Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/524

 510 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

facts, and the further and more important one that he had made a splendid record as a useful mayor, he was defeated by a young man who had the reputation of being a "first-rate mixer and a shrewd politician," who belonged to all of the secret and fra- ternal organizations in the city. Although the successful can- didate was in no sense of the word a corrupt politician, or any- thing of that kind, he was ambitious, and his ultimate aim is said to be congress.

Mayor Landes was supported only by the City Club; he did not spend a single dollar during the campaign nor solicit a vote, but through the enforcement of the law had antagonized all the old gambling element. The entire wide-open town element were for his opponent, who also received the support of the liquor interest. It is the personal opinion of a local observer that the election of Judge Fisher will make no material difference in the conduct of the city's affairs, and that the support of the success- ful candidate by ex-gamblers and the saloon. element will not influence him to do anything that will prove injurious to the welfare of the city, or to his own personal reputation.

Generally speaking, interest in municipal affairs in the whole South is developing very rapidly. The commission form of government idea is taking hold of city after city, especially in the southwestern section ; and generally there is an evidence of a deeper interest on the part of the voters in municipal affairs and a keener desire on the part of officials to meet the increased demands upon them.

Tom Johnson's defeat in the Cleveland mayoralty cam- paign was one of the unexpected events of the last election. There has been no figure in municipal life about whom there has been a greater difference of opinion. Both in Cleveland and elsewhere men of unquestioned public spirit and high stand- ards differ radically as to his sincerity. Along certain lines it seems to me there can be no reasonable question that he has done splendid work, especially along social and charitable lines. His eight years of service as mayor have been marked by an increasingly progressive and intelligent administration of the remedial agencies of the city government. There has been com-