The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1913-10-21
IAMMANY FIGHTS
TO SAVE PRESTIGE
John P. Mitchell Seemingly
Will be New York's Next
Mayor.
CAMPAIGN MUDDLED
Fusion Element Earnest in
Protest Against Old Boss
Rule.
CAMPAIGN MUDDLED

NEW YORK, Oct 21-Arc the days
or Tammany hall numbered? Is the
famous organization that brought into
being a Boss" Tweed, a Dick" Gro
ker and a Charles Francis Murphy,
about to lose political control of New
York city, where it has nestled and
grown fat these many years?
This great metropolis spends half of
its time doping" some hing. JuGt re-
Gently 1t finished doping" the worlds
series, and was all wrong as usual,
and but a short time ago the metrop-
oils was engaged in doping" the Sui
ger trial. At this moment New York
IL engaged in the fascinating occupa
ton Of doping" the political situation.
If the local politica! situation had not
changed with startling suddenness,
largely because Of the death Of Mayor
G&ynor, the mayoralty election Of next
nCgth would be more complex than
IT = oTCr now. It would have com
pared faEo"Ghly with the situation in
Mexico. whore the free and independ-
ert" CitiZenry are about to engage in
tbs toGll cf e1ecting dictator, by cour-
tesy known as q president"
Ballot PerpIexins.
AS it now is the average citizen of
New YORK. will leave his home on No
vemher with his head thrown back,
chest inflated, and saunter to the poll
ing place there to exercise his right as
an American citizen. Probably he
wont know until he gets into the
booth, just how he is going to vote. AT
ter he looks at the ballot he will be
certain that he doesn't know how he
is going to vote. A good prescription
for such cases is to close your eyes,
ErCnfhn har 10
pencil and retire gracefully to make
room for the next. Then your ballot
will be thrown out, but you will have
a feeling of duty well performed.
1t looks like John Purroy Mitchell
for mayor. 1t IS difficult to see how
Tammany is going to beat him. STILL
We have vivid recollections of other
campaigns where it appeared difficult
for Tammany to beat Fusion. But re-
sourceful old Tammany! 1t has so
many political tricks up its sleeve.
Judge Edward f. Mccall, late of the
Supreme Court, is a very admirable
gentleman in many respects. His rep
utation is good barring his associa-
tions with TammanY. But William
Sulzer had a long Tammany record
when he ran for governor, and the
people of the state Of New York
elected him with enthusiasm. Of
course, the opposition to Tammany
was not united in that instance, as it
it is in the presenet mayoralty situa-
ton.
Mitchell Probable.
The Progressives, Republicans. In
dependence Leaguers, Independent
Democrats and Gaynorites have united !
on John Purroy Mitchell for mayor.
III 1oJ &c,
only Tammany Hall and Mccall. |
Then Mitchell has the endorsement
of the National Administration. This
counts for a great deal with those
Democrats who are not directly assoc |
lated with Tammany. 1t means, in
their minds, that some Of the Federal |
patronage will be thrown the way of |
the supporters Of Mr.. Mitchell. There |
fore, Hooray, Three cheers for
Mitchell,
Beyond doubt, however. the ma |
iority of those supporting Mitchell are |
doing SO because of earnest opposition |
to Tammany. They would make Tam |
many the issue of the campaign. 1t !
is not a question of Mitchell or Mccall, |
but a question of Mitchell or Tammany. !
they assert. Like Col Roosevelt |
when the latter fought Dick" COrker !
1Of the SONtIIOISHlb vi New l oI y. !
Mitchell will try to show the people of
New York City that Charles Francis
Murphy. of Tammany Hall, is his real
onponent, and not Mccall. no matter
what the latter may s2y about beinG
,,nCer the control Of no man or organ
ization.
Endorse Mitchell.
While the lndepcndonCe League he
endorsed Mitchell and made him il
candidate for mayor it has not Cnd0r>-
ed his running mates, MCAneny and /
Prendergast, This. IndopendenCo !
Leaguers assert. is due to the failure j
OF these two men to live up to their
pledges when they were last elected .
to the borough presidency and the
controllership. respectively. They
stood with Gayn0r f0r the Tnte~-
borcneh subway, while Mitchell oppos- :
ed them
This failure Of the Indnnendencr .
league 70 endorse NCAneNy and Prer-
dergast may possibly mean that, while :
Mitchell will be elected, his ticket will J
not go in with him. It may also mean ,
that Tammany will have control Of .
the Board of Estimate, for Nitchel's /
vote cas- Mayor would count for little (
against those of several Tammany
borough presidents and a Tammany !
controller.