Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
Tammany's Defeat.

New York's election yesterday demon
strated that Tammany is a minority party
in the greater city. Judge Gaynor's VIC
tory by a plurality Of about 1900 was
the only show of success which the DEM
ocratic organization made. and this in the
face Of defeat on every other municipal
ONCE on which the opposition had united
in effective fusion.
Shortly before the election Judge Gay
nor said In a public speech. according to
the news reports. that II he should be
elected mayor with an adverse board of
estimate and apportionment he would re-
fuse TO serve. He will now have an OPP
portunity to make good on that declara-
ton. for the board of estimate and APP
portionment. according to the latest re-
turns stands thirteen votes to three
against Tammany. During the four years
of the mayors term this board will have
the disbursement Of approximately a bill
lion dollars and II the men who have been
elected as fusionists to the offices COM
prising this board remain true to their
prediction pledges New York will be
given on the financial side something
like an honest government.
II Judge Gaynor does not resign the
office which has Just been voted to him
by less than a majority of the citizens
of New York he will be in rather an en-
barrassing position. He can, OF course.
repudiate his allegiance to Tammany and
stand firmly upon an independent basis
regardless of the speeches he made dur
ing the campaign. But such a course will
subject him to tremendous pressure from
the organization which rendered him the
"a M NH, 1, he ho
chief asset OF his administration. viewed
politically, is the police department. which
will be under his control. His own
patronage will be considerable. In the
light of Mayor McClellan's experience any
attempt on Judge Gaynor's part to act
independently Of the Fourteenth street
society will be fraught with the greatest
difficulties, that will have a direct bearing
upon any future political plans that the
mayor may have in mind.
Tammany's defeat in all respects short
Of the mayoralty itself is complete 1t
loses the district attorneyship In New
York county. 1t retains a majority in
the board Of aldermen by about six votes,
but loses the presidency Of that board
and the presidency Of all the boroughs.
possibly excepting Queens and Richmond,
tO8ctncr Will tne COntrOller, an or
ficer Of only slightly less Importance
than the mayor. 1t loses the sheriff,
with his large patronage. the county
clerk and the registrar. both OF whom
are dispensers of q great number Of
petty Offices and perquisites, on which
the Tammany henchmen have heretofore
been literally fed
1t is possible for New York to be given
a good and comparatively honest munich
pal government during the next four
years with this combination. A system of
checks and balances will be in force
unless the individuals who have been
voted into Office by the fusion strength
prove recreant to the trust imposed upon
them. square. fearless man in the
district attorneys office insures the en-
forcement Of the laws possibly more eff
ficientiy than under the well meaning but
cratic Jerome. New York has good rea-
son to be happy over the result Of YES
terday's voting