Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
NEW YORK MAY0RAL LTY
Contest Rapidly Approaching
Stage Of a Scrap.
BITTER PERSONALITIES
MORE INTERESTING TO GOTHAM
TIES THAN THE ISSUES.
Big Three -Cornered Fight to Get Con-
troll of the City Government
Hearst's Platform.
Special From a Stan Correspondent.

NEW YORK, October 2O.-The rnayoralty
contest is rapidly reaching the statge Of
scrap between Kilkenny cats. Outside OF
Mayor Mcclellan the other factors In tfe
campaign are eminently qualified to add to
the gayety of politics and to furnish their
quota Of combustible material for the JOY
Gus occasion The peppery and Iraseloie Mr..
Jerome, the opulent and vndictfve MI.
Hearst and that gay and clipper septua-
genarian, Judge WINS, form a trio likely to
make the New York voters sit up and take
notice for the next two weeks.
Bitter personalities are being indulged in
between Mr.. Jerome and the Tammany
leaders, and there are indications that
Judge WINS is sharpening his snickersee
to take few slashes at somebody, while
Mr. Hearst is hurting vituperations at al
most everybody In sight.
The campaign only commenced this week.
and yesterday, at this early stage of the
proceedings, it is warmed up to the point
where audiences hiss the names OF oppo-
nents. Down on the East Side the Tam
many men, resenting the appearance OF
Hearst boomers into their field greet them
IN the fashion of the Bowery, and frequent
fist fights are the order Of the day. The
Hearst barrel is very much in evidence,
and the boys are looking for fat and
prosperous season.
Hearst is Lavish.
Hearst is very lavish in his expenditures
for campaign purposes, and Is paying lib
orally all of his workers. His appearance
in Brooklyn last night was a signal for
great ovation, which had been carefully
worked up for days in advance by his
henchmen. From now on until Sunday
night before election he will speak every
night throughout Greater New York.
Personalities in this campaign are more
interesting that issues platforms. The
republican policy is merely to get control
of the city government and conduct 1t upon
conservative lines. Judge WINS talk about
municipal ownership is all tommy-rot and
calculated es7- 9ply as an OFFSET to ME-. Hearst's
WINS the difficulties that stand in the way
Of acquisition by the city of gas and street
railway franchises, and his friends are d.s-
appointed that man of his intellectual
caliber should hold out promises which he
knows cannot be fulfilled.
Mr.. Hearsts platform of municipal own
ership is the most arrant demagogery un-
der the circumstances. 1t would be easier
for camel to pass through the eye of
needle than for a tithe of Mr.. Hearst's
promises to be carried into effect. A little
consideration like that, however, does not
stop the Hearst men.
Hearst's Object.
Anyhow, Mr.. Hearst is having his fun
out of the game He is be,aboring his enc
mics, Leader Murphy of Tammany and Nc
Carran of Brooklyn, and evening some old
scores in other directions His object be-
yond this is to try to make himself power
In the state and to prevent Leader Murphy
from turning him down for nomination TO
Congress next year. Murphy has announced
that Hearst should not come back to Con-
gress, and Hearst expects to build up a
following that will enable him to run inde-
pendently of Tammany in his own con-
gressional district.
The facts about municipal ownership are
that Tammany has actually put municipal
ownership upon practical trial. The city
now operates the Staten Island ferry. and
next week will see the full inauguration un-
der municipal auspices Of one of the most
complete ferry systems in this country. The
39th street ferry is to be taken over by the
city and run in the same way. A municipal
electric-lightfng plant is in operation. and
work has been begun upon 100000
plant for lighting the streets and parks.
An effectual bar to the municipal owner
ship dreams Of Hearst and WINS is little
clause in the constitution which limits the
borrowing capacity of the municipality to
10 per cent of the total assessed valuation
of property The utmost amount the city
that would not be a drop in the bucket for
taking over the big pubiic-service fran
chises.
McClellan's Administration.
There is no outcry against Tammany
mismanagement such there was four
wears ago. Mayor McClellan's administra-
ton has been clean and effective The po-
lice department under McAdoo has been
free from scandal. The streets of Manhat-
tan are better policed than ever before.
This is demonstrated by visit to lower
Broadway in the busy hours and observa-
ton of the wonderful manner In which
the congested traffic Is handled by the po-
lice. 1t is a notable fact that cabmen and
trucksters and hucksters are grumbllng
against Tammany for regulations for which
the police hold them. Mayor McCiellan,s
conduct in the campaign is wise and judi
cious. His speeches are temperate and dig
nified.
He has made good, and even Mr.. Jerome.
who four years ago questioned young Mo
ClelIan's earnestness, has publicly apol-
ogized and has comolimented him.
There is outcry against bossism in
object of all the criticism against the sys-
tenn of bossism. Practical politicians in
New York are not looking for the millen-
MUM in politics, however, and they cannot
foresee the day when political parties In
New York will not have a boss.
Murphy and his friends undoubtedly have
profted financially from opportunities which
his position as leader of Tammany afforded
to put them In the way OF making deals.
Many New Workers look with complacency
upon this state of affairs, and are inclined
to regard 1t as inevitable under the system.
Jerome's principal charge against the
bosses is that they dictate the nomination
of candidates by which system he himself
suffered That has been the custom in New
York In both parties, and It would probably
be rather difficult to explain to the average
voter why 1t could be otherwise.
No Fear Of Hearst.
The reason why the Tammany leaders do
not fear Hearsts election is because they
In 1886, for example, the conditions were
alike Abraham Hewitt was the Tammany
candidate, Henry George the independent
candidate with new fad for an issue, and
Theodore Roosevelt, the republican candi-
date.
In New York city Hewitt led with 90,000.
Henry George followed with 6S,00O and
Roosevelt came in with 60,00O.