Evening star., 1932-11-28

Rumblings of reform in the admins
tration of New York City are marked
by voices of citizens from all parts of
the country. Mayor McKee's words be-
fore a gathering Of civic leaders, and
the $4,000 voters who wrote In his
name on their ballots In the recent
election are accepted as evidence of his
fitness to lead contest with the rulers
of the leading city Of the country.
"The lead-pencil crusade" Is the term
applied to the revolt by the Boston
Transcript, as it recalls the large num-
ber of written ballots cast for Mayor
Mckee. "There were 78 different spell
ings," adds the Transcript, "but there
was no doubt Of the meaning Of the
writer's" The Transcript adds: $50 the
crusade that began with the use of lead
pencils behind the curtains of the vot-
ing machines has been given the sup
port OF the man whose name was
spelled 78 ways, but of whose
identity there was no doubt. He has
allied himself with the foes of Tam
many. If they are to win, it remains
for the people of New York to carry
on the crusade. But the crusading
spirit is not easily maintained. IF Mr..
Mckee can keep it alive and SO extend
it that there will in reality be new
day in the governmental affairs of the
city, he will deserve to rank among it's
benefactors."
Observing that the acting mayor "sees
the day of better government for the
city Just ahead" the Fort Worth Star
Telegram declares: 1.-The action of the
voters may have a good effect. It may
serve as sort Of warning to Tammany
that will result in some improvement.
But whether 1t will result in the wide
spread movement that Mr.. Mckee fore
sees, or an end of the wasteful govern
ment that has undoubtedly prevailed in
New York City, none can tell. The
public has the habit of becoming greatly
dissatisfied with public conditions, voic-
ing its dissatisfaction by sweeping out
of Office the administration it holds re-
sponsible, and then feeling that its full
duty has been done. The result is a
measure Of improvement, but never the
full measure that could and should be
obtained"
''It is in 1885," says the Roanoke
Times, that Mckee, who will resume
his former place as president of the
Board of Aldermen when O'Brien be-
comes mayor, Is expected to make his
bid for the mayoralty with the assist
ance and backing of independent Demo-
Gratis and possibly the Republican city
organization as well. He has made an
excellent impression during the brief
period that he has been at the head
of the city government and with the
backing of the newspapers and nom
Tammany Democrats he will probably
make it hot for Tammany In next years
mayoralty campaign"
War is in the air." remarks the New
York Sun. land that Is the advantage
of those who have been aroused by Mr..
McKee's speech. The disadvantage is
the element of time. If Mr.. Mckee had
uttered his fighting talk before election
and accepted an independent nominal
tion for mayor it is quite possible that
he would have won. Now those who
admire either him or his sentiments
have to face the fact that nearly a year
must pass before the voters can act
again. Let those who meet to prepare
for 1888 remember that year is a long
time in city politics and that It is pos
sible to light a fuse too soon. But 1t Is
not too early to plan."
"a challenge to Tammany" is seen
by the Providence Journal in the voting
for Mckee, and that paper offers the
Interpretation: "That was an extraor-
dinary demonstration Of approval for
a man who In a very short time in the
mayors chair had evinced a high de-
gree of courage and independence of
character as well as executive ability.