The Washington times., 1913-10-01
WHY ODDS ON MCALL?

They were betting to 1 on Mccall, Tammany's
candidate for mayor of New York, until day two
ago. Apparently, they we're not betting much, but
merely talking about that ratio of odds with the
intent to keep the public convinced that the fight
really was all over which is favorite method of
Tammany Latterly the odds have dropped to 10 to T.
with Mccall still at the good end. At this figure it
is said the Mitchell people have been indsposed to
take much, and insisted on longer odds.
From this distance, it is quite impossible to cal
culate why there should be odds on Mccall. As
either sporting or business proposition, it seems
as ii the preponderance Of chances certainly must be
in favor of the fusion nominee.
Tammany is making desperate struggle to gain
absolute control in both State and city. Will not
New York fear such a result?'
Mccall must carry the handicap Of Tammany's
presumed responsibility for the partnership of police
and vice that horried city and country with the expo
sures following the Rosenthal murder Can that fail
to weaken him?
The fusion of Republican, decent Democratic, and
Bull Moose organizations in opposition to Tammany
is, on the surface at least, well-nigh perfect.
Mitchell is the candidate of this fusion; and he is
also the candidate of the Democratic national Admin
istraton; its personal choice. Is possible that this
will fail to bring distinct increment of strength
to him?
William Suzer has powerful personal following
right in the heart of the East Side Tammany strong
hold. Tammany is right now crucifying Sulzer. Can
that crucifxion fail to cost Tammanys candidate a
considerable part Of the normal Tammany vote in
those districts where Sulzer has long been idol?
Throughout the whole State, the assault on Sulzer
has been intensely unpopular with the better elements
of the people. Thousands even among the adherents
of Tammany have confessed the conviction that it'll
was mistake and worse. Will this state Of facts
fail to cost the Democratic candidate for mayor
considerable strength?
New York city has been growing out of Tammany's
bounds in recent time. The outlying boroughs are
pretty independent of the Wigwam. Right now is
their last chance to save their independence, and
they know it. Will they fail to appreciate that fact
The Tammany contract-graft scandals upstate
have become about the worst New York has known
since the days of Tweed Everybody knows the facts
in general way. Will that strengthen Tammany in
its fight for complete control of the city?
The new subway system is to be built within the !
term of the next mayor. If Tammany controls, it
means that the Tammany contractor politicians will
make vast fortunes of swag out of the graft Is New
York, with its eyes open, going to plunge into that
mess?
Surveying the entire ground it is impossible at
this distance, to find the elements hat justify giving
odds on Mccall. If we were fixing up some dope
on the campaign, would insist on knowing exactly
the effect of the present registration and election
laws on Tammanys traditional policy of stealing the
election when necessary. The story circuates per-
sistently in political Washington that 1ammanys
insistence getting Suzer out of the governorship
was inspired by its purpose to get the election
machinery where it could be safely used to steal this
election. Nobody in New York seems to have thought
of that view, and perhaps political Washington is
wrong; but we guess it is not.
Bogus registration, repeating, and manipulation
Of the count are commonly credited in New York with
being good for about $4,000 votes to Tammany when
necessary; that is, if the city is honestly anti Tam
many by $4,000, the Wigwam feels able, easily and
safely to skin its ticket through safely by the process
of stealing But it is rumored that under the new
laws this larceny proposition is going to be harder
than ever. |