The Washington times., 1905-10-24
NEW YORK FIGHT
MARKED BY CHAOS
No One Can Name the Next
Mayor.
TAMMANY'S LIFE STRUGGLE
Hearst's Surprising Strength Upsets
Calculations of Wisest Followers
of Politics.

NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-Politics holds
the center of the stage these days. and
Will for the next two weeks The situa-
tion in this city is sufficient to arouse
the interest of the most hardened nom
voter The entrance OF William RAN
dolph Hearst and municipal ownership
into the campaign has caused such
rattling of the dry bones and such an
upsetting Of the plans and ideas of the
political machinists as has not been
seen here for q score of years The
Herald, independent in politics, sums
up the situation succinctly and correctly
as follows:
Like George Campaign.
Complete party chaos marks the mu-
nicipal campaign now in full swing. A
situation exists two weeks before the
election which is in many respects iden-
tical with that which prevailed in New
York city in 1856. Then the late Henry
George, the author OF Progress and
Poverty carried the single tax idea
through the city like a flaming torch,
and the night before election practically
everybody was convinced that Mr..
George would be the next mayor 1t
would De difncult for any man today 10
convince any considerable number of
1900 the total vote of any of the nomi-
nees for mayor, or whether Jerome will
be an important factor or who will
carry the borough of Brooklyn.
Tammany Uncertain.
Think Of II. The vote of William R.
Hearst, who Is running for an idea and
without party, is variously estimated
by prominent members of Tammany
Hall. whose figures have been accurate
In the past, at between 1900 and lS0, 900.
This shows the uncertainty of the Tam
many mind.
The municipal ownership candidacy
OF Mr. Hearst, aided as II is by anger
against men who have misused wealth
and against both political machines,
has created a remarkable situation, and
that is why II is necessary to bark back
nineteen years to find anything ap-
preaching it. Polls. straw votes, can
vases, all show a tendency on the part
OF the workingmen-clerks. laborers,
street car employees. printers, mechanics,
draymen, and porters-to vote for
Hearst 1t has become a sort OF craze"
That Is the situation. There is
land. and it is not confined to manual
workmen- Clergymen. lawyers, doctors
and merchants are affected. and the wo-
Insr OF the city have Joined I'm by form
hsue
Life Struggle.
Tammany today is struggling for its
life. The contest means either victory
and supreme power, or terrible defeat
and the dissolution of the great Demo-
cratic machine which has so long been
dominant
II Mcclellan is elected, he will be
Presidential possibility, perhaps the
next governor OF New York If, near
the close OF the campaign. the Repub-
Leans see that Mcclellan will beat both
Hearst and WINS. they may vote every
Republican they can for Hearst thus
hoping 10 break Taminany's strength.
ana pc repaid by seeing Tammany shat
tered for years to come.
Although the redoubtable Murphy has
instructed his henchmen TO get busy II
Is not thought he seriously fears Hearst
lammany works in a wonderfully effec-
i've way. 1t can marshal the most
astote politicians and the strongest ward
bosses; II has almost unlimited means; /;
II does not believe Hearst can take away
its voters in sufficient numbers to oc-
caSlon GneasineSS.
Hearst Is reaping the rewards OF the
years he has sent posing as the savior
ana helper of the poor classes.
Odds Dwindle.
1t Is fact that Of late the odds on
Mcclellan have dwindled SURPRISINGLY
but this can be explained by the slight
Feeling that the Republicans may. at
the last moment, turn to Hearst to
down Tammany.
Nevertheless. WINS gives no intimation
OF such an intention now. He Is claim
ing the Republicans will stick oy him
and that Hearst will split the Democrat
ic vote. while WINS walks out of f.
polls with the largest vote to his credit.
From all this. the Importance of
Hearsts part is evident. With the pos
sibility of his election too remote TO be
as yet seriously considered. he may be
the instrument by which Tammany Will
be shattered TO flinders, or he may he
the weight which will let the Republi-
cans out with only slight defeat and a
many.
The odds on Mayor McClellan's elec-
Ton, which week ago were ten to
fOQaV df0nrad -.