This was the final mayoral election held prior to the consolidation of Greater New York (including Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) by a public referendum in December 1894. As a result of that referendum, Strong's term as mayor was extended by one year, making this the only election to a three-year term in office.
In 1894, a more aggressive Senate investigation chaired by Clarence Lexow publicized New York Police Department corruption, bribery, and complicity in prostitution rings under police chief Bill Devery. During the hearings, Croker fled the country to Europe and Devery feigned an illness to avoid criminal prosecution. The Lexow Committee ultimately published over 10,000 pages of testimony, uncovering an institutional system of "extortion, bribery, counterfeiting, voter intimidation, election fraud, brutality, and scams" with direct involvement and leadership by high-ranking Tammany Hall members.[1][2] In response, Mayor Gilroy appointed a bipartisan board of police directors, but his popularity had sunk, and he did not stand for election to a second term.[1]
In addition to the Tammany and police corruption scandals, the national fiscal depression dampened support for the incumbent Democratic Party in cities across the country.
General election
Candidates
George Gethin (Prohibition)
Hugh J. Grant, former mayor of New York City (Democratic)
James McCallum (People's)
Lucien Sanial, newspaper editor, economist, and activist (Socialist Labor)
William Lafayette Strong, banker (Republican, Empire State Democracy, New York State Democracy, Democratic Reform, and Good Government)
The Democratic nomination initially went to department store magnate Nathan Straus, but he withdrew after two weeks, fearing reprisals against his businesses.[3]
Results
Strong received support throughout the city, particularly from German and Jewish immigrants.[3]
