The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-09
THE NEW YORK SITUATION.

At1E NEW 1ohh SIitAIEoNs
The reorganization of the New York Democ-
racy is the task to which the anti-Tammany
Democrats Of that city are now devoting their
attention. John Purroy Mitchell. the Democrat
elected mayor on an anti-Tammany ticket, does
not believe In allowing national Issues to be
declared that he win devote his time to gov
erning New York rather than to building up
the Democratic party, but there many
Democrats who supported him who will under
take the task and Mitchell a Democrat will
naturally sympathize with them.
At any rate the work is to be undertaken
and an effort Is to be made to cleanse the party
of the undesirable leaders. Whether the at
tempt will be made to destroy or to reform
Tammany has not been decided, but it is prob.
able, despite the strong opposition of the New
York World and few others, that reformation
will be decided upon In that case the most
probable successor to Murphy as the Tammany
leader is Philip Dudley Malone Malone is a
friend of President Wilson and is expected to
receive appointment to the colectorship Of the
port OF New York. resigned by Mitchell to be-
come mayor. Malone was candidate for the
place against Mitchell, but 1t appears that Presi-
dent Wilson Is good politician as most.
He named Mitchell, the logical man for the
Fusion nomination for mayor and by thus
recognizing him bore witness to his Democracy
az we'll as to his fitness and attracted to his
standard In the mayoralty fight many Demo
Gratis whom party regularity might otherwise
have kept IN the Tammany ranks. Now that
Mitchell has resigned II is possible IL not proba
bic, that Malone. the second choice will get
the plum discarded by the first successful can
didate
Should this be the case. Malone will be The
logical candidate for Murphy's place. just as
Mitchell was the logical candidate against Muir
phys selection for mayor. Senator OGorman
Malones father-in-law. Is spoken of also
possible successor to the Tammany leadership
If it should happen so an interesting situation
would be developed and family loyalty nigh
/ be injected into the contest. The results M
man would care to predict.
The entire nation is interested in the situa
tion--the Democrats because Of the effects upor
the national Democratic party and the Others
for the II New York Democrat,
is made as clean as It is aggressive. and al
worthy of confidence as It is OF respect becaus
of its strength the gain to the party in the natior
Will be incalculable. The heavy majorities il
the city viii be cut. possibly. but upstate Their
are thousands OF Independent Republicans ant
Independent Democrats. who have voted agains
Democratic candidates more because of the tain
of Tammany than for any other reason, wh
would rally to strong Democratic ticket. fire.
Of the influence Of Tammany as now con
structed What would be lost in the city, /
there should be any loss. would probably b
gained In the State. More than that the gail
without the bounds OF New York State woult
be not inconsiderable.
But whether the result would be gain o
loss for Democracy 1t would have effect IL
some ways and for that reason interest is nation
wide