Year: 1878

The local campaign has been lnaugurateu
by the calling of the several county con-
ventions, and the present week will be one
of unusual activity among the politicians.
1t has become the practice of political
possible between the nomination and cleo
tion of charter and other local officers In
New York. While the candidates for Judge
of the Court OF Appeals will, on November
5, have been six or seven weeks before the
public, our citizens are only to be allowed
from fifteen to twenty days during which to
examine and consider the merits OF the
nominees for such important positions as
Mayor Of the city and District Attorney.
The HERALD several weeks ago strove to pro-
cure the official announcement of Tammanys
intended candidate for Mayor, in the knowl-
edge that the county conventions would
be crowded on to the heels of election day,
and that scant time would be left for the
organization of combined opposition
should bad nomination be made by the
dominant party. The policy of short
campaign was originally prompted by
desire to force improper and undesirable
men into Office, and while its perpetuation
may not now cover such design, it is at
all times unfair toward the people, who
should be allowed ample opportunity to as
certain into what hands they are asked to
confide the most important interests of the
city. The Tammany convention is to be
held on October 49, the republican conven-
ton on the same day, and the anti-Tam-
many on the day following. If the nomina-
tions should be made on the day the con-
ventions meet they would only be before
the public for nineteen or twenty days.
But the probability is that there will be
postponement at least of the republican and
anti-Tammany nominations, even if there
should not be a delay in announcing the
ticket on the part of Tammany as well.


The main interest at present centres in
the question whether the opposition to the
Tammany democracy will be divided or will
unite on single ticket. It is reasonable to
suppose that the answer must depend upon
the action of the Tammany convention If
the nominations made by that body should
be entirely acceptable to the people and of





ular favor there would be lack of material
with which to build up spirited and solid
opposition. If, on the other hand. Tam
many should venture to put forth candi-
date for Mayor whose character and antece-
dents would mark him as a mere political
tool, the demand for a combined opposition
would no doubt be SO imperative and so


- -
the republican and anti-Tammany con-
ventions could scarcely venture to
disregard it. But suspicion is
afoat that the republican leaders have
already determined on their policy, and are
resolved to run straight party ticket with
Tammany. Some sagacious individuals in
sist that this intended action of the republi-
cans grows out of q definite bargain with
Tammany, whereby that organization is to
surrender several thousand voters to this or
that republican candidate on the day of cleo
ton; the inspectors Of election, under the
auspices of the Police Commissioners and
the chief of the Election Bureau, are to count
in and count out at their pleasure, and Mr..
Conkling, by some process not distinctly
explained. is to be supplied with a number
Of friendly Asscmblymen. In return for
these favors Tammany is on its
side to be secured in the election Of
its Mayor by simply having three
candidates in the field. Others again ex-
plain the alleged intention of the republi-
cans to stand alone in the local contest to
mean desire to trade off their county
nominees in the several districts for Assem-
bly, votes. The ways of politicians are GER
tainly mysterious. but it is difficult to un-
derstand why Tammany should seek to pro-
mote its chances of success by intricate
plots and intrigues when it can do so more
surely and simply by the nomination of
thoroughly good candidates, or why Mr..
Conklings friends should be so anxious to
squeeze two or three Assemblymen out of
New York, when, thanks to a dishonest ap-
portionment law, they are toerably GER
tain Of a good majority of the next Assem-
bly,, even should they lose every city district.


The most reliable information is that up
to the present time no determination in re-
gard to the course Of Tammany's opponents
in the election has been reached. The ele-
ments are not yet in a condition to mingle.
Anti-Tammany is divided into factions, and
must certainly unite within itself before il
can propose union with another organize
ton. A combined ticket, however, appears
more probable now than it did few days
ago, and the republican leaders seem to be
willing to receive overtures from the anti
Tammany democrats, although the fact that
the Tammany and republican county con-
ventions meet on the same day is claimed
to confirm the rumor OF an under
standing between those parties and Of
an intention to make straight repub-
lican nominations. 1t is said that the
great triumph of Mr.. Conkling in the