Evening star., 1925-01-07
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

NO sooner are we over d great ma
uonal campaign, epochal in Its Is
sues and result, and hoping to settle
down to the humdrum vocation of
life than here approaches mayoralty
campaign in New York City which Is
to reach it's climax next Fall. But
the preliminartes have already start
ed. mayoralty or gubernatorial
campaign in the Empire State Is con-
sidered in point of public interest
second only to a national campaign.
1t means a battle between that
formidable and deeply intrenched
organization, Tammany Hall. and the
party and fusion factions which seek
to oust 1t and to shake off the
strangle-hold which Tammany Is al
legged to have upon the millions of
the great city.
In addition to this alleged baneful
domination upon the inhabitants Of
New York, Tammany is often accused
of having its talons upon the ma
tional democracy. The impending
fight to loosen Tammany from it's
grip upon New York will, therefore,
be watched with interest by Demo-
Gratis of other States, and. therefore,
may be said to be worthy of gen
era1 public comment and observa-
ton. p
Charles d. Hilles. Republican ma
tional committeeman for New York.
is the man who is taking the initia-
tive in the impending drive upon
Tammany and starting the move
ment to effect an organization of
fusion elements with the object of
electing a mayor who will represent
~ Hr,4~
and policies. II has been accom-
plished before. but Tammany has in
variably come back" Tammany
can be stunned, but never has been
destroyed. The roots Of its organiza~
tion. discipline and peculiar methods.
which are as mysterious as. the
doings or the heather Chinese, seem
to be too deep'y sunk in the politi-
cal soil of the community to be
eradicated.
Mr.. Hilles has a plan for putting
the grubbing hoe at these roots In
| the next election He advises an
| early start toward an organization
| which is to include busine ess men and
voters OF other political Affiliations
than Democrats to fight Tammany on
! higher ground than party partisan
| ship. Instead of the fusions Of the
past, he seeks the kind of fusion
| which he calls an Infusion" The
| old fusion, he points out, consisted of
number Of mushroom organiza tons.
some under the domination of Tam
| many secretly, others set up for the
| sole purpose of getting office for their
members. He wants the Republicans
| TO start the ball rolling in the drive
against Tammany by appealing to the
! body of high minded citizens not nee
essariiy affiliated with that party, but
anxious for good municipal government.
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"Tammanys defeat can best be ac-
complished at the important election
OF this year" said Mr.. Hilles in q
| public statement, III several distinct
women who desire new order of
| public service. 1t can best be accom-
plished-
First, by starting at once cam
| paign Of information and education to
| impress upon the people the ineffi-
cheney and dishonesty so character
istic of Tammany's record, and to
| keep before the public the hypocrisy,
waste and stupidity OF the Hylan ad-
ministration. This cannot be done in
day. IL cannot be done effectively
in the heat of a campaign, when there
is reluctance to accept at their face
value the statements respecting the
purposes of parties. and where there
! is a natural tendency to discount at
-tacks upon the party in power. There
must be a sustained, consistent effort
| TO interpret TO the people the opera
tions of the Hylan administration.
| More than that. the needs of the
great city must be defined and a con-
| structive program projected.
Second, by bringing about as soon
as possible a uniflcation of the or
ganized Republican forces of the five
! boroughs for the duration of the
campaign. There should be in the
municipal campaign only one direct
ing committee. having authority to
cooperate with independent groups.
Third, by the nomination of a
| ticket of such caliber as will make
a general appeal. not alone to busi-
ness interests, which regard efficiency
| and economy as of paramount i'm
portance, but also to those citizens
who desire above all things an ad-
ministration pledged to devote atten-
| ton to the humanities, to making
| the life of the average city man,
woman and child healthier, safer and
happier. 1t is of first Importance that
we do not lose sight of the cosmo-
! politan constituencies to which the
| candidates must appeal and of the
/ complexities of life in this great city.
| 1t is a reproach to our people that
| for seven years we have been gov
erned by a group whose only slogan
was scent fare
| y x =
Mr.. Hilles is too experienced a po-
litical leader and too familiar with
Tammany's hold upon the voters of
New York City to underestimate the
magnitude of the task which is be-
4 A4 ;v.s+ -
| movement to overthrow that organi-
cation. ''Tammany," he said, sis
guided by selected and seasoned poll
| ticians who are subjected to daily
discipline and daily drills. Tammany
J is to the hosts of Democracy here
what the Regular Army is to the
potential fighting force of our coun-
! try. 1t is the nucleus of the great
| Army Tammany trains the volun-
teers who enlist while the fever of
campaign is on for the duration
of that campaign. And she throws
| her seasoned forces against a volun-
/ teer army composed in the main of
raw recruits and unrelated units"
| He is also aware of the lack OF CO.
hesion and coordination of the Re-
| publican party in the five boroughs
He has plans to overcome this dis
ability.
:. x = x
| 1t goes without saying that Mr.
| Hilles' attack upon Tammany and
! the Hylan administration would not
! be allowed to stand unchallenged
| Mayor Hylan himself took up the
/ cudgels and made a vigorous assault
| upon Mr.. Hilles. First dash out OF
the box, the mayor charged that Mr.
Hilles in his movement to oppose
Tammany wants to seize. upon be.
half of the traction, public utility
and food barons, the government o1
the City of New York.
! TT is all as plain as a church stee.