New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-08
A CITY WITHOUT GRAFT
B4LTIMORES ELECTION.
Reformers Hold Balance of Poscer
Plight of the "Raisin Ring"


which on the face Of the returns elects the Demo-
cratic candidate. will b closely scanned and APP
-1ication viii he made to the courts for man
ssrnas 20 prevent the qualification OF McI-ane as
Ssevo- Throughout the primary campaign it was
contended that McLane was ineligible. because he
did no: pay taxes upon sufficient amount OF
property 20 enable him under the law TO become
candidate. II q mandamus he obtained, the effect
viii be 10 continue Mayor Hayes in Office until the
question 81 issue is settled
In the mean tine The one fact which rises above
Al others Is that the reform or Independent ele-
-nent IN the city Of Baltimore is large enough 10
hold the balance OF power. and that bosses and
their friends have little favor in the minds OF these
.7seperdents. What the nomination of Edward NJ
shepard meant TO Tanmany Hall. the choice CT
pobe-t " McI-ane siEnifiod 10 the Democratic
-rsre~ Of Baltimore. While Shepard was defeated.
w~Iane has apparently been elected. and he VIII
rsve 4 chance 70 accomplish all that Shepard
PROMISED in the or reform from the inside
The last four years have been notable in the citys
history The present Mayor. Thomas G. Hayes
has given the city what the reform element admits
- he the best administration the city has ever
had That The reformers withheld their indorse-
-nenf from Hayes in spite Of this was due 10
,-sriolls reasons among which vas the charge that
he had sought TO build up machine OF MS OWL
O.. . civ without graft was the motto Of the pres
~ Mayor, and in many important branches OF
-s-E government, notably, the charitles cohlInis-
sso- the schools and the finance department, not
d, --o-d other than praise heard from good gov
,-,-,s-r circles. His enemies accused him or nav
Ing run the city government hike country
grocery store" and the Democratic ring raised
the c~y familiar in New-York. for "a business ao-
rninistr5tiOn- -
Ta,srita his good record Mayor Hayes Will go
h. 70 private life MAY 10; but. If the municipal
-eforrners are to be believed. the cause OF sraf'
has not been helped by the change IT was me
cpirior that McLane was honest ana independent
- secured for him hundreds OF independent
votes and enabled him just TO win out AS d
rrosecutng attorney he made good record. not
o-,na-a be with that Of District Attorney FOLK OF
& Louis FOR no such conditions have existed IN
-,.7.;,-o-r a. in ST Louis For years, however.
Ne had the credit of prosecuting without fear or
favor and MICH confidence IS expressed In the tur
-ber breaking down CT the influence OF the halslh
ring" tho Crokerism OF Baltimore
Il Is Interesting moreover. 10 note 1haI l"eIe
.x;e-z a Great fndependent vote in Baltimore as
q New-York This element. which is known IN
Ne-r-Yo~k as tbs silk stocking class. claims tne
equally descriptive term Of gentleman lnde-
-e,5e7+-- here and there is every reason 10 oe-
1ieve that this vote cast heavily for Mcl1ane-
There IS no single citizen Of Baltimore peter
known as Civil Service and good government
fighter 1har Charles Joseph Bonaparte ana me
following exclusive statement made by MIN 10 me
Tribune correspondent to-day outlines the Vie"
n The result; taken by the members OF the REFORM
League and the Independents OF the city
Three conclusions may be drawn, sald MI
yso-,a..s-fe from the results Of the recent nu-
,..-.-l election: first that the independent vote
l,- suitably holds the balance Of power in Baiu-
r-,~c: second that This element is unal'erftolH
&c % The old Democratic ring and third that il
IS -early though not quite. as hostile 70 Ihe ne
.,i.o,-, .-roils politicians. Mr.. McLane was I'M
,-s-5 On the Democratic ring by necessity 10
,7,s- h owes his election Doubts were aroused
80 ,,dar-s preceding the primaries as TO his
,4.,zryo 10 be actively disagreeable 10 tne Iins'
PM 10 these doubts IS due the narrow margin OS
which he escaped defeat.
-.Afr (Icullart. the Democratic candloate lo'
,,rcxiae,,- oT he Second Branch City Council VINO
man n r.
-, .,-di;a+o or the same party for ControHeF'
araf,ls- whom not one word has been SAID W
known as organization men. which means iiiis
candidates. AS individuals, their Republican COM
,,rrftors were certainly no whit more "orInS ..
-,,s5,.ca Vol this circumstance alone caused
their defeat Mr wachter came much nearer 10
election than 1 thought he would 1hls wa IL
go measure due 10 his letter TO the Reform
League irdcrslng the principles OF sooo govern
-,a-- He WIS defeated. was sure ne "ouiu
he because many Of the Independents couIo not
he convinced by this letter 10 the '|e :.
-. -ba- he Was not spokesman who would
-,,n the city for the benefit OF the poEs oI ms
80, - elected think the outlook for reforrners
here is decidedly encouraging and fu1theI t,i,A
shat with good mana cement and proper
the Republicans ought 20 carry MAJ i0-iO
autumn ..... g..
-. ,.eesyr IF Afavor Hayes is not without us
i--eresiing phase. Despite his well known motto
"A CITY without graft" II is alleged tnat iiiS g.
Trfnis-ration was in spots decidedly OF me e
o-de police
-. -. -o5,,.es out as vain attempts TO favor
r,s friends and these and other CONSCIENTIOUS
,s.cad him outside the Endorsement OF lhe
element His party colleagues on the o'iiei
declare that ne kept 50 per cent or MS appoihle0
s. tho Republican party. and trace his urPopu-
lar,tv with mis- party 10 this Mayor hayes ue
cIsres 70 discuss The election at all =,
~, ideas on municipal questions are
l-,oun e, said he to-day. As regards the present
election. ] have not discussed and VIII not oiS-
IL" -, -. ,,ao+,on ~
Freoe,,n1 assertions made that the eiec'oi %
nfcT-sne means ahe dissolution of the notorious
Free Raisin rlng." the Democratic Ha0iilIe'
,.-t;cb has endured macy storms and mas psen
.eaus1 - dggceJes But while few Democrats
sci forth this idea, the Repuohcaii ie0
i don't believe such thing SAID Mlll1am "a
Stewart the chairman OF the rep. IN behsT OF
" Iter 10 the courts But the Democrats VIII
have little chance 70 nuliq up one branch Of the
council and can hold them up 1h fy sah. b,t
-, -, saw for me that was in II all the Lle
PsI-innore IS normally Democratic by about seer
HOos1 go ~ hundred II promises well 10th for
the election next fall and for the PresioeIiia eO
Secretary Rogers, who acted as spok KS, nb 19
McIane in his iemPoTary re- e nronise Of the
xfsxor-elert had been for honest and lnoep-il1et
,y soyernF9ne i r @no nj Of 5he baots
the factor We have TO reckon with mere IN Pai-
9l2Te ,b i 9mpire ground Of the Southern States.
which DISTINGUISHING the negro ~, " ,, ne h
i-ants who cast solid vote for any RepuoIcS,i,
Of over twenty thousand. Mcl-ane is getths reaoS
70 face his fight the courts to-day -.
while there is some regret expressed IN he =.
ijcan circles at the defeat OF Wacher there is on
1ne otber hand a general disposition 10 regard the
-esui- as good evidence that Maryland has py no
means ceased 10 belong the Republican column
in Presidentisi year with even vote IN Balti-
more the State IS safely Republican ana INC Does
tndeDendents. evidence or the cohereht