New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-02
The Old Familiar Issue.

is single issue. III Is not disguised oe-
cause Tammany Hall has nominated for
District Attorney an amiable and respecta-
bic Democrat of irreproachable record and
for Sheriff the ablest and most attractive
young man in the political life of the town.
Invariably machines, when they have
long been out Of power or while in power
feel their hold weakening nominate good
men for Office. Croker nominated Ed
ward NJ. Shepard in 1901. Murphy named
James w. Osborne in 1905. Yet neither
in 1901 nor in 1905 were the people of
this town deceived. They recognized the
issue was Croker. not Shepard; Murphy,
not Osborne.
Now, after fifteen years, there is real
danger that the District Attorneys of
flee may re urn to Tammany Hall. There
is obvious peril that the Sheriff's office
may be made base of supplies for Tam
many district leaders and fruitful
source of ammunition for the next mu-
nicipal campaign.
This is the old story over again. The
public has its spasms of activity and in
djgnation. A majority of the voters become
angry at the boss, their sense Of decency
is shocked by the things which follow an
alliance between politicians and promot-
ers Of crime. In their wrath they strike
with force and with effectiveness. The
boss is banished, the evils are Temporal
rily abolished.
But after the moment of activity the
people get tired. They go back to their
old indifference. they forget. and forget
TIM lose all interest. The boss on his
part never forgets. He never loses in
terest He has no other interest. Pres
emily he perceives that popular resent
ment has abated. that it is safe to come
out again. to begin again, and he begins.
1t is only two years ago that this
town was in the throes of municipal
campaign in which the rightful denun-
citation of Tammany and all its works
filled the press and echoed from the pull
pit. But to-day the Citizens Union has
Endorsed Murphy's candidate for Sheriff,
and non-partisan applause for MurphyS
candidate for District Attorney is COM
mon enough.
II Murphy wins this election his posi-
ton will be secure. Two years ago it
seemed certain that he would have to go,
that his stupidity quite as much as his
other weaknesses had doomed him. But
he hung on, and now public which has
forgotten his past seems about to insure
his future.
There never was but one way TO defeat
Tammany Hall. 1t could not be done by
one successful campaign or by three.
But nothing was more certain than that
if the public stuck to the job the end
would be the elimination of the stupidest
and most vicious political organization in
America. The public has stuck to the
lob until the end seems within reach If
the effort be continued a few more years
But is the public willing to keep al
the job this year? Has it forgotten? Is
it ready to let Tammany back through in
difference or sheer laziness? This is the
single issue of the campaign. A Tam
many victory now will be 'vindcation'
for Murphy stepping stone to greater
success in the next municipal Election. II
will mean the loss of another chance, the
mos. promising chance in recent history
to destroy Tammany Hall.
No one should vote for Judge Swanr
or ex-Speaker Smith without perfect ap
probation Of the fact that they are, in fact
voting for Murphy. The Tammsny boss
may not be able to control Judge Swami
he will not be able to persuade ex-Speakel
Smith TO do morally or legally improper
things, but he will obtain a frmer griI
upon Tammany Hall, and Tammany Halli
future will be made more certain by thu
election of its candidates.
Murphy is this year "pandering to The
decency' of this community; the trick il
az old as politics. II frequently succeeds
II has obviously taken in the eternaly
gullible, ever ridiculous Citizens Union