New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06
7 ak Of
City Hall

II Justice Cropsey consents to enter
the Republican primaries against Mitch
el he will be badly licked, say the
statisticians. The Republican county
organizations in Manhattan, in The
Bronx and in Richmond are solid for
the Mayor. This is not seriously dis
puted. And. according 10 the figures
of last fall. the Republican enrolment
in Manhattan is $1,000, in The Bronx
$4,000. and in Richmond 5000, or to-
tai Of 10000.
In Brooklyn it is 100000. But here
Cropsey will have arrayed against him
that portion which follows the leader
ship of Senator Calder and Commls.
sioner Kracke, who favor Mitchell. and
this represents ut least half, IL is com
puted. In Queens, where the Republi-
can enrolment is 10000. the division
is the same.
In other words. unless some other
eleventh-hour event upsets all the cal
culations, Mayor Mitchell appears as
good as nominated. with Fusion reason
ably intact behind him.
singly, and so it is with political ire
mors. Governor Whitman issues in
cisive instructions TO District Attorney
Swami in the matter of the Cruger
case, and Commissioner Jake Living
ston is emboldened to erupt in Crop
sey's interest. The two phenomena
have their origin in the same SUB
stratum of unrest where seethe he
publican ambitions, and one undoubt-
eily led to the other. Had Whitman
neglected his opportunity TO swing on
Mitchell Mr.. Livingston would have. re-
NAMED quiescent, still bidlng his time.
The Whitman outburst is considered
highly characteristic. The Governor
would like TO see an exclusively Re
publican ticket in the field for the mu-
nicipal elections, not because he be
lieyes that such a ticket could possibly
carry the city, but because II would
prevent fusion and defeat Mitchell lie
made al his influence felt within the
party last winter in favor OF the nom
ination of Martin SAKE, whom he had
appointed president of the State Tax
Commission, for Mayor. Recently nc
has cloaked his desires with the state
ment that he would indorse whatever
action the city organization determined
upon.
The Governor is intensely jealous OF
the Mayor This jealousy, which
amounts almost TO ruling passion
with him, dates back four years, when
on a hot summers night, the Fusion
Committee of 107 nominated Mitchell
over him for Mayor by vote OF 40 %
43, there being 10 absentees. whitman
felt robbed of what seemed TO him
sure thing. and he has never forgiven
Mitchell for his victory, this despite the
fact that il turned out most fortunate
" for Whitman, leaving him free 10
make the successful run for Governor
within two years. g..
During the municipal campaign, II
will be remembered, Whitman did not
lift a finger for the Fusion cause, 70
which he had previously pledged his
disinterested devotion. Instead, he &C
cepted the Tammany Endorsement for
District Attorney, which rendered HIM
a non-combatant, and at the final Fusion
rally in Madison Square Garden ne
made a speech in apology for McCall
which earned him the Kisses of the
great multitude who heard il.
And since his elevation TO the Gov
ernorship he has let few opportunities
to embarrass Mitchell slip by. Only re.
Gently, il will be recalled, he approved
the Ottinger bill. which Hearst had
fathered in his assault on MitcheFs
West Side programme, and which the
Mayor had vetoed. Incidentally. IN MS
attitude in the Cruger investigation and
in his political activity against Mltcnel
within the Republican party he IS help
ing to pay the political debt he owes
Hearst for the latter's support OF MN
against Seabury last year. Possibly ne
hopes also 70 obtain the support OF the
Hearst press next year.
But the Governor. while anxiously
knitting fusion, has unwittingly done II
a signal service. BY means OF his state
Military Census he has made II impos'
sible for Tammany 20 colonize the city
with repeaters on Election Day. This
will mean a loss 10 the Tiger. 1t has
been estimated. Of at least 10000 votes
The law requires that voter must
have been a resident Of the state for
one wear, of the county for four months
and of his election district for thirty
DAYS before Election Day. The Tam
many ringer" brought over from New
ark or some other favorite supply sta.
ton. can no longer claim residence OF
a year within New York State without
subjecting himself to arrest and i'm
prisonment for failure TO register. This
check will apply to all men between
sixteen and fifty years of age. Fol
those between twenty-one and thirty
one there will be the additional check
of Federal registration.
OF course, for those above fifty year;
of age the road to fraudulent voting
will be as clear as in normal year
Of peace. But men over fifty are not
the sort who make repeaters. They are
too old and cautious to risk imprison'
ment for a few dollars. Such an 'ad
venture is for the young and reckless
and they have been automatically
eliminated, thanks TO our Governor.
Strike Not Policeman