New-York tribune., 1907-01-04
THE MAYOR AND PRACTICAL POLITICS.

THE MAYOR AND PRACTICAL POLITICS.
It really requires no very sensitive soul not
TO be able TO tolerate any relation" with the
present boss of Tammany Hall, for there IS
no more Objectionable personality among the
leaders of practical politics" Mayor McClel-
lan's statement therefore indicates no such re-
pugnance as we should like to have him show
TO Tammany Hall methods. 1t Is Tammanys
leader not Tammany's system, that he finds
offensive. Even it is. we have waited longer
than we should have had to for the Mayors
declaration of disgust. Why did he not tell
us a year ago that he found the boss intolera-
BILE? Why does his loathing not extend from
Murphy TO everything which IS Murphy s-to
the degraded system of politics for which the
boss stands and to the organization which is
stamped from top TO bottom with the ''intoler-
able" personality of the boss? The Mayor will
not have learned his lesson until he has had
his faith shaken in practical politics of the
Murphy and Tammany sort. We are glad TO
have him say that he has no candidate for
leader Of Tammany, and we hope that his de-
clared intention TO recognize and strengthen
genuine Democracy" implies no such use of
his office as he has made in the past, attempt
ing to influence primaries and purify Tam
many" There are reports. to which recent ap-
pointments In the Street Cleaning Department
and elsewhere seem TO lend color, but which we
endeavoring TO prop the genuine Democracy"
with that pillar of genuineness, Senator McCar-
rem. The good people of this town will not
look with any more favor upon Mr. McCarren
as the next friend Of the Mayor than upon
his predecessors, Murphy and Sullivan. Heads
being Topped off should be Topped off with some
wOrthier motive than the punishment Of bosses
who have proved recreant and the rewarding
OF bosses who promise to keep better faith
fr;n
grieve over his excursions into practical poll
tics. That is a field for the elected representa-
tives of the people TO tread charity Practical
politics has no justification but success. A fail
ure thereat is a dismal failure indeed. and the
Mayors failure has been painfully conspicuous
Sullivan humbugged him to- his hearts content
filling the offices Of the city with the Sullivan
clan while the Mayor fattered himself that he
was forming powerful alliance which would
make him and his friends masters Of TammaDy
Hall When Sullivan was forced out into the
open he proved TO be good Murphy man as
the best OF them. The Mayor and his political nd
Vlsers are reported 10 have bent all their efforts
for year toward relieving Tammany Of the
incubus Of Murphy, yet when vote was taken
the other day IL was found that all but two of
the 1ammany leaders were for Murphy Thus
we have the spectacle OF the Mayor in NOS
session Of the patronage for three wears and
reputed to be determined to use if To Dunisb
enemies and reward friends and of Tammanv
vlrtuously voting, unanimously with the excep
ton OF two district leaders. against the AIaVor
and the temptation of all his Offices Tam
manys rising superior TO the Tammany sDrit
In the person OF the Mayor should be enouph
to prompt him to fOrswear practical politics
forever.
Now the strengthening Of genuine Democ-
raey may be desirable purpose and the GUST
Ing OF the insufferable Murphy may be a land
able one, but ii is much more desirable and a
mulch more laudable purpose for the Mayor IN
give the city Of New York the best government
ne KNOWS how to give if That is what he was
elected 10 do and we believe he would do mora
In that way TO strengthen the genuine Democ
racy' than by all the deep laid plans of prac-
tlcal politics and the propping Of Democratic
virtue with the sustaining personality az Mr.
McCarren. The quarrel with Murphy and SuIlt
van gives TO the Mayor an opportunity such as
seldom comes TO man who owes his nomination
TO machine. He is free, with all of to-dav,s
possibilities OF political freedom He is off with
two entangling alliances. Let him entoy n
splendid political isolation" II he has anv
personal ambition any zeal for the nublic
service he will not further IT by the petty arts
of practical politics