The Irish standard., 1907-11-23

Independents, and would be sure to
draw votes heavily from both OF the
big parties. George made an active
canvass. was powerful speaker and
writer, and created a scare among the
more conservative Republicans, so that
they stampeded to Hewitt. in order to
render Georges defeat certain. Hewitt
won, but as George evidently drew
more votes from the Democrats than
he did from the Republicans. Roosevelt
probably would have been elected II
all his party had stuck to him.
Hewitt made an excellent mayor.
but Tammany turned against him on
account of his independence. and thus
he held the office only one term. Hugh
]. Grant being chosen to succeed him.
Hewitt was mentioned afterward in
connection with the presidential nomi-
nation, but the politicians were against
him, and he never won any important
following as a. presidential possibility.
Conjecture has often busted itself in
recent years in balancing the chances.
favorable and unfavorable, which an
election as mayor of New York in 1886
would have had on Roosevelt's ambi.
ton to go higher.
Later on. as national civil service
commissioner under Harrison and
Cleveland, as head of the New York
police board and as assistant secretary
of the navy at the beginning of Nc
Kinley's first administration, he made
each of his posts conspicuous by the
value Of the work which he did in it.
1t is possible that as mayor of New
York in 1ss7-sS he might have won
sufficient national vogue to get the
presidential nomination in 1888, after
Blaine's withdrawal made Il free=for-
all race for the largest field which fig.
ured in any Republican national gath
ering. That was the year in which
Sherman led in the convention for
many ballots, but in which, after a
long contest, the candidacy went at
last to Harrison, who was fifth on the
list of aspirants at the beginning of
the balloting.
But national prominence has gone
to mayors in the past dozen years to q
degree undreamed of a little over two
decades ago. when Roosevelt was a
candidate for that ofiice Golden Rule"
Jones, for many years mayor OF To-
ledo, was for a long time supposed to
be a. man of destiny. Gov. Higgins, a
Democrat. who has several times car
ried the Republican state Of Rhode
Island for governor, began his public
career as d. mayor. He is now, since
his reelection in 1907 being mentioned
in connection with the presidential can
didacy in 1908. Brand Whitlock, the
Democratic mayor Of Toledo, who has
been reelected on the independent
ticket, is also having his name coupled
with the candidacy for tho big office
| AAoNs Sooi' LUZ ny 46I LILO ldI SC6I p0ls
sonage among the present mayors
larger even than Mcclellan Of New
York-is Tom l.. Johnson of Ohio.
Johnson has many elements Of at
tractiveness. He Is only a little over
so years OF age. he is a capitalist, has
served several years in Congress. and
as a. Democrat, he has carried the Re-
publican city of Cleveland four times
in succession for mayor. In one of
Johnson's canvasses Marcus A. Hanna
personally managed the campaign for
the Republican candidate. In his lat
est contest he defeated one of the
strongest Republicans. Congressman
Burton, in the state. a. national leader,
who had the support Of the national
administration. Mayor johnson IS be-
ing mentioned conspicuously for the
presidential candidacy, and he stands
IL chance to be a large parsonage in
the national convention.