New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-06
BY Dougles K. Miller

. 81
BY Douglas K. Miller
CCHENEOTADY'S government lost
- Its last vestige of Socialism on
New Years Day. Not single
Socialist was elected to office Novem-
Der 6 last, and Republicans once more
come into full control Of city affairs
and of county affairs, too.
Has Socialism been a failure In Sche-
nectady-if the government provided
by DR.. Lunn and fellow members Of
the Socialist party can rightfully be
termed Socialism?
Answering such n question involves
more than q mere consideration Of the
outward activity of Socialist office
holders and comparison of tax rates
in recent years. 1t requires a study
OF the inside government which ruled
Schenectady four years, the motives
which prompted city activities and the
relation Of the Socialist local to Office
holders. Were the Socialists sincerely
working for the best interests of Sche-
nectady, or were they using the Sche-
nectady city government to experiment
in the theories Of the Socialist book
Of rules?
George Il. Lunn the Leader
Mayor George K. Lunn, preacher,
publisher, coal merchant, orator, twice
Socialist Mayor and now Democratic
Representative in Congress, has been
the sparkling piug of two Schenectady
city administrations. In fact, he has
been so active that Socialism in Sche-
nectady has come to mean "Lunnism."
DR.. Lunn himself is interesting. He is
tall. thin, distinguished looking He
has an engaging smile. He jumps from
the comic to the serious between
seaths. forces home arguments With
Roosevcltian gestures. He is impet-
uous, mirthful, has boyish enthusiasm,
forces himself into all manner Of pre-
dicaments and smilingly bluffs his way
out.
Who City Ticket Elected
The fall of 1911 found Dr.. Lunn the
Socialist nominee for Mayor under a
special dispensation of the party
chiefs, which allowed him to run for
office without putting in two years.
never in the novice class in that party.
The campaign was one of the most
warlike in Schenectady's history, with
the street speakers daring opponents
to start SANDER actions. Lunn was
elected, becoming the first Socialist
Mayor in New York State, and with
him complete city ticket went into
control Of city affairs.
Long before taking Office DR.. Lunn
came face to face with party precept,
which later split the party into two
wrangling sections. 1t was over the
appointment Of city officers. The book
of rules said outsiders could not hold
city office, and it demanded that the
appointive Office. Men, women and
young people, citizens and aliens, who
made up the party membership, &C
claimed boisterously their right to
select the Mayor-elect's coworkers. 1t
was Il heinous crime against Socialism
to name non-Socialists to office.
DR.. Lunn proceeded mirthfully to IN
vitc the wrath of the party powers by
naming w. Thomas Wooley, Demo-
cratic City Engineer Of Auburn. to the
Office of City Engineer, and Frank
Cooper, former member of the Demo
cratic State Committee, to the Office Of
Corporation Counsel. He also engaged
Charles A. Mullen, of Milwaukee, to
he also chose Walter Lippman, Social
list writer of New York, now an editor
of "The New Republic" and connected
with government publicity in Wash
ington, to be his own secretary. So
cialists became feverish with wrath
and indignation.
Throughout his first two years it
was a question whether DR.. Lunn could
hold the Socialist local at bay while
he conducted city affairs as he saw fit.
Through it all Socialists forgot to at
tack non-Socialists in their ardor to
heap criticism on the Mayor
Socialists Flock to Schenectady
Probably more interesting group
of economists were never assembled in
city of Schenectadys size than those
who rushed to the Electric City to
take hand in the Socialist governed
trical wizard, already in Schenectady;
the Rev. Robert Brakeman. Morris Hill
quit, John Macy. Charles A. Mullen,
Walter E. Kruesi, Fred w. Bentley and
Walter Llppman were among those
whose Socialist training led them to
the election spoils Of 1911.
DR.. Steinmetz is. with the exception
of Thomas A. Edison, probably the
best known electrical engineer in the
world. He was president of the Board
of Education in Lunn's first admins
tration and president of the city s
Planning Commission. He was re-
appointed president of the Education
Board in Lunn's second administration
when he also served as president of
Common Council.
Morris Hillquit, at one time called
one of the "big four in socialism,
went to Schenectady to assist the law
department in opposing the Science
tady Railways effort to eliminate six
tickets for Il quarter. Hlilquit and his
assistants lost the fight.