New-York tribune., 1909-09-13
4 CAMPAIGN WITHOUT E6CITEME.

Present indications are that the coming
municipal campaign Will differ from recent To-
cal political contests 10y reason Of its lack of the
element OF. excitement that has characterized
most OF them. The campaign Of 1897 evoked
a considerable degree Of public feeling because
of the general indignation az the Republican
organizations refusal to come to the support
OF Mr.. Low. -Four years later a revolt of the
public conscience at the red light revelations
and Mr. Jerome's effectiveness on the stump
worked the people UP To what was then an
almost unprecedented state Of excitement.
This was followed two years later by the Nc
Clelan-Low campaign. a quiet one, and the
only quiet one in recent years. In 1905 public
feeling was again al the boiling point. The
people were aroused by months OF investiga-
tion into insurance companies and by dis
closures of the relations between the politicians
and all that was worst in business life. In
that mood the independent candidates. of Je-
rome and Hearst appealed TO them in an un-
foreseen degree and the campaign developed
an intensity of feeling that amounted almost
10 public hysteTis.
Recent experiences have caused every one 10
associate considerable emotional stir with
city campaign, and il has been evident that
political managers were on the watch for some
incident or some vibrant personality 10 arouse
the excitement once more An episode of
few weeks ago was studied with interest for
its possible bearing on the campaign, hut the
rippIes if stirred died away long before issues
could shape themselves and candidates. could
be seriously discussed. As n provocative of
wave of feeling that would last during the
campaign it was premature. There was i'm
sight one figure that might have proved the
stormy petrol of 1909. and the manPuvres of
Tammany Hail. playing upon the motives Of
ambition and self interest, IN remove that
figure from the stage have been interesting and
instructive to observe Apparently they have
been successful. There are left neither issues
nor candidates that are likely TO move the
depths as they were moved in 1901 or in 1909.
The anti-Tammany candidates now being most
seriously discussed are excellent men, who are
doubtless qualified to fill the office Of Mayor
with credit, hut they are not the kind of men
| to evoke an Outburst of public excitement The
ant-Tammany issues are strong. but they are
not the kind to awake public passion That. at
least, is the apparent situation to-day. A
change is always possible and an unexpected
development might give TO the coming cani-
! paign something of the fervOr Of that Of four
years ago; but of such a situation there is at
present no indication
| But those who have good government In the
city at heart should not regret the probability
administration will not he settled at fever
heat. If the anti-Tammany cause IS to make
| any permanent advance. il must reach the
point where it can appeal successfully 10 the
! reason and conscience Of the public and not
merely to its passions. If we can beat Tam
many only when the public is intensely aroused.
| progress toward better things will be fitful and
! spasmOdlc Some time or other il will he pos
/ sible to commend decent and efficient govern
ment to the suffrages of the citizens of New
York without having to tear passion 10 tatters.
! and II will not do 10 despair of the coming of
1 that time after the manner of some excellent
persons who regret that they have no Peter
/ the Hermit IN lead the crusade this fall Con-
ditions increasingly favor that possibility. In
dependence in voting is growing habit. The
| character of the population Is changing. and
[ Tammany's hold upon new elements is not so
strong as il used N he. Other influences than
1 Tammany reach sections OF the people that
! IL alone used 10 reach. The American standa rd
Of city government is steadily improving. All
/ these ere factors TO be taken into cOnsideTa-
/ tiOn. One verdict against Tammany Hall rem
dered i'm cold blood would he worth a dozen
rendered IN fever heat