New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-10
Long Esehewed Politics.


In 1895 Richard Croker wanted to nouli-
nate Gaynor for Mayor of greater New
York. Mr.. Gaynor declined. In 1904.
when Parker was q candidate for Presi-
dent on the Democratic ticket. he urged
Gavnor 70 take the nomination for Gov
ernor. but the Mayor preferred to remain
on the bench. All efforts TO get the man
who had overthrown Mclaughlin and Nc
Kane TO give lip his judicial position for
active political warfare failed until the
Duffy affair.
This was a battle with General Bling
ham, then Police Commissioner. The
Mayor Won in that General Bingham gave
up his place rather than submit TO defeat.
Duffy was A Brooklyn boy. whose arrest
for certain offences. which il was alleged
he had not committed. had been followed
by ''muggtng placing of his photo
graph in the Rosues Gallery. This Mr.
Gaynor said was illegal. and that it led
TO the persecution of young Duffy. Tie
nomination for Mayor followed several
months later.
Mayor Gayuor has always declared that
his purpose was 10 make the government
of this city absolutely honest. He has
tried to root out everything that has the
sembIance Of dishonesty. and from the be-
ginning has steadily attacked the so-called
system" in the police force Bride Civ
ing has been discouraged; summons in
stead of indiscriminate arrest has been in
stituted; persons with grievances have
been invited 70 air them. with the result
that much biackmail has been checked
It was only short time before he was
shot that the Mayor wrote to person
who had expressed dissatisfaction with
the progress made in reforms: Il want
above all things TO make this government
absolutely honest if I can. In this it ts
believed the Mayor was wrapped up heart
and soul And recently he said:
Il still have matters on my desk that 7
expected to dispose of during my first
week in office l can only 90 things in
their order
In the short time that the Mayor has
filled his office he has done things in their
order" and, as expressed when criticised
for being radical. has never acted until
after careful reflection. He has been
criticised for slowness in the fight against
police corruption. This he has explained
also as progressing In its order.
Mayor Gaynor has not delegated things
that were to be done to others. He has
done them himself He has a Corporation
Counsel to aid him in getting at the legal
facts in a given situa ton. but it has been
found that the Mayor generally knows what
he can do before he hears from his official
advisers. When it came to the abolition
of the old Aqueduct Commission, which had
1heen bugbear for years. Mayor Gaynor
went about it with positiveness because he
knew what he could do. And the commits
sion. which had defied other administra-
tons, has passed into history
When he assumed office there were up
ward of $50, 600. 0OG franchise taxes due the
Citv There had been expensive litigation
over them, and there seemed to be no end
in sight. He conferred with the gas COM
ma uies and with the receivers of the street
railway companies. Everything was done
decentIv and in order. This Canker in the
city's affairs has been removed.
Economy in administration was a watch
word in all departments. including every
branch of the city government. There IS
uniformity in intention and there is uni
forn1ity In action. II is an administration
of action The economy extended to the
abolition of Joy riding" in city automo-
biles TO a reform in condemnation pro-
ceedings. innova tons in the Change of
Grade Commission resulting in a saving,
and money has also been saved in the pur-
chase of ink and mucilage.
E,e IA Waste Not Growth