New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-28
DIR. NIXON'S SETTLEMENT.
Comments on Mr. Grouts Proposed
Course Murphy Silent.

Lewis Nixon. FORMER leader OF IanIndny E1dA-
last night formally announced himself candi-
date for a Democratic nomination for Mayor.
Nixon will run as an independent If he is asked
Hugh Mclaughlin. threatened with political an
Inhalation by Murphy. is likely to indorse Nixon
on independent ticket.
Charles F. Murphy let II be known to his
friends last night that he had secured from
Controller Grout and President Fornes Of thu
Board Of Aldermen. who have been renominated
by the fusionists. ironclad agreement that
they will accept nomination by Tammany for
the same Offices on the Tammany ticket. Mr.
Grout would not deny it when told that Murphy
alleged an agreement existed with Murphy.
himself and Tammany.
The city convention II the Democrats on
Thursday night at Carnegie Hall Is likely to be
one Of the most memorable In the history OF the
city
Senator PIatt says that Grout and Fornes
cannot run on the Tammany ticket and main
tain their self-respect. He CONSTITUTES the ac-
ceptance of a Tammany Endorsement treach-
cry TO Mayor Low
Mayor Low. at his summer home at Rye-on-
the-Sound. was not consulted by Grout and
Fornes when they listened to Murphy's agent
who asked them to accept an Endorsement from
Tammany.
Republicans incline to the belief that Mayor
Lows chances will be greatly damaged by the
Tamrnany Endorsement OF Grout and Fornes.
Lewis Nixon's statement declaring himself
candidate for the Democratic nomination was
made last night at the Hotel Renaissance. II
is follows:
am n candidate for the Democratic nom
/ fnation for Mayor of the city of New-YOrk-
| This statement IA made with a full knOvvi-
/ edge of the uncertainties OF the Demoeratic
situation. 4 desire to make ft clear that q am
| willing 10 stand with those Democrats. how
small their number. who believe that
the Democratic party of this city should lead
and not follow i'm the forward march OF mu-
l nicipaI reform
PLANKs IN HIS PLATFORM
Mr. Nixon would not reply to any questions
intended TO draw from him a fuller exDlaua-
ton Of his attitude. but he referred 70 his
interview published in the newspapers on Sep
TENDER 8. and directed particular attention 70
the last two paragraphs Of that interview.
Mr. Nixon. In the interview Of that date.
threw a bombsheu among the Tammany Hall
leaders. criticsing the management OF Tam
many Hall during the last ten years. and de
claring that the real issues in the local cam
paign are police ''bIlckmaiT' and that mer-
cenary spirit which breeds dishonesty in the
public service
The two para graphs ne specially refers 70 are
as follows and the most important planks
in his personal platform.
IL is equally plain that subterfu&e
tricky expedient insfncerities of any de-
scriPtiOn will make "a bad ticket or n bad
policy acceptable TO the rank and aIe of the
Democracy TO the people m large.
The Democratic party Of the city has all
the issues in its favor. except these two. IL
il easily within las power to throw OF their
weight when a. makes its mind To
do Its right to dOminaney will he re-
stored soon il does There can be no
doubt of the result of campaign I'm
which the party explicitly and without
eauivOcatiOn commits itself To the reforms
w he cit has IN a
ten years.
The rest Of Mr. Nixons interview follows:
Certain highly important facts ought to be
taken into consideration By the Democratic
leaders at the outset of the municipal cam
patgn 7 am cufra s11ra that a large bodv OF
the Democratic voters already have these facts
In view, and that they are disposed to act upon
them whether the leaders do or not Wrong
conception or inadequate appreciation Of these
facts on the parI Of the Democratic leaders may
easily make the approaching campaign repeti-
ton Of the campaign Of 1901, so far as the
issues which attract nOn-partsans or indepen-
dent Democrats go
This is a year preceding a Presidential cleo
ton when Democrats and Republicans Will
naturally cling their party augnnents. That
should mean Democratic plurality Of 100000
/ in the city election. II would mean that
plurality il the Democratic electorate OF this
/ city possessed the same confidence in its cause
which it possessed. fo- instance. in 1902 when IL
| cast a plurality OF 122OOO votes for its candI-
dates in the State election.
/ The Democratic electorate OF the city has not
]
\ its cause for many years. To demonstrate this
/ fact. IL is only necessary 70 refer TO the munic-
/ ipal elections FOR the last ten years in old New
i York and Brooklyn. the two principal cities
/ united b. the charter of 1898.
/ There have been five city elections In Brook
I lyn and Manhattan in that time The Repub-
I Iicans have carried four OF them. and the Deno-
l Gratis one. The Republican Mayors were Schie--
\ on. OF Brooklyn. in 1888, strong Of old New
\ York in 1884. Wurster. OF BROOKLYN In TSo5
and Low. OF greater New-York. in 1901 The
I Democratic exception was Mayor Van Wvck
I who elected in 1897. although he received
about sixty thousand votes less than his or
I pCCcnts on the several anti-TaInrnanv ticbsfs
IL is not wise TO lay these four signal de-
\ feats and one unsatisfactory victory In a cftv
/ normally Democratic by over one hundred -bori-
sand 10 the variable conditions in the several
\ campaigns. One common cause has been AT ~
\ bottom Of all the disasters that have beTalIa1
/ the city Democracy during the last decade
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED
/ Let Us be frank about e. A maioritv or 81.
/ city voters made up their minds ten vea~s 49,,
/ that they wanted certain police and con,r,s-ctsJ
i reforms in the administration OF cifv aN,at
and they have not in any campaign si,cs 49, -.
I CgF-f ad fhaF rhaU~