New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-26
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Poor Nj G-cut. HIS lack q faira "a human
nature Is likely soon % exceed even rs own
account % e. N. Maxwell il s0l-s ~ Mr.
lSruut's 6sr-uS- kEs been almost unanimously
reelected S-pe-.1-ec1s1r e SclociA The CON
rIttee u tie B1a-t q Etl-zuon appointed @
consider lis Suggestions Ter economy has Pre-
scented q report which noc merely dlsapprUves
his recO-ue-taIc1s. a. Vas perhaps % be
expected bGt completely riddles them, and
shows that some % them are made "a apparent
ignorance Of TIE charter. Then TIE Mayor has
spoken lightly q what Re understood 10 BE NJ.
Grours i5eas q German and physical culture.
and 70 cap the climax. declares Ia favor q
The BIZ allowing the Board q Estimate 70 re-
open the budget and vote more money 70 the
Board q E5ucat-oa NJ. Grout OF hearing the
news. sent forth from Albany. where lie was
log-oIIing against DR.. Maxwell. this wall about
the Mayor. with ny investigations and re-
ports stu unfinished, be chooses 70 adopt on
"tLis subject TIE views and measures OF the
Board OF Education" Worse yet when the
Mayors attention was called 20 Mr.. Grout's
statement be made no comments, but "smiled
pleasantly"
Mr.. Grout never smiles pleasantly" but he IS
acute enough 70 understand the meaning OF the
Mayors pleasant smile and the incidents lead
ing up 10 Il He probably understands that Il
Is Just q little pleasant preliminary 20 the
Tammany machine running over him. Mr..
Grout has been doing too much business on his
own account He has that habit. He was a
trusted shepardite IN 1895, but found it sud
denly convenient TO do business on his own &C
count with the regular Democracy, and became
Its candidate for Mayor before his associates
knew he had deserted them. He went into bust
ness on bis own account IN 1901, after having
enjoyed Tsmmany favor as Borough President
for four years, and during the Low admins
traton he generally played a lone hand. That
was accepted b. reformers as reasonably IN
harmony with their ideas Of indIvidualism and
independence, and, on the supposition that he
was stiI IN spirit true to their cause and 20
Mayor Low, they renominated him, only % dis
cover that he had again gone into business on
his own account, and was ready 20 give Tam
many the mayoralty 20 make sure Of being Con-
troIer himself
Since the beginning OF the year he has been
exceedingly active In criticism and suggestion,
but somehow or other be has not seemed TO
have the Mayors ear. Mr. Mcclellan at the
Board OF Estimate meetings sides into the far
corner OF his big chair from the Controller,
turns down the Controllers printer OF The City
Record" and treats with contempt his efforts
to boss the Board OF Education And naturally.
Mr.. Grout was all well enough as a political
tool for an occasion. He was useful in break
ing down the power Of Mclaughlin and bring
ing trouble 10 the fusonists. But Tammany has
no notion OF making Mr.. Grout the directing
genius OF the administration. II knows him.
It's estimate OF human nature is as cynical as
his own. and II does not forget that a man who
viii betray others TO Il will. when opportunity
offers betray Il 20 others. The Tammany sys-
TEN has no place for an avowed free lance. so
Mr.. Grout though holding Office by the favor
OF Tammany, Is carefully kept subordinate and
from time TO time made 70 understand that his
opinions and wishes are OF no consequence. 1t
is not a comfortable position for a man so fond
Of the centre OF the stage as Mr.. Grout but
II Is the one he might have foreseen for him
self