New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10

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promisee, but, in any event, the new sheriff
made good to Peter.
Mayor John F. Hylan of New York has
Joined the ranks of the summer candidates,
and Hylan leagues are springing up in all
parts of the city. Consideration of Mayor
Hylan brings to mind two other classes of
candidates, the civic spellbinder and the all
year-round campagner. They cannot be
listed specifically summer candidates. be-
their activities extend through every
season of the year.
Originally Mayor Hylan was good example
of the oficeseeker who made his appeal
largely to the civic organizations. Brooklyn
is the home of the local civic association
Before he Mayor-before he was even a
city magistrate-the name of John F. Hylan
was known in every civic organization In
Brooklyn, and almost as well known among
those of Queens, where civic organizations
likewise flourish.
A civic organization, if there are some who
do not know, is a group of residents Of any
given community whose ostensibIe purpose is
to obtain public Improvements at as small
cost as possible to the property owners, but
whose real object-although most of the mem
bers feel it only sub-consciousy-is to elect
somebody to Office.
Mayor Hylan was favorite guest at civic
meetings in his home borough and in the
neighborlng borough of Queens He did not
read nus speeches then, and veteran civic
workers Of Brooklyn say he could always
deliver rQuslng, straight-from- the-shoulder
talk, in which, now, he turned his verbal
batteries upon "the interests as represented
by the transit, lighting and other public serv-
ice corporations. When, after belaboring
the interests" for years, John F. Hylan be-
came the candidate for Mayor, the Brooklyn
and Queens civic bodies stuck to him man.
fully, and it was proved that civic spellbind-
ing pays. Hylan, it should be said, stood by
the men who helped him, as proved by the
number of appointments he made from the
ranks of the civic organizations Of BROOKLYN
Many officeseekers, however, conine their
efforts to the civic organization in which they
happen to hold Office. That, it has been
shown, is short-sighted policy, and it is
likely to result in no greater honor ard
financial reward than the aldermanship of the
district. Talk to 'em all, was Mayor Hylan's
motto, and, pursuing his old rule, he is already
bending the energies of his summer campaign
for reelection to arousing the civic interests
summer, is the oficeseeker most prodigal in
time and effort, but there are instances on
record which show it pays. There is a judicial
oficeholder in one of New York City's bor-
oughs who campaigns 365 days in the year,
and nights, too. He is just as likely to make
an address on the night after Election Day
as he is on the evening before. He never rests.
Almost nightly he is speaking at banquet or
oil co~+ or
sequence he has held his present position for
almost twenty years and has established the
reputation that he cannot be dislodged from it.
Naturally, this man does not make political
speeches wherever he goes. He almost never
makes political speech. He is fluent taker,
is mildly humorous, and can discuss practically
any topic in an interesting manner. He suits
his topics to the OCCASION and, while he is
at loss for words, neither is he ever
at Il loss for votes when he runs for reelection
Legislating himself into higher office is an
other of the winning ways of some feeders at the
public crib. This method requires that the can
didate be already an Asemblyman or State
Senator Legislative positions in New York
State pay salaries of only $500 year and the
legislator naturally needs a little recompense
for the sacrifice he tells his constituents he is
in Albany, when he might far more proftably
be conducting his law, grocery or bootblacking
business at home. Legisating themselves into
higher Office is one of the favorite indoor sports
of our New York Assemblynen and Senator's
One of them during the last session fathered
bill increasing salaries and creating several
new positions in certain city Office. AS soon
as Governor Miller signed the bill he was APP
pointed to the best Of the new jobs he had Gre
ated He thereby procured for himself posi-
ton paying $4,000 year for three years. Many
measures of this sort introduced every
year by Assemblymen or Senators, who, while
they never admit having any idea that they
might benefit thereby are quick to heed the
call of public duty that comes after the bill
is passed. bringing 8 higher salary and a
longer term.
Another time-worn legislative method Is for
an Assembyman or Senator to Introduce a
measure dividing his home district into two
districts for higher office-Municipal Court
Justice, for instance. If he can make two
districts out of what was one he does not dis
turb the justice already in Office, but his bill
requires justice in the new district and
proylded he has tho recessarv feosI f;fc,