Vol 3 Section 0637

Mr. Low then appealed to the business men in the audience on the real issues of blackmail, which, he said, allowed any one willing and able to pay for police privileges to compete successfully with others who are handicapped by ordinances made for all.

“If I am elected Mayor,” he said, “I shall interpret the city ordinances in a liberal spirit and in a just one. All will have to obey the laws, but none will be oppressed by them, nor will anyone be allowed to use them in the way of procuring for himself an unfair advantage over a competitor. I will give the city a business administration, such a one as will aid the merchants of this city to compete successfully with the fierce competition of other large business communities. But there is another more important issue involved in this campaign—the issue of manhood. If this city elects the Tammany ticket it well be an open avowal to the world at large that the foul blots that have been cast on the fair name of the city during the last four years are indorsed by a majority of the voters.”

As the speaker closed there were yells and cheers for Seth Low and Mark Twain

In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam inscribed a copy of Edmund Burke on Croker & Tammany to an unidentified person: “Plant Acorns—extend the area, enlarge the crop! / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Oct. 29/01” [MTP].

October 30 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook records a to-do list, some items crossed off as if completed:

3 seats orchestra, not further back than 6th row or 1st or second row of balcony to-morrow night

money.

Shaving soap.

Spectacles to Gildre

Miss Marborough

Bram Stoker 783 Mad. Av.

Mrs. Rogers

Post cards & envelopes.

Write Am. Exp. Portrait.

Harpers.

Sat matinee 4 (as above). (balcony preferable.) Also, that matinee; 2 seats for servants in balcony—separate. Pay all bills.

Bram come to lunch next Sunday.

4 in evening for Sans Gene next week—located as above [NB

44 TS 16]. Note: see insert ad for Madame Sans Gene. N.Y.

Times, Oct. 30.

Sam made some political visitations; the New York Times, Oct. 31, p.2 reported on his movements and quoted him:

MARK TWAIN A BILLPOSTER.

———

With Justice Jerome He Says They Could “Paste Tammany.”

Mark Twain made a tour yesterday [Oct. 30] of the various anti-Tammany headquarters in the vicinity of Madison and Union Squares. He said he was seeking “light” and campaign literature. At the Citizens’ Union headquarters he said:

“Please give me anything you have ‘touchin’ on and appertainin’ to’ the antics of Tammany and the police regarding the billboards along Fourth Avenue.

“Give me a pail of paste, a pair of scissors—no, I mean a brush and a bundle of Low lithographs and I’ll cover every bit of Tammany paper along the tunnel,” said Mr. Clemens.

“Jerome would be the best assistant you could give me,” he continued. “He is an artist at pasting Tammany.”

The venerable humorist was evidently in earnest in his offer to take part in the billposters’ war with Tammany. He was informed, however, that President R. Fulton Cutting received yesterday a letter from

SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.