New-York tribune., 1918-01-06
Ex-Mayor George X. Lunn

when VIII, Lippman left. Mr.. Macy's wife
noted deaf, dumb and blind student.
MT. Macy's principal interest was in
Miss Keller, and had he remained in
Schenectady long Miss Keller would
have gone to that city.
Mullen Introduces New Paving
Mr.. Mullen, who became Commits
sioner Of Public Works, was one of the
wealthiest men in the administration.
Previously he had been a paving con-
tractor, and after leaving Schenectady
ne again became private contractor.
Mr.. Mullen introduced Schenectady to
the Mullen type" Of asphalt. 1t has
a foundation, upon which was placed
three-inch wearing surface. 1t con-
tanned no "binder" course By elmi-
mating this expensive centre course the
cost Of asphalt paving was reduced
from $2.16 q square yard to $1.16 a
square yard in the first administration.
Since then the cost of pavement has
advanced to $1.50 a yard, and very re-
Gently, because Of the Increased cost
Of materials, the price has gone to
more than Sc.
Lunn Clashes With Advisers
These men were the leaders and ad-
visers in the first Lunn administration
All Of them were Socialists, true and
tried, who had absorbed the principles
of MARKHAM Socialism. All were be-
levers in class distinction and all Of
them demanded upon accession to
power that the city be conducted by the
"working class"
Most OK them opposed Mayor Lunn in
his view that city government could not
be conducted by Socialist local, that
principles could be laid down and abb
stract policies decided upon, but that
the actual conduct of city affairs must
be vested in responsible otficeholders.
These men, with few exceptions, sided
with the rank and file of the party in
a common belief that the Mayor and
all other elected officials were merely
servants of the Socialist local.
1t was not uncommon in Socialist
party meetings to have brlcklayer,
tcamster or ash collector castigate the
school board for buying 15-inch rules
for the workshops in the schools. Once
non-citizen took the Mayor to task
for engaging renowned city panner
to outline q comprehensive park sys-
TEN.
Socialist party members applied the
mob rule to all matters concerning the
city. No city project was too large to
be discussed by the local; no PROPOSE
ton too small to demand that the men,
bers, whose dues were paid, should ad :
wise officeholders.
And all of the time that the Office
holders were warding off attacks from
within the organization they were
meeting rebuff at the hands Of those
outside the party. The petty, acrid
party disputes, which started with the
n Of hi1t nf
warped the Socialist local so out Of
shape that the state executive commit
tee investigated
1t was about year ago that the
break came. The charter was with
drawn. Every member of the local was
expelled.
Lunn Wins Seat in Congress
Long before the expulsion of the two
hundred paidup members of the Social
ist local, it is believed, DR.. Lunn had
decided to become candidate for Rep
| resentatve in Congress in the 18th Dis
trict. He had been the Socialist candi-
date for this Office in 1913, running a
hopeless race in district where So
cialists showed strength only in
Schenectady city.
SO non-Lunnites have charged the
breaking of the Socialist party in
Schenectady to some clever manipula-
tion of affairs by the Mayor within the
party. Soon after his separation from
the local a campaign was launched to
make him Democratic nominee for Rep
resentative. Democratic leaders Jumped
at the opportunity to bolster their elec
ton chances by naming the Socialist
Mayor, and year ago DR.. Lunn was
elected to Congress.
Ho &c ct;11 DoyrOoro%;o
| from Schenectady, Montgomery, Fulton
and Hamilton counties.
1t did not take Mayor Lunn and his
Socialist cohorts long after assuming
office January l, 1912, to put into op-
Grafton several municipal ventures
which were designed to meet the needs
Of the mass Of people"
Courts Squelch City Ice Venture
A municipal ice plant was created
and largo Ice house was leased by
the city and filled with Mohawk River
ice. Later ice was imported from Troy
and sold just below the market price
A Supreme Court order restrained the
city from continuing the venture. AL
though the city's legal representatives
presented as their defence that ice was
CONCEALED water, that its chemical
symbol. H2O. was the same as that of
water, and that the city was permitted
to distribute water, the courts put an
end to the ice business.
Then followed the municipal coal
business, by which George r. Lunn
and associates" endeavored to under
sell Schenectady coal merchants. Guam
titles of coal were bought and shipped
into Schenectady and delivered to pur-
chasers. generally in half-ton and
quarter-ton lots. A second injunction
restrained this venture.
Charities Commissioner Walter
Kruesi provided the city with four
ventures-the municipal store. the
lodging house. the employment bureau
, homeless men. who had been sleeping
/ Ahla "a Aoox <>f thu citx locl,an