New-York tribune., 1905-08-02
CUTTING HITS AT MAYOR.
HELPS FUSION PL4NS.
Lack of Political Courage Ofends
Citizens Union Leader.

The chances for fusion against Tammany Hail
this fall were increased yesterday by a stsse-
mept OF r, Fulton Cutting. Chairman of ta'
Citizens Union. There has b~el a bsiis' ~
Iata that the Citizens Union inclined tow1.d
supporting Mayor Mcclellan i'm thp spproae'a.Ii.;
campaign. The Citizens Union leaders have
been reticent the subject but What was satl
rather tended to confirm the belief that ,.-r
union viewed Mayor McCleIIan's candidacy WI,
more OF less approval Mr. Cutting however. Ia
his statement. declares frankly that the Mayo
is not the type CT man the Citizens Union caiI
support this fall and that he has not The pO-
htical courage demanded
This cuts the Citizens Union squarely away
from any possible support OF Tammany Hall in
the approaching campaign. and makes the out
look for fusion much brighter. The Republican
organization is for fusion, but the Republican
leaders have been hsmpered in their efforts tow
ard fusion by the inclination on the part of Ger
tain Citizens Union leaders to support Mayor
Mcclellan. Now that this tendency is Lons
away with. 1t is considered probable that series
Of conferences between the representatives of
the Citizens Union. the Republican organization
and the other anti-Tammany organizations will
be arranged
The statement OF Mr.. Cutting was broughI
forth by the announcement OF Mr.. Jerome thax
he sought no organization support, but was the
candidate OF the people for District Attorney
Mr.. Cutting starts his statement with a refer
ence TO Mr.. Jerome's stand. and later gets
down TO the subject OF the Mayoralty contest
Mr.. Cutting says:
Mr. Jerome's statement is characteristic os
him. Back to the people always strikes a
sympathetic chord. Certainly. in the memory
OF the oldest fnhabitant no District Attorney or
the County of New-York has so well earned
the right TO ask for denomination The feature
of his official life that has particularly COM
rzrHfr h. has NfVi-
filled his duty, in entire Indifference to political
or social influence. l have known him for u
long time. and believe l enjoy his esteem. bur
l would never venture TO ask fayor OF htnn
the granting OF which In any way involved a
change In his official action.
What l do not like about his statement is his
evident desire to try To take himself out OF the
Mayoralty race i must frankly confess thar
/ have for long time cherished the hope that
| would see William Travers Jerome the Mayor
Of New-York City. There is no man who so
fOrcibIy emphasizes the Citizens Union ideal
Of administration without Spolls, f2VOritiSIn,
or political influence"
II is true that Mayor Mcclellan has filed the
Office Of Mayor with dignity and personal
honesty. He has occasionally shown a desire
to break away from the dictation of the spoils-
men. but he has left far too much undone- He
is still a victim to the fatal delusion that par
tisanshfp In municipal government is necessary
if not beneficial Moreover he has not touched
upon what I believe 10 be the fundamental vice
of partisan government in this city. I refer -
the apparent collusion between certain great
corporations and political bosses TO exploit the
people for private gain.
During the neXt-four years tho question Nf
subway development ia this city win be deter
mined large scale Unless mistaken.
during the next Mayors term one Of the m0sI
important of the gas company franchises v,if
expire. These two circumstances afford a pe-
cuiiar opportunity for sinsleheartcd service,
The next chief executive OF NeW-York sin -,e
the principal factor IN determining these issues
I do not think Mr.. Mcclellan has ths political
courage demanded If he had he would have
long ago dismissed Mr.. Oakley. J4rolne. has the
courage. as we'll as other qualities required We
do not want a Mayor to despoil the Consoda tesI
Gas Company or the transports tion coHpaufes
but we do want one who will nor let these cor
porations despoil the people. J believe that
Jerome possesses the latter qualification I'm uu-
usual degree
An evening paper on Monday night published
an interview with me in which the reporter per
m1tted himself little too much latitude in
quotation. He records me as saving Tam
many Halls wealth is derived from every fotTl
source-the thief. the thug. the gambler. etc"
I made no such allusion TO Tammany's source
OF wealth However true this might be, truSt
We have done for good with red light cam
paignS.