New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-02
7 ak of
City Hall

NTH reputation for regularity ana
,cith all the social graces. Apply IN
haste to the Wigwam, in East Four
teenth Street.
Tammany possesses a rough diamond
in the person of Sheriff "Al' smith,
whose regularity has been above sus-
picion. With the Sheriff party ana
principle have been synonymous these
many years. And in a bygone era OF
the worlds history, say four years ago.
CAP might have made an ideal candi-
date for Mayor, likable, capable and OF
an independent disposition. But not
since the business of feting foreign
dieni.aries became a habit with the
city.
The fact is, the city has not yet
ceased congratulatlng itself on the
aplorb with which Mayor Mitchell met
the delicate social duties thrust upon
him in the entertainment OF the rrehGn'
british and. Italian war missions. ne
vas NOT elected for his knowledge OF
etiquette and two years ago, "heh MO
fondness for the dance became some
thing 70 reproach him with, many a sign
went up from the more earnest OF the
citizenrv over his attention 10 sucn
frivolities. But such carpers have had
their lesson, and polish, the Cindereiia
of political assets, has come INTO itS
own. 20 the confusion of Sherlu A.
end. for that matter, of Frank Downing
and many another worthy whose amol-
tions have been nourished in the ram
many fold bos
On the other hand, Tammany mas
within cali a number of gentlemen Oh
adequate social attanments BAN
bridge Colby, for one whose irreeu-
larity has been the only regular ming
in their political careers. How could
she justify the exaltation OF sech
heretics? Where, on where, 70 hhu
the man of Mayorslty timber VINO com
bines the straight grain with the
proper varnish-there's the rub.
There is another disservice which
the worldwide war for democracy Is
doing for Tarmany Hall. 1t is whettinG
TIE popular appetite for real democ-
racv and linking the New York arena
with the battlefelds of France.
Tammany has become identified IN
the minds of both friend and foe with
personal government; in the one case
with the kindly, helpful and liberal
personal government of the dlstrlcs
leader. and in the other with what
Frederic R. Coudert calls the per
sonal. predatory and atavistic govern
ment" of Charles F. Murphy and the
whole hierarchy of bossism. No one
pretends that this is real democracy
Mr.. Coudert gave forth his quoted
Characterization of Tammany rule al
the meeting of the City Democracy la
Grand Central Palace Thursday night.
where a thousand Democrats Endorsed
the denomination of Mayor Mitchell.
He smoke of the shame OF returning
this type of government 70 the world
metropolis at a time when millions
were shedding their blood to stamp 1t
out. "Let US not Prussianize New
York." he pleaded.
Another speaker, Charles h. clark.
of The Bronx, developed this line OF
appeal still further, saying: Those
bows of ours in France will think thev
have made their sacrifices in vain u
we who are left at home do not pre-
serve the democracy and the instltu.
tions for which they are tghtlng.
And he added: 1--WE must make New
York democracy safe for the country"
Mr.. Murphy would have been dis
turbed could he have heard the pc
culiar frenzy with which these sentl-
ments were applauded.
But though the City Democracy mas
experienced little trouble in merging
its cause with that of the Allies, 1t has
had rather poor luck in identifying IT.
self with the National Administration.
Frank Polk, counsellor for the State
Department and guide, counsellor and
friend of the Mayor, has demonstrated
in his reasonable way with -he Mayors
Democratic friends against dragging
Washington into their quarrel. And
Chairman Martin Littleton has since
sought to give his organization a pure
" local character. In addition, how
ever, there was the unfortunate incl
dent of the Stetson letter.
Francis Lynde Stetson, counsel for
J. P. Morgan and a pillar Of the Epis-
copalian Church, is one of the men,
bers of the City Democracy whose
name figured prominently in the an
nouncement of its formation. At the
same time it was set forth that such
men represented the type of New York
Democrat who had supported the Presi-
dent in last years campaign, while
Tammany, IL was charged, was knitting
him. Whereupon some one unearthed
a letter which Mr.. Stetson had written
to Democratic state headquarters de-
clining to contribute to the Democratic
campaign fund because he was going
70 vote for Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Whit
man.
OF course Mr. Stetson, in common
with many another Democrat, was suf-
fering at the time from impotence,
impotence at the Presidents delay in
doing what he has subsequently done.
And he is undoubtedly much stancher
adherent of the President to-day than
a host of Democrats who voted for Mr..
Wilson because "he kept us out of
war" Yet to the latter must go the
credit for rejecting Mr.. Wilson, and
not to Mr.. Stetson and his kind.
It is for the President to decide
whether he prefers past votes to pres