New-York tribune., 1909-12-13
THE BIG BOSS AGAIN
G4YNOR FLAYS HIN
IN NEW ROCHELLE.
Speaks of Newspapers, Too,
in Discussing Municipal
Government.

Before an audience OF from fifteen
hundred to two thousand persons at the
New Rochelle Theatre yesterday after
noon. Mayor-elect William ]. Gaynor
of New York City outlined his views on
the subject OF municipal government,
and incidentally delivered a few parting
blows az certain newspapers which. he
said, dealt unfairly with him during the
recent municipal campaign He re-
ferred. too. 10 a city boss who made
millions. went 10 Europe and recently
returned, protected by the statute OF linn
itations.
The meeting was held under the au-
spices OF the Peoples Forum, OF New
Rochelle, Of which Justice Martin ].
Keogh is the moving spirit Judge Gay
nor was chosen to open the eighth an
nual season. He was introduced by DR..
Albert z. Leonard, superintendent OF
the public schools, although Judge Gay
Tor hardly needed an introduction in
New Rochelle, as he had spoken there
for several seasons
Mr.. Gaynor talked for nearly an hour.
and the sum total Of all his arguments
was that after all was said and done
good government was largely a process
of evolution, and that II there was cor
ruption in the present management of
American cities IL was due TO the fact
that the electorate itself was not en-
tirely free from. corruption, although il
was gradually becoming more moral by
reason of its study OF the subject and
the good work which was being accom-
plished by schools. churches and other
uplifting Institutions
NOT HIGHER THAN OWN SOURCE
Water does not rise higher than its
own source said he, except now and
then when we force il up by artificial
means. And 1t is the same way with
the public You can't jack a whole
community up. except for short time
during the excitement Of a political cam
paign." He continued:
believe that We are getting better grad
ually. and will continue 10 get better grad
ualiy. with a relapse now and then some
people are always talking about the past
and telling US about the good old DAYS.
Their argument is that whatever IS oid
with Sidney Smith that We OF to-day are
the Oldest generation in the world ana
Grafton in the world
In opening his remarks Judge GaynOr
said his friend. Justice Keogh, had Sc
lected the subject OF municipal govern
uent without consulting him. and that
as usual he had accepted it. Then he
remarked that the making UP OF the gov
,ernment OF the city was very difficult
task. although a great many persons
we're inclined 70 think IL comparatively
easy. He went on to say:
First. you have get 10 get your men, and
I saw the men best fitted are men VINO
have studied TIE subject or government;
who have gone 10 the Legislature ana had
practical experience. The number OF men
Of this kind are limited, while the number
of the other kind are pracucally unIlrnlt-
ad although Young men who are now COM
ing our OF colleges have been taxing up
the subject OF late; and a!so some OF our
business men. and are studylng govern
rent and trying 70 understand II instead or
railing against IL
At this point in his discourse the judge
referred 70 the treatment he had received
AZ the hands Of the newspapers, saying
that a free press was a great thing. but
that a sensational press was miserable
and bad fer the whole community. He
continued:
They have said a great many things
about me-how Justly leave you 10 Judge;
bur il is a fact that those who are put in
office are frequently not rlgnIly uSdteu OS
newspapers, They are hounaea ana @ouSsai 40 So
The sting Some OF the newspapers are
fair. but the less said about others the
- bs-+ar This class OF newspapers shows
mental deterioration, they tnlnk that thsy
know II all
AROI-T WATER PROJECT.
The sneaker thought that the news
pa pers could be OF real service 10 public
officials instead Of a detriment If they
would devote themselves 20 studying
pubIic questions and discussing them
without prejudice. He said that there
were many questions which confronted
his administration which he would be
glad 10 have discussed soberly by the
press. and he mentioned the question of
the Catskin water supply and the pro-
posed construction OF an aqueduct six
hundred feet under the city OF New York
as an illustration. He said il the news
papers would give him some information
about this subject. instead OF railing
( about and shouting extravaganza. he
/ would be much obliged 10 them But ne
/ added:
When you want 10 talk about such a
+ thing you don't bring in an editor. but
/ IN engineer. 10 discuss it in a proper
manner"
He went on:
This matter os water is a great question.
| and we are spending a large amount OF
money on IL. Il Is going 20 cost US Sa0O.-
Oo005 tefore we get through. I believe.
some years ago / thought II should be a
state work / thought that the state could
get an inexhaustible supply from one OF
the great lakes and then pipe IL 70 our
Z cities. from Buffalo on down, and meter
r. on and let them pay what u was worth.
Inst think OF the expense We are now un-
der OF each city in the state buying
separate watershed and maintaining it's
own piants and reservoirs II is my Opn-
I ion that tha state could erect one plant,
which would serve all OF the cities at
I less expense than We are now spending on
the Cstskiu supply OF course ] dom
state this as "a fact. as I have not gone
[ into the subject deeply enough. and stand
I subject 10 correction " wrong. Probably
/ when We have spent all OF our money II
will be too late 20 take up the idea.
Judge Gaynor then took up the sub
tect OF corruption in municipal govern
ment in this country, saying that IL had
been a long standing charge and that this
was the real cause for the present ten