New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-01
mAYOR LOWS WORK.

Mayor Low and his associates will to-day
hand orer TO their successors the affairs of a
civ better governed than it ever was before.
That is q fact which stands out above all ques-
tiols of politics. OF policy, Of popularity or OF
prejudice Il is Mr.. Lows title TO the gratitude
and respect which is really his, and which will
outlast the ephemeral discomfort and selfish
ness that resulted in his defeat If intelligent
foreign opinion apprOximates the judgment OF
posterity, then the fame Of the reform admin
istration is secure for there is not spot in the
civilized world where the Low administration is
not considered an example OF good city govern
ment and Tammany is not a symbol Of corrup-
iion. Even in Japan, where Toxic politician
got control Of the city government and estab-
nshed a corrupt machine, his countrymen called
It Tammany. They naturalized the word, and
made it a common phrase of their language.
The return of Tammany TO power is a great
disappointment to those who had hoped TO see
the progress OF the last two years continue
Tammany had four years Of unchecked power
while Mayor Low, owing to the unaccountable
faulty OF charter revision, had only two in
which 10 do his work, and had TO submit il
half finished TO popular judgment just at the
time when the disappointment OF every selfish
interest most acute. Mayor Low made
some mistakes, and he lacked some of the ele-
ments Of personal popularity, but he faced the
problems OF city administration with inteli-
gence and unselfsh devotion, and served the
city In such a way that, If the election had
turned solely On the general welfare an alb
stract proposition. there is not the slightest rea-
son 10 doubt that he would have been over
whelmingly reelected. Unfortunately. the peo-
pie Of Aew-York are not yet prepared TO take
that large and reasoned view Of municipal prob
lens, and the result is a period set TO the prog
ress that was begun two years ago
This setback reflects no discrecit on AIR Low.
IL is not mark OF the popular demand for a
better administration IN any way. II is reac-
ton. q sign OF contentment Wit. something less
good, confession OF unreadlness for the con-
ttnued trouble and self-den,al necessary to eff
Gent and honest administration. That il IS not
an advance but a reaction, is confessed by
Tammany Itself. which thinks il necessary 10
keep In check its own tendencies and in a few
conspicuous Offices place men who viii seem TO
keep things op 70 the Low standard. II the
Tammany system We're the best system il
would be introduced without concealnent or
apology Ny. McCleilans attempts 10 improve
anon II ano show that be- too prizes respecta-
bi1ty ard efficiency are tribute OF sincerest
hattery 10 NJ. Low. The virtues Of the LOW
administration were certainly unpopulsr on
Election Dag, bur they were virtues lust the
same ana IanHany admits il by seeking TO
give a passable imitation OF them
That Is hopeful sign 90 the situation. Even
Tammany IS not unmindfu Of what has haap
done A standard has been set which cyan
those who have capricously wearied OF reform
viii hereafter judge administrations by Works
have been started which must be continued
We are likely TO see period OF ehb tide in
administrative improvement. but in due time
The voters who could not endure dun steady
progress may again be ready for advance. In.
mainly moves forward with Rhythmic melton
Cnder Mayor Low the advance has been ex-
NaordinaTy. the reaction IS natural. and we can