New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-02
Tirne to Decide

une to Decide
The name of the candidate for
Mayor which is expected to come to-
day from the coalition conference is
not of supreme consequence. Though
no super-ftness is offered, there is
an excellent field. No serious mis-
take is likely.
Major Curran and Senator Lock
wood are both men of character and
unimpeachable records. So are other
possibilities. There are many men
able to win, for strong is the pop
ular longing to smash Tammany
and Michael Rufus. There is no
need or call for brilliant meteor.
The public beholds at Washington
the wisdom of trusting a man of
strong common sense when his char
acter is sound.
What, then, is of supreme conse-
quence? 1t is for committee men,
bers, each for himself, to renew soul
allegiance to the cause of decent gov
eminent. Let them cleanse their
breasts of all littleness. The breadth
of their spirit is everything. Pride
Of opinion, a stubborn wish to have
a particular way, suspicion of the
motives of others-these unworthy
things have no place. Is gather
ing of leading New Workers not able
to rise to the heights of patriotism
that the doughboys displayed as
part of each days work?
The conditions that confront the
committee need no elucidation.
They speak for themselves. A CEN
tury of vain effort has shown that
Tammany is unreformable. It now
has, in the City Hall, and would keep
there, representative of it's fraud
and appetite. There is nothing new
or uncertain in the prospect. If
Hylanism is not expelled it will
grow worse.
A highwayman whose fingers have
been often felt has the public by the
throat again. If not shaken off no
one can doubt what's coming. Any
caution shown in the last four years
will be thrown aside. A new set of
country villas will decorate Long
Island and Westchester.
1t is also plain that Tammany can
not win unless the opposition is d.
vided. Division is Murphy's one
hope. Thus any participant in the
conference whose first thought is of
something other than loyal agree
n1ent is working friend of Tam
many and Murphy. Any one who
attempts to gain advantage for him
self or his group to the prejudice of
agreement may fill his mouth with
protestations of virtue, but he is in
fact sordid blasphemer who would
traffic in sacred trust.
Gentlemen of the coalition confer
ence, only one path of duty and
honor lies open to you. 1t is to forget
differences and to agree, and to agree
Loyalty. The enemy is becoming de-
risive. Accustomed to Darkroom
meetings and humbly waiting until
the boss pulls a name out of his
pocket, Tammany does not under
stand the methods of proceeding in
the open or realize that with the
public taken into consideration con-
trary views, stoutly upheld, are in
evitable.
But as there is time to debate
there is also time to decide. This
latter time has now arrived. Ample
has been the opportunity to present
personal claims. Nothing is to be
gained by further postponement.
Something may be lost. If there is
yellowness anywhere in the makeup
of the committee, any one whose
first devotion does not run to the
redemption of New York, he should
quickly feel the hobnails of heavy
footed condemnation. Expose him at
once as Tammany aid, that mean