The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-04-25
Gotham Letter


pected turn which political affairs
have taken in this state has. for the
present at least. put a decided damp
er upon the hopes and ambitions OF
Mayor Mcclellan and Tammany lead
er Murphy. That Mayor Mcclellan
had gubernatorial aspirations was
fair way of reaching his goal by us
ing the mayoralty as a convenient
and useful stepping stone. Muir
ply had even higher aims. He
did not consider it by any means i'm
possible or improbable to place Nc
Clellan in the field as a candidate for
the presidential nomination on the
democratic ticket by throwing the full
weight of the Tammany organiza ton
in the scale when the time should
come to weigh McClellan's drawing
capacity. The beautiful phantasma-
goric of McClellans presidential nom
ination vanished quite early in the
season, when the Parker sun rose
above the horizon. But there was still
the hope left to secure for the Tam
many mayor the gubernatOrial nomi-
New York, Mcclellan had undoubt-
eddy good chance. in fact the best
chance among all the candidates hith-
erto mentioned, to get the nominal
ton, and would have had no trouble
in securing it had Murphy been less
stubborn and had he shown more di-
Olomacy after his first defeat by the
Hill forces. 1t is stated on pretty
good authority that Hill was perfectly
willing to compromise things by sup
porting Mcclellan for the governor
ship. but Murphy remained unyield-
ing and continued his opposition.
Now, it is said. Hill has decided to
place District Attorney Jerome in the
field for the gubernatorial nominal
ton, AS Jerome has many friends il
New York and all over the state. and
IS considered an evcootionanv strong
man. it would not be surprising.
should he get the nomination. There
is but one possible obstacle to this
plan. the possible refusal Of Mr.. Je-
rome, to run for governor. He has
repeatedly expressed himself against
the plan of making him q candidate
for governor, and if he should adhere
to this decision, Hills plan may. after
all, come to naught. That would seem
the only chance left for Mcclellan to
get the gubernatorial nomination.
The recent collapse of a building on
Eighth avenue and Thirty-ffth street,
only few weeks after the disastrous
collapse of the unffn shed Darlington
hotel, gives additional proof Of the
act that there is something rotten
in Denamrk." The blame for the
Darlington disaster was conveniently
placed upon the contractors and
builders, and in the later case the
contractor, subcontractor and fore
mop were arrested. showing dispO-
-iti.r ~'0~a the burden of guilt
upon these I--- There is scarcely any
loubt that part Of the responsibility
ror the two accidents rests upon the
builders and contractors, probably
also upon the architects, but it seems
unjust to single out a few offenders
and let the principal offenders go free.
According to the municipal roster Of
officials there is in Greater New York
department of officials, usually
called the building department. There
is also a law. never repealed. upon
the statute book. which makes it the
duty of that department or rather of
the officials Of that department, to
discover any attempt to violate the
building laws, to prevent such viola
tons and to secure the punishment
If obstinate offenders. Unsophisti
rated citizens will probably ask, why
did the building department not Off
ciaIly interfere to prevent the gross
negligence which caused the collapse
If those two buildings? The we'll in
formed citizens. acquainted with mu
nicipal methods, will, Of course, not
ask such a question. They will know
that the building department is
scarcely more than an ornament and
that fact being well understood, is
never taken seriously by builders
contractors and architects who, for
reasons of economy, wish to violate
the building laws. A little political
pull. a little judicious greasing of the
department wheels, is all that is
necessary to secure the most gener-
Gus liberty in interpreting the laws
which were framed to protect the