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HE recent formal announcement by Nathaniel H. Taylor, the leading editorial writer of the Boston Daily Globe, that he is a Democratic candidate for Mayor of Boston made a deep impression on the residents of that city. The declaration also created a sensation, followed by warm approval, in newspaper circles, where Mr. Taylor has been regarded favorably for many years. Not only is he well known to Boston journalists, but in hundreds of newspaper offices in many states he has long been recognized as one of the best all-around men in the profession.

This Democratic candidate for the Mayoralty, known to many thousands as "Nat" Taylor, is one of the most modest and conscientious laborers in the field of journalism. The merits. he possesses will never be known from his lips. The writer will endeavor to point out briefly a few of those merits.

The office of Mayor calls for the possession of varied qualifications by the incumbent thereof. Mr. Taylor possesses many of these qualifications. Besides his newspaper experience, Mr. Taylor in the early 70's was with the Union Pacific Railway for a time and. was assistant clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1873 and 1874. For the two years following he was in Washington with the National Bureau of Education.

His municipal training has been exceptionally thorough. He was Mayor's secretary eight years and City Collec

tor for four years, offices that were unsought by him and which he assumed at the urgent request of Mayors. The present is the only public position he has ever sought, and, as will be seen later, he seeks this solely at the earnest solicitation of a host of citizens of his native city.

In Boston during the past three years there has been a thorough overhauling of the affairs of the municipal government by a finance commission, and another finance commission is now in full power for the purpose of supervising the city business. There has been tremendous excitement during these three years in municipal circles. The citizens have demanded better government and the Legislature has stepped in and added more amendments to the city charter, with the expectation that such amendments will strengthen the government and tend to prevent waste and extravagance in the departments.

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These charter amendments quite radical in some respects, and consequently there has been much speculation as to who would be the best man to elect as chief magistrate to put the charter amendments into force and thereby satisfy the wishes of the taxpayers.

A large number of aspirants for the office have come forward during the year, but it can be truthfully said that many of them have retired from the field. Several still assert in guarded language in the press that they "may be" candidates. Mr. Taylor, however, is the first to formally announce

was a distinguished virtue, through his intimate familiarity with Boston and Massachusetts politics, through his almost infinitely wide personal acquaintance with all the men who are worth knowing in New England, and in short, because he is and always has been 'Nat' Taylor, newspaper man, auditor, expert accountant, confidential adviser and actuary."

During the four years that he was City Collector of Boston, Mr. Taylor collected about $120,000,000, and when he resigned that office-the administration having changed from Democratic to Republican-official expert accountants, appointed by the City Auditor, examined and found his accounts correct. During his administration of that office-the most important in the city, outside of the Mayoralty-he conducted it on an annual appropriation of $50,000 less than it has been managed yearly since, and he collected a larger percentage of all the taxes than has ever been collected in any subsequent year, besides having a smaller percentage of outstanding taxes than any subsequent collectors-all of which was ascertained and reported by the finance commission when it was investigating the affairs of the departments in City Hall. His experience in the Mayor's office, as well as in the financial departments, gave him exceptional opportunities, which his writings show

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improved, to understand thoroughly all the actual facts relating to the assessment of property, tax rate, debt, loans, and kindred matters.

Above all else, this candidate for Mayor is a prodigious worker. He has always been on some pay-roll since. he began his career as a reporter at the age of sixteen on the Boston Daily Times. He belongs to the two weeks' brigades of vacationists, never, except when he went abroad one summer, having ever had more than two weeks for a vacation. In the early days of the Boston Globe he worked loyally with his only brother, General Taylor, to help build up that now prosperous journal, and he is still at his post of duty.

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Being a worker himself, Mr. Taylor's sympathies are always with those who must earn their living. was the practice formerly at City Hall to suspend a large number of men from time to time. This led to so much dissatisfaction that Mr. Taylor conceived the idea of keeping the laboring forces at work from January I to January 1, or all the year round. He unfolded his plan to Mayor Matthews. The consequence was that the superintendent of streets, who then controlled seven divisions-paving, sewer, street cleaning, etc.—was called in and instructed to lay aside enough money so that it would be unnecessary to make discharges and suspensions for lack of funds. This was the beginning of the permanent basis system of employment, the idea being to carry on the rolls as many men as were actually necessary and keep them busy the entire year. Recently this system was upset. Any one who knows Mr. Taylor cannot doubt for an instant that, if elected Mayor, he would put the force of laborers on a permanent basis again, and not allow them to be suspended for lack of funds, and thereby lose their chance. to go on the pension list, when the pension question is settled.

The next Mayor of Boston should be perfectly familiar with all matters. relating to the finances of the city. Mr. Taylor has not only made a careful study of these matters but he has had such a long and practical experience in the Mayor's office as secretary that he knows exactly how to manage the financial affairs of the municipality to the satisfaction of the citizens.

The coming Mayor will be called on also to so conduct the municipal business that it can withstand the close scrutiny of a financial commission, which, appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth, has full authority to investigate the work of every department and board whenever it sees fit, to ascertain if there is honest administration, or if there is any malfeasance or maladministration.

An incompetent Mayor would soon

get into trouble with this finance commission, as well as with numerous civic organizations, and his services would be very unsatisfactory in a very short time. The municipal business cannot be learned in a few weeks or a few months. Mr. Taylor's special training, therefore, renders him the best candidate for the office at this critical stage in our city affairs.

Boston needs a strong and experienced Mayor. She needs a Mayor who is fully qualified to discharge the grave duties of the office. The time for experimental mayors has passed. The city requires the services of a man who will be the Mayor of the whole city, one who will protect the varied

interests of all the taxpayers. Her citizens are doing some deep thinking on this subject. A factional Mayor could not improve civic affairs, no matter how hard he tried. Mr. Taylor, who has launched himself at the request of Democratic friends and supporters, would not have to waste two years learning the duties of the office, as an inexperienced man would have to do. He is not mixed up in factional political quarrels. He has always been successful in everything he has undertaken. If Boston chooses him for Mayor her municipal affairs will be conducted by a man of good moral character and one whose honesty and ability cannot be questioned.