The sun., 1918-07-07
Major John PurrOy Mitchell.


Major JoHN PuIEoY MITCuEL's
single desire after the United States
entered the war against Germany
wns to set into tho fight for his coun-
try. Last summer, when the munich
pal politics Of Now York was IN
chaos, his ambition to join tho colors
caused him to hesitate n long time
before he consented 10 run for Mayor.
His indec;sion was as evident before
the primaries. in which he failed to
get the Republican nomination, MS 1t
was after their result was established.
Indeed. It may have been the adverse
outcome Of the primaries that fixed
his determination to make the fight.
Certainly his resolution was taken In
opposition to the strongest personal
dissemination to run.
MI. mitchell undoubtedly knew that
he could not be reelected. An indie
pendent Mayor, constantly interfering
with the established privileges and
practices of partisan organizations,
treadins on the toes OF politicians,
having no party organization to back
him, always has a slim chance or
reelection. The men and the associa-
lions he offends in the performance
OF his duty lever forget and never
forgive. The great mass Of the clti-
xens, in which only occasionally does
an individual feel. an immediate and
personal benefit from the city ad-
ministraucn. have short memories.
Even &c reforms and improvements
can DC made without increasing
taxes, there Is sure to be d~issatisfac-
ton, complaint and lack of interest.
Taxes could not be kept down In
Mayor MlTCIIEL's administration, in
spite of the utmost economy. Costs
were rising, wages going up, impera-
tive requirements Of the city had to
be met. The notable cuts made in
the expenses of departments over
which the Mayor had control passed
unnoticed In the gross total, n total
over which the Board of Estimate,
the Aldermen and the Mayor, in the
face of their powers of contraction,
reduction and veto, have less control
than the careless voter imagines.
But Mayor mitchell was finally
convinced that he should :un the Sec
ond time not for the purpose of per-
sonal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or profit, but
70 perform n serious civic Obliga-
ton in the defence Of the work
he had done. 1t was good work.
The ordinary business of the city had
been put on Il higher plane than 1T
had ever been on before. The Police
Department became a model Of eff
cheney. of independence, of honesty.
Ey this department every city adj
ministration is tested, and justly,
for in it favoritism, corruption
and incompetence are first manifest.
In some of the other departments
Mayor mitchell was not rs well
served as he was in the office of Com
missioner of Police, but in all of them
the spirit of the administration and
It's purpose We're plain. We do not
shy that Mr.. Mitchell stepped into q
city lost in bad government and
transformed it. That Is not true.
But he gave great impetus and
strength to the Improvements that
were In progress when he took Office,
AMI he introduced original reforms
Of great and permanent value.
This Mayor mitchell was able TO
do because of his intimate knowledge
Of the theory and practice of munich
pal government. 1t had been his life
study and his life work. He knew
the laws governing the city. He was
familiar with the machinery through
which they nre enforced. He was
acquainted with the men who operate
that machinery. JOHN PURRoY
mitchell was n professional city nd
ministrator; usually we have anna
teurs, some of them well Liennlng.
and some of them not wei. meaning,
in the Office he not only held but
filled. Mr.. mitchell backed well
meaning with complete, absolute
knowledge, and sustained both with
courage of n high, rare type. In civic
affairs, rs in his private life, he was
fearless.
Before he came to the Mayors
chair he had done valuable work for
honest government. In the office of
the Corporation Counsel and as Com
missioner of Accounts he had per-
formed services Of great importance
in correcting abuses and Furnishing
wrongdoers. 1t was characteristic of
his endeavors to improve the govern
ment that he never exposed an abuse
without suggesting nm adequate rem,
ely for It, and he put greater en-
phasls Ion the correction than on the