Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-19
Danger to the City.
New York Tribune.1

| No campaign ever revealed the dan
gers in which good municipal sovern-
nient here stands more wildly ,han the
| one mich has just ended. Several
times the efforts of the city to escape
| be defeated by the treachery and self
| ishness of petty political elidues and
their leaders, and success was only
woman the end through combination
of fortunate circumstances aud the
~:upid laundering of the Tammany
boss.
The meanest kind of politics deprived
| the city at the outset of the strongest
lavailahlt candidate for the MaXoralty.
The GaSnor candidacy Threatened d.
vision of the forces opposed To TAM
many Hall The characteristic treach-
orv of Hearst imperilled the prospects
cf an anti-Tammany Board of Esu-
mate and Apportionment. As II was,
only the overwhelming sweep Of the
revolt against Murphy prevented
Hearst from delivering an important
rart of the city government over to the
boss. He appears to have succeeded
in causing the election of one Of Muir
INV G3AGi4a lsS Aoi JuSiAt vi lily 80
IRENE Caurt-after being himself bit
ter critic of the system unde. which
Judges go hat in hand to Murphy.
And the danger of the city's being
betrayed has been greatly increased by
the class Of leaders which the Pro-
gressive party has brought forward.
We say nothing against the horest
men in that party who sincerely desire
development along progressive lines.
But they have let their party fall into
hands as dangerous TO municipal well
fare as those OF Hearst himself
4 spoiled child of politics like Bird
has all the capacity for mischief of
an unprineipled marplot like Hearst.
first operating on one side and then ON
another in the anti-Tammany war.
like a hired mercenary. as his inter
ests seem to dictate.
The city needs protection from the
birds and the Hearsts. With the break
down of the great national parties III
rl-nieipal affairs such political bush
Nshaekers have tended to multiply un-
til the American two-party system has
ceased to exist in municipal elections
and a condition like that in foreign
parliaments has grown up, where fus-
ion has to be created in order To give
any one party the majority.
TIE ignoring of national party lines
in CITY elections was desirable. The
Tribune has itself preached the need
Of it often in the past. But While 1t
has contributed much toward cleaner
and more businesslike city administra-
ton. il has also brought evils III Its
train through creating an opportunity
for the Hearsts and the Birds 10 sur
round themselves with al following
hold a seeming balance Of power and
demand their price for protecting the
city from thieves. - e
Sooner or later laws will have TO De
rs.sse,l 10 NEE. the situation created ny
these ignoble petty chieftains- HAD lht
opposition to Tammany split INTO rag
| ments this wear, as it more than once
| threatened TO do. the demandsfor suci
measures would have beer irEesistipie
Rut though the danger was aferteo' II
exiets for the future There will always
he Haarsts. There will probably be more
Birds. Some other cities zeal Win INC
kind by holding primary, in whiei
oil hut the two candidates having th'
highest number of supporters are ELM
| inatea from the Mayoralty race. ahe
tbo election is narrowed down te thesf
two Such a primary here would IN
- straightout Tammany anti
Tammany fight at each city eiection'