New-York tribune., 1905-11-02
THE T4NN4NY P4NIC.

The last week of the campaign is closing with
Tamnany in an unmistakabe panic. The rea
son is not far to seek. Five weeks ago the Tam
many leaders looked forward to the easiest of
victories. The opposition seemed hopelessly di-
vided and Mr.. Murphy felt strong enough to
turn down. Jerome and to fost the city
ticket men like MCGOWAN and Metz. whose alb
solute subserriency to Tammany interests was
beyond question The rosy prospects of five weeks
ago began to vanish when the true issue of the
campaign became clearer. Why should the peo-
pie of NewYork vote Tammany a license for
-four years more of honest graft? Why should
they saddle themselves with four mere years of
Murphy ownership? That is the question which
the campaigns of Mr.. WINS and Mr.. Jerome have
brought home to every citizen who wants to see
end made of the system of politics for profit.
of the theory that every political leader lis
fool if lie doesn't get it,. Luled into self-confi-
dence by the failure of the fusion movement,
Tammany was not prepared for this attack, and
under it the Tammany defence has crumpied
and broken. Carried off their feet the Tam
many leaders now show their fright and their
decentralization. for within the last few days
they have resorted to tactics plainly panic
stricken as they have proved ludicrOusly inef-
fective.
The Park Row banner incident Of Tuesday
clearly illustrated the foolishness of the Wig
wan managers. Tammanys attempt to cover IT
self with the American flag, to hide its schemes
of honest graft behind pretended denuncia-
tion of anarchy in itself insult to
popular intelligence. Nothing could have been
more grotesque than attempt OH the part OF
Tammany Hall to rebuke Mr.. Hearsts candidacy
for Mayor as an assault on good government
Mr. Murphy to think it good politics to
link Mr. Hearst's name with that of President
McKinley's assassin. Do the Tammany leaders
fancy that the people of New York have no
memories? President Mckinley was assassi-
mated in September. 1901. In November. 1902,
Tammany Hall gave Mr.. Hearst a nomination
to Congress- and in 1904 it renominated and re-
elected him. He has not yet taken the oath Of
office for the second term for which Tammany
commissioned him. Why did Mr.. Murphy not
float his anarchist banners to the breezes a
year ago in the 18th Congress District in this
city? Yet having raised so amazingly foolish
an issue, the Wigwam leaders have not had the
courage TO face out the consequences a single
demonstration of popular contempt forced Mayor
Mcclellan TO repudiate the anarchy banner
and the ptiably childish attempt it represented
to divert attention from the paramount graft
no graft" issue.
Another proof of the Tammany breakdown
is Mayor McClelan's hasty abandonment of his
pet theory of partisan responsibility in munich
pal administration. This doctrine he has
preached for years with the greatest JUNCTION,
contrasting it with the doctrine of non-partisan
action in local affairs advanced by the Citizens
Union and illustrated in the movement which
led to Mayor Lows election in 1901. Mr. Nc
CIellan eulogized Van Wyck in the canvass of
1891 and declared that government was
feasible for New York City but government by
parties He put himself on the same ground as
that now taken by Durham in Philadelphia and
by every other honest CRATER" who hopes to see
the present party system perpetuated in munich
pal politics. Now the Mayor has shiftiy put
aside his lifelong principles and is making ap
peals for Republican support and for other sup
port outside the Tammany organization. The
non-partisan idea which he has so often scorned
he seeks to turn to his political profit.
This in itself is a confession that Tammany
cannot elect him. 1t is announcement that
he is beaten If the Republican vote stands firm.
It Is also an announcement that, with full and
loyal Republican support from now on, Mr.. WINS
can easily be elected.