New-York tribune., 1909-10-09
GayNOR.s FEEBLE DEFENCE.

Justice Gaynor's friends and admirers who
are CRYING out for leadership from him Will
be paned TO see him wrlggle and twist in the
moral slough into which he has got himself. His
defence of his position in The Brooklyn Eagle
Yesterday was feeble and dsingenuous. 1t was,
in effect that he wanted to run for the mayor
atty or. perhaps, felt it his duty to run for the
mayOralty; that he could not afford to run inde-
pendently, and So therefore, was glad to get
1.-The nomination from the Democratic City Con
'ventiOn." Now, the end does not justify the
means though CYCLISTS invariably believe where
they themselves are concerned that desirable
end does justify any means. however ignoble.
And egoism probably explains why the judge
fails TO see anything indecent in an action that
shocks his friends inexpresSibly. But whether
the Justice can see ii or not, desire for Office
or the feeling of some Messianic call of duty
TO enter office does not justify the entrance into
disgraceful company and the acceptance of a
diSgraceful nomination.
Moreover. if the justice is really an indie
pendent whom Tammany has indorsed. much
TO his surprise and qualification. why didn't he
talk like one in his speech Of acceptance? Why
didn't he declare himself an Independent and a
sworn foe of the kind of politics and politicians
that have prevailed in this city of the "ms-
erable bosses and their "harlotlike tools" de-
scribed in his speech last June? Why didn't he
declare himself a Bosom of wrath who was
likely to sweep them all away? Why didn't he
say he was against every indecent nomination
and that he would call upon the people to vote
against ,the improper candidates?
His disingenuOus efforts TO make il appear
that Tammany had nothing TO do with nom
mating him and that he has no responsibility
If some one "disposeS'' II so that he stands as
the political mate Of Red Light Roesch are
painful TO witness in n of the Justices
former repute. He says that he nominated
by the Democratic City Convention" while
the alleged unfit nominations were made by the
New York County convention, ignoring the fact
that they are two names for the same thing
Tammany Hall He even goes so far as to sug-
gest that Tammany is not the dominant force
in city politics by saying:
Some newspapers over in Manhattan and
other people seem to think that the Borough
Of Manhattan is the city of New York. They
do not seem to know that this Borough of
BROOKLYN has a larger population than Manhat-
tan and nearly as large as Manhattan and The
Bronx combined.s
Could disingenuOusness go any further? The
Judge surely knows just as we'll as he knows
that Murphy controlled a majority of the dele
gates to the city convention that the population
of Manhattan is much larger than that Of
Brooklyn In 1905. when the last census was
had. the figures were: Manhattan. 2,l12.3SO
Brooklyn. 1.35S,6S6.
Justice GaynOr is not responsible for the NOM
inaton of Roesch. Sullivan and Hagan. but he
is responsible for going on the ticket with them
and for suffering them 10 be on the ticket with
him without protest. He is responsible for help
ing 10 elect scandalously unfit men instead of
fighting their election. But his responsibility one
way or other is not the main consideration. The
object of the people to-day is 10 Judge the moral
character of Mr.. Gaynor, and the circumstance
of his willingness TO stand on the same ticket
with RoeSch, Sullivan and HaGan is important
evidence regarding his character. And he can
not be judged he would like To be judged
IF | am by my past public life" he says. "ft
Ito be Mayor, what difference does il make who
nominated me-" He cannot be judged by his
past public life alone. His present enters into
the reckoning, and when that is considered it
makes no difference how loudly he swears "No
organization made and. by the Eternal
none will ever pull me down. An Organiza-
ton has already pulled him down.