Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-05
WHO'LL SAVE NEW YORK?

uOW many millions in small change have
IL you to contribute for the salvation
the political salvation, that is--of the place
called New York and the inhabitants
thereof2 Do you believe that New York
should or can be saved?
A great many people will pause to debate
that question In their hearts. But all those
who continue to be moved by the conviction
that II is never too late to mend and that
city may be down without being out will
feel like sending messages Of hope and cheer
and spiritual encouragement to the folk in
Manhattan who have organized to fight for
smile not so cynically, Genevieve the
Save New York Ticket.
What these New Yorkers want to be saved
from is, Of course, Tammany. They are not
yet ready to seek emancipation from the
Hat Checkers Tong or the bipartisan ma
chine at Albany or Mr.. Lusk or the Broad
way walters. No. Tammany is conceived
to be more hateful even than these. So a
ticket has been suggested with Major Henry
II. Curran, Borough President of Man
haitian, as candidate for the mayoralty, and
Senator Lockwood rs candidate for the office
of Comptroller. 1t is a fusion ticket. 1t is in
tended to unite all the warning and dis
sociated factions on the Republican side, and
even 50 sophisticated n person as the editor
OF the Tribune sees in 1t a reason why all
the righteous should unite for - we'll, for
Righteousness. And yet, viewing the Save
New York Movement from this distance, it
Is impossible not to feel sharp pang of pity
for the grail hunters Of Manhattan Island.
Somehow or other 1t is hard to imagine
Broadway clamoring for the light Of politi-
cal ethics
The trouble with New York is that Il Is
too big. 1t has too many minds. The Tiger
has one mind. one method, one appeal, one
desire. But Brooklyn has codes and beliefs
peculiarly its own. SO has Harlem and so
has the Bronx and so has the East Side.
These communities are unreconciled elements
in the welter Of the metropolis. The Times,
with its eyes fixed piously upon the first
glimmers Of a new political dawn, still is
filled with sadness and doubt. 1t tells the
world that already "the lions can be heard
roaring in Brooklyn" 1t may have mis-
taken the sound. 1t is not lions that roar
in Brooklyn, as any professional humorist
knows. But 1t is in Brooklyn that the first
ferocious grows are rising from Republican
politicians, who fear that they may not be
assigned to the best grazing grounds in the
promised land which the fusionists seek
There Is growing in Harlem. too, and
cynicism on the East Side and blithe aloof-
ness in Broadway "In naming Major Cur
ran and Senator Lockwood" cries the Post,
''the coalitionists have presented a ticket
which ought to win the vote Of every man
and woman who prefers good government to
bad" If that is true, the fusion ticket is
lost. New York will not be saved. For,
if the political history Of New York means
anything, II means that to win you must
present ticket which appeals to every man
and woman who prefers bad government to
good.
Major Curran and Senator Lockwood are
honest and able men. That will not help
them greatly so long ms the average politician
in every party thinks first of himself and
afterward Of the good of his community.
Even the political leaders who are not dis
honest cannot be made to work efficiently in
any movement directed for abstract causes.
Each wants to shine. Each desires to win
something for himself That Is why even the
great fusionist movements in American poll
tics fail or achieve only doubtful ends.
Not enough people desire good govern
ment.
How do we know all this? Because the
political history Of Philadelphia is ever be-
fore us. Because Of Germantown and West
Philadelphia and South Philadelphia and
their perpetual conflict Of purposes. II,
therefore, you have some millions in small
change to contribute to the Save New York
Movement send-your prayers. Give the
money to the Voters League.