The New York herald., 1876-12-05
THAYERS DECLINATl0N F0RESEEN.
Did the Mayor Mean to Help
Green
A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS FATE
The Sad Mr.. Green To Become Merry
Andrew in the Parks.

surpr,se that The Tammany Aldermen were paryzed
and the Taumauy leaders dumiounded. On ordinary
occasions nomination unexceptionable would have
been confirmed without any delay. but different
name had been expected up 80 the moment the seal
OF the Mayors message broken and the announce
Of the contents, and the astonshed Aldermen
sought refuge in the ten days delay. As soon
a. the news OF the selection made by the Mayor
became known outside tho politicians At once asserted
Mr.. Thaycr would not undertake the arduous du-
ties to which he had been invited, and although the
nominee has taken unusually long time to make up
his mind whether not the fascnations Of once are
sufficiently strong to outweigh profits OF private
business the result shows that the doubts a. TO his
septance had good foundation. Mr.. Thaycr declines
II last, ard now tho democratic leaders, breathing
more freely, are agitating the question. "what was
The meaning Of HIS nomination."
WAS 1T AN .sARTRuL popGEs"
The discussion of this point in the vicinity Of tho
City Hall became SO general when Mr.. Thayer's nnal
tion that this chapter in our
local financial history would be incomplete without
record of opinions OF Of tho prominent lead
ers on the subject Que Of the principal Tammany
officials who is OF Mr.. John KeIy's nrmest adne-
rents, thus expressed himself to-day:--
.sThc nomination Of Mr.. Thayer 'artful
dodgc' tho part OF Mayor wickham. The Mayor
led everybody TO believe, up to the very moment he
sent Mr.. Tnayer's name that ho had determined to
nominate different person. He told the Mayor elect,
almost in many words, that Mr.. John Kelly would
be his apponlee. He had long since doubt, made
up his mind to play preliminary game with the Alder
men for two purposes-hrst, probably through pri-
understanding with Comptroller Green, and next,
order hold the Com matter until
the once of Corporation Counsel should be vacant
Ho did not want to have comptroller confirmed
before his nominee for Corporation Counsel should go
before the Boad OF Aldermen. In case the Comptrol-
Ter should be out OF tho road the Aldermen would
have it all their way to confirming reject
Ing a corporation counsel Mr. Thayer just tho
nominee in such situation his qualifications
undoubed his character faultlcss his services the
party unquestonable; his acceptance somewhat moro
than doubtful Wickham knew he could be
rejected would not be confirmed, and weuld in
tho end almost certainly decline The nomination
shrewd an expedient for tldng temporary
emergency, that many believe originated in the brain
Of Comptroller Green and not in the Executive Cham
bern
ARE GREEN AND wIcKHAM FRIENDS.
ssBut do you suppose that Mr. Thayer would party
10 any such expedien his nomination is imagined
have been 2"
s.By Mr. Thaycr is intriguing politi-
can nothing about the and interests Of
individuals In his party and is too squaretoed honor
able gentleman to lend himself to aconstruc-
two deception He has not been damaged by the
nation he has received. No doubt he is naturally
grated to have had the eyes Of his party for the mo-
ment turned upon him as one Of It's most conspicuous
cnefs and the distinction is honor to which his
many and great services Justly entitled him. The main
question is however, whethcr the Mayor. in nominal
ing bim, had any very sangune expectations that no
would accept the place.
OBSTRUCTIVE ANDREW.
ssThat Mr.. Green will contest the right Of man,
f.c r.
Ter of the city OF New York seems now TO be plain,
and il the newspaper reports of al-day conferences
between that gentleman and the Mayor week
pco are true be further little doubt but that
the Mayor informed If not officially, at least
fdentiay OF the intentions and views of the de aco
Comptroller Is it not, at least, possibility that
Mayor wickham may have desired to draw Mr.. Green
out lit lie uncquivocally than he appeared
bc willing declare himself without external pres.
sure before sending the OF his iavorite candi-
date? Time pressed and the law forced him to make
q nomination immediately Had ne enjoyed leisure to
examine in detail the extraordinary claims which Mr.
Green contemplated raising he would possibly have
held back until sha gentleman had been either com
PEELED by less positive measures to show bis hand
or had been induced TO retire gracefully from the
field. But this impossible, and the most
natural way gaining time clearly to send in the
name OF gentleman who would, in all human proba-
biy, ma II out OF MS power 10 accept. ana Wno IN
any could last resort, be knocked down again
by an intelligent Board OF Aldermen"
THE
ssDid not Mayor Wickham show hostility TO Mr..
Green by sending in TO the Board Of Aldermen legal
ppnioss hostile Mr. Green's pretence that the Mayor
has power to appoint Comptrolierr
.Not at ALL He could not have done Mr.. Green a
better service His action gave foundation TO- and
built up, as it were, Mr. Green's case. The Mayor
advertised the world the fact that there was his
opinion legal question TO his right TO appoint q
Comptroller and he only produced couple OF op,n-
TONS pare statements, adverse 70 Green's claim
Every ono knows tnat could put in dozen legal
opinions the other way look upon his action in this
respect in the interest OF Green He has put Green
into court and justified his Intended Litigation
one expect the later TO accept without objection
wthouta fight the ss pdrte OPINIONS OF the Mayors
THE coxprRoLLER's LITTLE GAME.
s'Have you any idea that the Comptroller know Of
or advised the nomination OF Mr. James ). Thaycr as
his SUCCESSOR"
..wclI, let US look at the squarely wickham
and Green have been very friendly and In sympathy
ID much o. their official action recently. You know
we'll enough how they fought chronicaly in the Board
OF Apportlonmcnt and snapped and snarled at each
other in every meeting OF the Board, up to a short
ago. when they suddenly united In acous oppos
tion TO the transfer OF the Park Department funds
from one item to another particularly provided Tor
In the charter The Mayor who had heretofore been
; warm friend OF the department, became suddenly |
Impressed with the soundness and honesty OF the |
Comptroers obstructive policy. Supposing that he |
had made an alliance with Green he could not possibly
have sent that officials name 10 the Board OF Alder
men, as its rejection would have been certain |
and immediate. But delay Is valuable to |
Green 1t is to Wckham The former, If |
he has a game to play, OF course wants the |
fight his Office to he postponed until alter the
new administration comes IN, when he may hope TO |
make a bargain for himself on consideration of the |
abandonment oil his contest or to get rclie from
the Legislature. The Mayor, the other hand,
wants his Corporation Counsel confirmed, and prob.
ably bclievesh he compel confirmation by refusing 10
nominate The Comptroller whom the Aldermen want,
until he secures his point IL may be said that he
can only thus delay the appointment OIL Comptroller |
until Mr. Ely takes the Mayoraity. but by that time,
YOU must remember, the Legislature Will be
should Mr. John Kelly be nominated and confirmed |
now Le would have actual possession OF the Office by
some means or another before the Legislature
an, Mr. Green would the disadvantage OF Gghting
nuislda Instead Of bclng