New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-10
7 ak of
City Hall

When the late Thomas c. Platt
fatheled in the New York Legislature
the bill which created greater New
York ne had only one object in mind
to make New York City RepuoiiGah
stronghold like Philadelphia. Inc
shrewd old bossseould foresee the graz
ual transformation of Democratic Man
haitian into q purely commercial, non
residential community like the OLD CITY
of London and the eventual polltical
ascendancy Of Republican Brooklyn. IL
was his plan that the Republican or
ganization in the greater city, as the
municipal campaigns followed one an
other, should wage relentless war on
the Democracy, taking its defeats pa
tiently, resisting all temptations to
coalesce or fuse with factions OF the
enemy until the process described
should have its effeet and the q. y. r;
should capture the city government ana
copper rivet its control.
But the younger leaders of the party
here, especially those on this side OF
the East River, have strayed from the
narrow path to power so carefully sur,
veyed by their elder statesman and
strategist. They have listened TO the
siren call of patronage; they nave
Welded to their itch to beat Iammany;
some of them have even succumoed 10
the sentimental plea for better city
government, regardless Of party ad-
vantage. They have been willing to
coalesce, in other words, with anti
Tammany Democrats to help elect
Democratic Mayor and, worst Of all, to
helm establish in the minds OF the
voters the principle of non-partlsan..
ship in municipal politics. Woe, and
again, woe! For his own comfort,
Tom" Plat died not whit too soon'
The Cropsey boom in Brooklyn Is an
effort to steer the Republican oand
wagon back into the charted course
Jacob Livingston, the Republican lead
err there, and his following have re-
ceived few material BENEFITS from
Fusion, circumstance which mas
greatly strengthened their belief IN the
wisdom Of the late Tom Platts pro-
gramme. Their remorse at straying
from the strait and narrow political
path chalked out for the organization
has been accentuated by starvation.
They seem ready now TO resume IL
regardless of the effect on Fusion, or
the almost certain defeat OF their can
didate and of the return of Tammany
to City Hall, which their step may
cause.
They have picked as their Moses in
this threatened exodus from the land
of the Egyptians a man who has oeen
described as second Gaynor, aole,
stubborn, self-sufficient and possessed
of a tongue like a darting fame, JUS
tice Cropsey is credited with indepen-
dent means, an aggressive personality
which chafes under judicial restraint,
and with desire to get back at those
who have incurred mis- displeasure.
One of the latter is F. ]. h. kracke,
Commissioner of Plant and Structure
and Republican leader of the 9th AS
sembly District in Brooklyn, in which
Justice Cropsey resides. The justice
would enjoy ousting Mr.. Kracke, and
so would Mr.. Livingston. It is through
Mr.. Kracke that Mayor Mitchell has
dispensed the few favors vouchsafed to
Brooklyn Republicans. But for this
reason it is probable that the Com
missioner has too tight a grip on ms
district to fear the enmity of these
men. unless they can destroy the
source of his patronage, which is
ingston and Cropsey would gladly sac
rifce Fusion to accomplish this one OBJ
ject.
Mr.. Cropsey has been described as
man with a mind of his own, one
whom attempts at persuasion simply
strengthen in his original resolve. If
this Is the case the failure of the
Fusion leaders TO prevail upon him to
withdraw in Mitchel's favor seems in
evitable. And another thing, the
Fusion leaders have shown him by
their pilgrimage to his chambers, in
the Brooklyn court house that they
fear him. To man of Cropsey's dis
position such triumph should act as
an incentive to further chastisement.
As the announcement of his decision
becomes imminent those who would bet
that he will not enter the Republican
primaries are asking odds.