 returned to their party alegiance
in 1902 that the S DsmSeratT STATE sekss
vote the fusion ticket or the Democratic
ticket this year. according to- established
impressions on purely municipal issues.
Any calculation of results which does not
take these facts into account is OF little value.
and any preparations for the campaign
which are not made in recognition Of them
W or lost on local issues that are old enough
to have gained permanent hold on the
public mind.
in the public service. To them may, be
charged all the party's recent loss OF local
prestige, The Democracy has not been
6 ON hes been
chiefly by Democratic votes 1t must be
apparent that continued repression Of the
Democratic, spirit Of reform. which has man
lions from the party ranks. only serves to
guarantee further disaster. 1t Is equally
plain that no subterfuge or tricky eSpe-
will make bad ticket or bad policy ac-
ceptable to the rank and file of the Demoo-
racy. or to the people at large
The Democratic party of the city has all
the issues in it's favor except these two 1t
Is easily within its power to throw OF their
dead weight when It makes up its mind to
do so; Its right to .dominanGGy will be re-
no doubt of the result of any campaign In
which the party explicitly and without eouivo-
cation commits itself to tho reform for which
be 81 has four times voted in ten yeara