New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-12
William j. Gaynor.

In estimating the public character and services OF
William j. GaynOr The Tribune is in no way en-
barrassed by the comments which it has made upon
certain unfortunate features of his administration
or upon his eccentric project of seeking reelection as
an anti-fusion, amt Tammany' candidate One has
always had to reckon in Mr.. Gaynors case with an
exceedingly complex and vivid personality He was
compounded of virtues and frailties to a greater
extent than most men are, and was less reluctant
than most other men to give free rein TO his indl
viduality. There was in his nature streak Of
contrarneSs which often led him to exaggerate MS
less attractive qualities and to try TO elevate MS
defects into virtues through intellectual sophiStTy
or mere audacity. He loved controversy ana WAS
generally as much at home in one whether he
flung himself into il from the right side or from
the wrong side
At times il seemed as if the Mayor reveed IN
sort of intellectual duaism He was a student ana
philosopher a friend of humanity and progress ana
Of the plodding practical work which must be Done
I'm order to make progress possible. Yet again. MS
philosophy became almost Skeptical. lie enrageu
the miIitants in the fight for betterment by owen
Ing on the fact that evil was of such ancient
origin and had been long tolerated in the scnee
Of human existence that haste TO externihate 1t
was a sign of unphosophcal impatence 10 thoSe
who wanted quick results in regeneration lie WAS
prone at the unpsychological moment merely 10 rec
ommend the study of st. Augustine and Lecky.
II was this duality in his nature which crippled
him MS a political leader He was willing to tolerate
evil and TO bargain with il, and his spes or virtue
and lassitude corresponded too openly with his own
homes of Wrestling good out of evil His WiIlnS-
ness TO defend bad causes, to minimize ana cover
m police corruption TO wear the livery OF Murphy
as election time drew near and to create dlsco'u
in the camp of Murphys natural enemies Goudeu'
if If could not wholly obscure, the substantial
work for progress and good government when ne
accomplished in those longer Intervals Wheh h'S
better self stood revealed and his large capacities
were devoted exclusively to the public service
Mr. Gaynor was his own master III what ne ulu'
and no boSsS puppet. His administration Darrlhs
his strange defence of police corruption showed a
marked advance in efficiency on that OF any OIL Ms
rocort nredecessors The intensely human quality
Of his thought and speech, his felicity as writer
and talker his picturesque assumption or the mantle
of the sage and philosopher, even his lmpuSNe
obuse Of the critics who made merry at the ex-
pepse Of his foblcS-these all gave him hold on
the public which few other leaders in local affairs
have ever enjoyed and opened to him an eXcep-
ilonaI field Of opportunity. That he did not 20
further in that field and thus justify the hopes
which his first two years in the Mayors once
created is a matter Of sincere regret.
Yet with all allowance made for his faings ana
alterations he accomplished much. He was real
man. if not a really great one, and he will be re-
membered as having restored the Mayoralty to
some measure of its true dignity and Importance
rs an office suitable to the employment Of the best
training and talent which the community has at It's
command.