Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-27
WHAT A REAL
MAYOR CAN DO
An Episode in the Campaign in
New York to Make an End
of Tamrnany


The JolloiCing article from yesterdays
Neto York Tribune Is here reprinted be-
cause the Incident, so admirably de-
scrtbed, Is an epitome Of the character Of
NeiO York's thirty-eightyedr.oI Mayor,
and because it illustrates Just those cotr-
doeous and honest qualities qUhich are
needed IN Philadelphia leadership.
| MAYOR mitchell, whose majority over
1Nl William NJ Bennett in the Republican
primary for the mayoralty nomination was
decreased by ffty-seven more votes in the
re-eXamlnation Of ballots yesterday, making
| II only 335, went over to Brooklyn last night
and captured 1900 Of the machine Repub-
| licans OF that borough whose 1000 majority
for Bennett tells its own story. The Mayor
had been invited to speak at n meeting
Of the Kings County Republican Committee
held in the johnson Building, in Nevns
| street
Twelve hundred men. politicians ALL filled
the hall Not one Of them knew what re-
ception would be accorded to the fusion can
didate who had come perilously near TO de-
| ltdl NHiOhEl lle tlLOl - Ol bOluet VI ihOSNf
of them. All knew that he had been invited
to appear, but his name was not even men.
toned in the preliminary speeches.
Even the vice chairman, John Drescher,
who called the meeting TO order. had re-
ferred only vaguely to the schsm in the
fusion ranks. The prompt If somewhat
emphatic response which greeted those ref
erences showed the tension Of his audi
ence
Warns Other Branch in Vain
Mr.. Drescher ventured to hope that what
ever happened "the party choice will be our
choice" and at once a stentorian voice cried.
Nothing doing :" Again Mr. Drescher put
out a slender antenna, observing that the
only way TO win was TO stand by the party
nominee. This delicate verbal filament en-
countered a blunt and bosterous 'I won't
stand by you" And Mr. Drescher gave
over his attempts at diplomacy.
It may have been an omen Of something
or other that when Mayor Mitchell, accom-
panied by Fire Commissioner Robert Adam
son and Borough President Lewis II,
Pounds, entered the room Charles f,
Murphy Republican leader of the Tenth
Assembly District in Brooklyn was speak
ing and suddenly sat down. Mr.. Drescher
introduced the Mayor with the utmost brew
ity and circumspection and the Mayor sailed
serenely ahead without regard to delicate
circumlocuton
Gentlemen, you are good sports" said
he. ut appears by the official returns of the
Board of Elections that I have been duly
nominated by the Republican party. have
come over here to discuss with you frankly
and face to face this nomination.
Knew They Didn't Want Him
81 know that You did not want me to be
nominated for Mayor. I was not the choice
of the Republican party of Brooklyn. Well,
let me tell you that you did not want me
much less than I wanted the nomination
myself
Let me tell you what I mean by that
had made up my mind six months ago
that nothing could induce me to accept the
| nomination. Not, gentlemen of the commit
tee, that I do not realize the great honor
| and responsibility Of the executive office OF
Mayor Of the city Of New York. but l be-
leve that there were others who could lead
the fight as well as T. and I had for myself
ambitions and plans that lay in a wholly
different field. That was personal matter.
IL was told that I must run TO save the
government of the city from being prost-
tuted as other city governments had been
under other. regimes. endeavored to per-
suade my advisers that I should step aside
| and that some one else should be allowed
| to lead the Fusion cause. / was told that
| the movement would not be success IL 1
| did not accept the nomination.
But my purpose in accepting the nomi-
nation was not merely to preserve this city
government free from scandal and purged
! of graft. It was when It was put to me
upon the ground of maintaining in New
York city a government pledged to cooper
| ate with the national service in time of
war. to do its utmost to preserve in time
of crisis order in New York city, govern
ment that would not be influenced or afraid
no matter whom its measures touched
when it was put to me on that ground /
| consented to waive what I regarded as my
personal future and consented to become
the candidate for the Fusion nomination for
| Mayor"
All over the house broke out applause
cheering and the stamping of feet, an up
roarious and spontaneous tribute 70 a frank
man who stood up 70 his foes and explained
why he fought The confusion died down
as the Mayor continued. He told his au-
dience that he would not take the nomina-
ton II it depended on a single fraudulent
vote, that II the recount showed that
Bennett had more votes than Mitchell 'he is
| entitled to the nomination"
"On the other hand" he continued, IF the
majority of Republicans want me for
Mayor, then, gentlemen, know you are
going TO support the Republican party and
that party's candidate for Mayor"
Crowd Shouts Approval
1--WE will! We Will" shouted hundred
voices in tones that made the earlier in
terruptions to Mr. Drescher's speech seem
faint.
Jacob A. Livingston, county chairman,
was the Mayors escort to the platform
and shook hands heartily with him when
he entered.
$1,000 AND HAPPINESS
In the October number Of the Americau