New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-16
Mr. VTNgS CHALLENGE.

Mr. Ivins's letter to Mayor Mcclellan and MT
Hearst, explicitly defining his position and email
longing them TO define theirs, puts the issues Oh
the campaign squarely before the people, so tHSiI
his councillors can neither ignore nor eVade
Them Here is a man with q definite, progress
sive and at the same time thoroughly SAFE anu
sane programme He is a man of force; he is
his own master; he not only means well, DuC
he has the experience and the independence to
do well He will not be hampered by Interior
ambitions or past entanglements. He would
respond to the desires of the great body of citi-
zens for larger enjoyment Of the public prop
erty which they themselves create without IN
dulging in any of the dangerous extremes winch
Mr. Hearst and his followers would plunge to.
He would guard existing private rights and pre-
serve our established institutions without weak
" surrendering, as Mayor Mcclellan would be
forced to do TO the selfish corporate interests
which are striving to re-elect him He would
serve out his term as Mayor and not abandon
the city at the first opportunity to crafty a
higher political ambition
Mr. WINS asks his competitors, either or both
of them to meet him in joint debate. That Is
method of campaigning not much followed
here but it is highly useful where candidates
really care to give the people q fair means OF
judging them, while it is the terror of shifty
politicians, who wish TO hide their real pur-
poses and avoid responsibility for their past
deeds Mr.. Hearst we believe, makes no pre-
tence to skill as an orator, and, moreover, as
his candidacy is rather one of protest than Of
expectancy, there will be no surprise if he de-
clnes to debate Mayor Mcclellan, however, IS
an accomplished public speaker, and, as the con-
test plainly lies between him and Mr.. WINS, it
is difficult to see how he can afford TO refuse
the invitation or fail to meet frankly the issues
raised by his rival
Can Mr. Mcclellan promise to conduct the
citys business independent Of partisan con
siderations, and on his own responsibility, re
CARELESS of Murphy and McCarren and their
interests? His past shows that he cannot.
However good his Intentions from his youth up
he has been the complaisant assistant of the
Tammany bosses-first Croker and then Murphy.
VIII he effectively enforce the spirit of the
Civil Service law? The record of scandalouS
abuses in the various departments under him,
which his commission has been shown to have
tolerated, destroys any such hope The in
fluence Of Murphy and Haffen and Oakley will
continue to secure evasion Of the merit system
so long as Mr. Mcclellan is Mayor.
VIII Mr.. Mcclellan remain in Office for four
years if elected2 His silence and the proclama-
ton at Tammany meetings of MCGOWAN as
the future Mayor give answer.
Will Mr.. Mcclellan work tremendously with
the legislature to secure needed laws? The
regular Tammany game, such as Murphy's men
played with the gas bills last winter. would
make that impossible.
Will Mr. Mcclellan give US a police force
which will at once enforce law and not itself
become a lawbreaker? It's present demoralized
state under the well meaning but inefficient
McAdoo gives the measure of his powers and
desires.
VIII he solve the school problem? His utter
failure to keep his promises of two years ago,
when he arraigned Mayor Low for the very con-
ditions now existing and declared they were in
excusable, condemns him and discredits any
further pledges.
viii he dare TO face Mr.. WINS on the plat
form and answer for his conduct? Possibly he
depends on the mere brute force of corrupt
organization to keep him in power, and thinks
he afford to ignore the issues