The Washington times., 1913-09-11
MAYOR GAYNOR'S DEATH.

For the second time in comparatively recent years
candidate for mayor of New York city has died in
the midst of his campaign. The passing of Mayor
Gaynor, who dropped dead on the steamship Baltic
last night while on his way to the other side for a
brief rest, presents good many elements of parallel
to the case of Henry George. Each was candidate
of movement rather than party; each was a
very important figure in the contest; each died. II
may fairly be presumed, as the result Of the tre-
nendous pressure that the cares and stress of the
contest imposed.
Mayor Gaynor has been stormy petrol OF poll.
tics from the day of his entrance to the mayoralty
fight four years ago. Tammany supported him at
that time both Tammany and the greater part OF
the metropolitan press deserted him before his term
had far progressed. Yet when Tammany passed him
ever this summer and nominated Edward E. Mccall,
Gaynor was pushed into the contest by supporters
who believed he was strong with the public and he
began at once to develop remarkable hold on the
independent elements of the electorate. The fusion
movement presented its candidate John Purroy
Mitchell and seemed to have well-nigh exhausted it.
self in the struggle to name him. From the day
when all three candidates fairly before the peo-
ple Mitchell, though backed by the National Admin
istration, has appeared to be losing and Gaynor to
be gaining ground. There has been insistent de-
mand from practical elements among the anti Tam
many forces, that Mitchell withdraw and throw his
support to Gaynor, as the one possible procedure
that contained promise Of deafeatng Tammany.
Instead of Mitchell Withdrawing himself, death
now takes Mayor Gaynor out of the running. IT
leaves situation whose complications Unlimited
The mayoraly situation cannot be considered without
instant attention to its bearings at Albany where
Governor Sulzer is fighting for his lfe and more
TT I~~. d. -
should be turned over to Tamamny saved from the
tiger. That question may prove easier of solution
with one of the Anti Tammany candidates out of the
race; but again it may not
Mayor Gaynor has not been we'll man since the
day when crank shot him as he was boarding a
vessel for Europe, something like three years ago.
Nominally and outwardly he recovered but the
shock to nerves and constitution was one from which
he has suffered ever since. On the day of the great
demonstration which marked his nomination as an
Independent candidate, he appeared far from well
and vigorous. His trip to Europe was arranged Sc
cretly, in order that he might get greatly needed
rest 1t was not known to the city that he intended
such move until he actually appeared at the ships
side.
Estimates of Gaynor as mayor have varied widely.
As philosopher of public affairs he has been quite
unique. The letters which he has written on every
conceivable topic from Epictetus to subways, have
demonstrated most attractive quality of mind, and
lately have been gathered together and published
by his admirers campaign document. Full of
wisdom, whimsicalities, humor and w.t. they have
never failed to charm his antagonists with their
refreshingy individual character. They are likely to
be remembered and read long after the controver-
sizes of his administration have been forgotten. A
sample of their grim humor is worth recalling. A
notorious "Jim the Climber wanted to jump off a
skyscraper's roof with parachute. The police in
terfered and the aggrieved climber wrote the mayor,
complaining His Honor's reply was model of
terseness:
Dear Sir see no possible reason why anybody
should interfere with your jumping off tall build
ing if you like. Yours very truly, Vim. J. Gaynor
Mayor"
SANITATION IN THE ARMY