New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-02
Mr.. GAYNOR'S ADMINISTRATIONS.

Mr.. GATNOR'S ADMINISTRATION
Mayor Gaynor begins his administra-
ton with what we believe to be the sin
cere good will OF the press and the pub
lie. As one of the newspapers which OPP
posed his election. The Tribune cordially
wishes him entire success in his efforts
TO raise the standards Of local govern
ment. In our opinion the Mayor has
been in error in his Interpretation of the
attitude of most of the newspapers which
sought to defeat him as a Tammany can
didate. His point of view was radically
different from theirs. He expressed sur
prise that 4 man with his public record
and his progressive aims in politics
should be censured for accepting the
support of the Tnmmany organization.
He held that if his own purposes We're
clean and honorable he could afford 10
welcome any votes which were offered 10
him. But his critics were even more sur
prised that a man of his character and
sympathies could form an association of
any sort with mere band OF MERGE
naries. trafiicking under the guise Of
political party.
Judge Gaynor exhibited throughout the
mayoralty campaign an ignorance of the
real nature OF Tammany which seemed
unnatural 10 voters who had become IA
miliarized with the Tigers ways through
sad experience It is true that he had
spent his active life in a part of the city
which had fought off Tammany inva-
sions. and the partial immunity which
Brooklyn had enjoyed from Tammany
tribute had perhaps made him somewhat
Indifferent to Manhattan's piled up gllev-
ances. The returns on election night
showed. however. that he had mistaken
the temper of the city toward Tammany,
the local organization in Manhattan. us
it was euphemistically called. and that
the newspapers had understood the Situa-
tion better With all his natural claims
10 the support of the progressive and IN
dependent element in the community, he
received only the normal Tammany and
straight Democratic vote. He ran lit
tie ahead Of one of his associates on the
city ticket and little behind the other.
In New York County he got fewer votes
than George F. Roesch or any other can
"Christy" Sullivan. In Kings County he
had only two thousand votes more than
the Democratic nominee for County
Clerk or the Democratic nominee for
Register.
Mr. Gaynor's misjudgment subjected
him during the campaign 10 the suspicion
that in depending for an election on
Tammany support he was creating
moral claim TO compensation which he
would have. 10 honor as Mayor. We do
not say that the suspicion was fully justi-
fed since Mr.. Gaynor probably knew as
well as Mr.. Murphy that desperation
alone dictated Tammany's choice. The
new head of the city is under no real
obligation 10 the Tammany leaders, and
the community which took alarm at the
appearance of an understanding Will be
glad TO be able 10 dismiss the idea that
one ever existed 1t will cheerfully ac-
cept Mr.. Gaynor al his earlier and worth
Ter valuation as an independent progress
siye thinker in politics and an earnest
worker for civic Improvement. His letter
Ia Thomas ]. Higgins, selected as Park
Commissioner for the Borough of The
Bronx. indicates that he intends 10 have
the city's affairs administered not for the
benefit of Office holders and office brokers.
but for the benefit of the community for
which the Office holders act as agents.
If the new Mayor lives up 10 his declara-
ton that mo political interference or in
s'fuence whatever shall hereafter be suf-
"fered in any department of the city Of
New York campaign msunderstand-
ings will quickly be cleared away. No
more promising field than our municipal
government could be found for the intel
ligent political reformer bent on substi-
tuting rule in the interest Of all for rule
at the expense of the many for the inor-
dinate profit of the few. If Mayor Gay
nor's programme involves such a substi-
tution-if it aims at breaking the hold
on the city government Of the merce-
nary broker in offices and contracts-New
York viii hail him as the prophet OF a
new dispensation. He viii have from the
beginning IFS loyal cooperation and gen
erous support.