New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-18
I ak Of
City Hall

Now that Justice .Cropsey has effect
ed his belated retreat from an untena-
Bile position and Mr.. Murphy has chosen
candidate for Mayor dictated by
Hearst-now that the battle lines have
been definitely. established-a lassitude
has fallen upon the opposing forces in
the municipal campaign. Their gen.
erals and chiefs of staff. their field Off
GERS and company commanders have
scattered to mountains and seashore
for a taste of peace and long breath
before the onset of the conflict. All
is quiet along the political Potomac.
Outwardly this state Of somnolence
is likely to last, with few and insignifi-
cant interruptions, until after the pri-
maries on September 10 have formally
ratified the opposing tickets. Behind
the scenes, however, this will prove
period of busy preparation on. both
sides. Speaking schedules must be ar
ranged for a multiplicity Of candidates
and their supporters; an intricate
fabric of strategy must be planned to
meet all conceivable attacks and emer.
gencies. There must be division OF
the offensive function as between the
heavy artillery, the wielders OF the har-
poon and the poison gas batteries, and
a thorough training in the defensive
use of the pen and the gas mask. Sap
pers and mine planters must hold re.
hearsals, and there must be plenty OF
practice in the dropping OF bombs from
the clouds and the discharge OF tor
pedoes from the cutters.
On the Tammany front, for instance,
il has already been decided, so the
spies say, that Judge Hylan is to spe-
cialize in municipal ownership. ms is
most emphatically heavy artillery as.
signment, with goodly proportion OF
42-centimetre guns in the battery. IL
will be his duty TO rain JACK Johnsons
on the enemy from concrete emplace-
ments prepared by Herr Hearst him.
self.
Mr.. Craig, nominated for Controller,
is to concentrate on the west SIDE
improvement contract with variety OF
arms, provoking a hand-to-hand con-
flict where possible in massed assault
all along the line. AL. Smith, on the
other hand, is to be strictly an ofhcer
of infantry, leading the common people
"over the top" against the hosts OF
privilege, the foundations and what not.
Such is the preliminary programme
as worked out in the Wigwam. From
the side of Fusion there has come no
intimaton as yet of the individual as
signments. due, possibly, to the fact
that the Fusion platform has not seen
the light. IL seems safe to predict,
however, that the Mayor, wrapped
tightly in the American flag and wav-
ing the sword of preparedness, will dare
the enemy to do his worst. His will
be Kerensky role, but backed by a
confident and undaunted army.
There is feeling that sooner or
later. whatever may be the initial
issues of the campaign, the conflict Will
turn on the question of patriotism. The
militant Americanism of the Mayor Will
find a foil in the pro-Germanism of
Hearst. Before Election Day the choice
will lie between a vote for Uncle sam
or one for the Kaiser.
No doubt exists that Tammany is
angling for the German vote. Though
Bob" Wagner's name is conspicuous
by its absence, the names of two other
Germans stand out prominently on its
ticket. In Manhattan, County Clerk
Schneider is Endorsed for reelection.
In BROOKLYN. Edward Riegelmann, the
Kings County Sheriff, is running for
Borough President.
On the other hand, the absence. OF
Jews among the Tigers candidates has
caused considerable comment, and, IN
the Jewish press, a great deal or un-
favorable comment. This large element
of the population is not disposed to
remain content with representation re-
stricted to the City Court. 1t IS con-
trasting Tammany treatment with the
denomination Of Borough President
Marks by the Fusionists.