The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-17
New York a Christian City.

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 ''Is New York a Christian city?" I
 What do you mean7" replied the mayor, rather surprised.
 T mean that many people who live back in the country think this place sink of iniquity--a sort of Hades with the lid of" believe the people here are as good as they are on the average anywhere Tn the United States" replied Mayor Mo Cleifan. We have more than thou sand churches, synagogues and cathe drals. Our people are church-goers and we observe the Sabbath better. perhaps, than any other large city of the world. Yes. we are, Christian city In the broad est sense. We believe In things. We don't all believe the same way, but we do believe in something, and on the whole think we are up to the average as regards personal and municipal mor- l aiity''
 The Grafters and Boodlers. Speaking of municipal morality, your honor. how about the grafters and bood- lers? Is not New York city overrun with them?" 4Nt
 If it is," replied the mayor. "I have not seen them. .They have not shown their hands since I came into ofnce. But, your honor you certainly have | large number of the criminal classes here. Are there not places in New York | city where a man would risk his life by going about alone at night?' 'J don't think so," said the mayor. "I should not be afraid to go anywhere in | New York alone any time of the day or night"
 l What is your ideal for New York. Mr. Mcclellan. What would you like to sec the city become?'
 That is a big question" was the re- ply. T do not deal in ideals. All can | do Is to grapple with things as they come up and settle them as far as I can. 1 want to see the city improved, and think we are steadily improving 1t. | want to see 1t made clean, healthy and | safe before trying to build up a plan by which 1t may be made beautiful. At present our chief business Is with the utilities"
 New York Gets the Cream.
 What do you think of New Workers Mir. McClellan7" asked. Some people imagine that they are little smarter than the average American in other parts of the country
 "I don't think that" replied the Mayor although there Is one thing In favor oi lsuch supposition, and that is that the best of everything comes to New York lThfs is the national center of wealth and lbusiness. and those magnets attract brains and skill from every part ot the lcountry. In that respect New York Is milking the United States. and steady lstreams of the rest ability produced hy the country are always flowing here. We get not only much of the best milk, but the very cream of the country
 What are the chances for young mer in New Yorlf7'. I. asked.
 q think they are good" replie1 t5t Mayor. The place to meke money is where the money Is. The place to do bus mess is where the most business Is. This lefty needs good young men and lots oi thNn. It has never needed them more There will always be room for the righ kind of young men in New York
 It is an American City.
 How about politics. your honor? set 1t said that New York Is opposed to thu renomination of President Roosevelt"
 T am too busy to consider politics. re. piled the young Mayor "and I don't care to discuss them. l can't see, however why New York should be singled out a, having specIsl friendships or antipa. thies different from those of the rest oi the country. In this I do not refer tC President Roosevelt nor to any man: bu to the fact that New York is often spok en of as having special individual inter ests That is not the case. Our interests are tho same as those of the rest of th' United States. We are an American city and are as anxious for the general pros Ipertty of the country as any people 1T the country. There is no place where pri vate interests reach out so far or wher' the desire for the common welfare O. the country Is so great. Within i've min utes' walk from where we are now sit ting are men who have financial inter tests. I might say, in every great under taking in the United States and in every locality. No. New York is not provincia in its interests. It is tied to every par of the Union. and 1t is for the welfare O the whole country"
 Mcclellan and the Presidency.
 Can you not give me a word or SC about the presidency, Mayor Mcclellan? ?