Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-05
THE ELECTIONS.

The elections that have been held
through the country this week are of
more local than general significance
and yet results are interesting. New
York city elects W. J. Gaynor, form
erly supreme court justice as mayor
but named fusion board of estimate
which handles the funds of the city,
approximately a billion dollars for
the term for which they are elected.
This is bitter pill for Tammany, and
indicates that the campaign of decent
citizens for an ending of Tammany
wastefulness and extravaganza has
borne fruit. While Gaynor was sup
ported by Tammany, he is man of
independence and force, and while he
is erratic and not exactly of the jul
dicial or administrative mind, his
personal record earned him his cleo
ton, rather than the Tammany sup
port. But the voters made assurance
doubly sure by electing board of
estimate opposed to Tammany, so
there will be no opportunity for the
carrying out of any agreements that
may have been made between Cay
nor and Tammany.
The budget of the city of New York
is about half that required to run
the federal government of the United
States, and the expenditures run
some half a million dollars a day.
This would have been fat picking
for Tammany, which will have to
suck its paws for nourishment for
the next four years. The supporters
of decency, square deal and econo-
my rather than political favoritism
in the city government of the great
est city in the country ought to be
encouraged.
In Cleveland Tom Johnson who has
been mayor, from time immemorial
has been defeated. Johnson has been
a strong public character, man of
many fads and notions, who has
brought municipal ownership Of
street railroads as prominent fea-
ture of his administrations, and has
been defeated several times on a
referendum involving the control of
the railroad system. The trouble
with Johnson's system is that he did
not take into account the necessities
Oh good service as we'll as cheap SER
vice and the people have evidently
preferred good service that was bit
more expensive to cheap service that
was poor. Johnson will doubtless be
still conspicuous figure in the mu-
nicipal affairs of Cleveland, but it is
likely his political career has passed
its zenith. A practical and success
full business man, Johnson has prov
en- a good deal Of an idealist and
dreamer in civic affairs, and has met
with frequent and bitter disappoint-
ments.
The defeat of Heney in San Fran
cisco will occasion some surprise
among those not familiar with condf-
tons in the coast city. Heney, while
a vigorous prosecutor, has not en-
tirely escaped the lash of criticism,
which has perhaps been more effect
i've in San Francisco than it has been
noticeable elsewhere. The labor
unions appear again to have gained
a good foothold, even after the de-
plorable revelations regarding the
,sdepraved Schmitz and Ruef. The
matter there is entirely municipal
and the San Franeiscans are entitled
to run their own city in their own
way, inasmuch as they bear the bur-
dens of whatever disagreement
there may be. There has been a
strong machine built against Heney,
and he appears to have met the fire.
quent fate of the special prosecutor
who went out of the line of his work
into the political field. 49,
The state elections appear to have
Rad little bearing on national poll
tics. The repub1 ieans have held
their ground In various states, al
though the majoritles in Massacflu-
sets have been cut way down, due
to local traubles. and the veto OF an
eight hour law BY Governor Draper
witch aligned the labor forces large