New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-01
Vlgilantes Say Mitchell Defeat
Would Be a Bid for Disloyalty
Mayors Reelection Pa.
triotic Duty-Would
Influence Waiver
ing Sentiment in
Other Cities
By Charles ]. Rosebault
(Of the yipilantcs)

John Purroy Mitchell has been re-
nominated for Mayor Of New York
On the face of It that would appear
TO be fact of only slight interest 10
the country at large. But the question
is not as local as il may appear TO be.
Il is going TO have its influence upon
the municipal elections all over this
fair land for years to come. IL is
going to affect the nominations and
elections of legislators. of governor
Of Congressman, Senators-yes. even
of the President. And perhaps more
important than all Of these, it is going
TO have a decided effect upon our wag-
ing of the war.
Does this last seem far-fetched?
Just reflect q bit. Suppose that at
this crucial time another Chicago
Thompson was the official head Of the
City of New York. Or-cven worse,
the worst that could happen VIII
lam r. Hearst! Does II require much
imagination to picture the scenes of
disloyalty which would follow? The
trcacherous activities Of the Peoples
Council. the Friends Of Irish Freedom,
the Anarchists and pro-German soap
box orators. would they not flourish
like serpents' eggs under a favorlng
sun? Would Uncle Sans uniform be
greeted with huzzahs or insults in the
highways and byways. If a majority of
New York's citizens favored a Hearst
or a Murphy as against a Mitchell?
Would the city be putting its mag
nificent energies into supporting the
government, the Liberty Loan and en-
couraging the soldier boys under a
Hearst or Tammany administration?
Look at their records in the war 70
date. and then at MitchePs.
To get back TO the political influence
throughout the country. There Will be
elections as there will he deaths and
marriages after the war-presuming
that we are going 20 put our backs
into that emergency affair and WIN II;
if we don't, of course the Kaiser Will
regulate all that. Hence anything
that is going to have lasting political
influence calls for serious considera-
ton.
Shackle Political Progress
Why will Mitchels reelection or de-
feat have such an influence? To an
swer that question IL is only necessary
10 point out that turning down the man
who has made good who has trans
formed corrupt and despotic police
into model public servant, who has
originated and put into effect scores Of
great reforms, who has increased Per
sonal freedom while restraining the
license of the vicious, who in a word,
has made New York City a model Of
municipal efficiency, Of which its citi-
zens can be justly proud would be
blow to political progress which could
not be overcome in a generation.
We Americans have been advancing
in practical politics as well as in our
political ideals for some years. More
and more high-minded, unselfsh men
of the Mitchell kind have been going
into public life and competing for the
distinction Of serving their country.
Always these must begin in their
neighborhoods. where they are known.
The Board Of Aldermen and the munich
pal offices must be their training school
for higher service.
So our progress in political educa-