The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
MIR. MURRAY US HARD LUCK.
Recitation OF One OF tho Former Repubiicsn
Excise Com mi nsionerp


Excise Com mis-ioners.
At the time OF the organisation Of the Cleve-
land and Hendricks Business Mems Club for
the campaign OF twelve years ago. a well-known
Wall street man belonging TO an old New York
family, and enjoying the distinction of being q
lifelong Democrat, faced about politically and
took parti in the Business Mems Blaine and Logan
Republican parade. He had been for thirty years
previous, in fact since the organization Of the Re-
publican party, a loyal and steadfast Democrat.
But he was carried away by the Blaine enthusi-
asm, and on a rainy day in October trudged up
Broadway with his former political opponents.
Two weeks later, when Mr.. Cleveland's election
had been conceded. this former lifelong Demo-
crat declared that luck was evidently against
HMM politics II not In business-for at every
successive Democratic defeat he had been right
in line. only to fall out of the ranks In the hour
of Democratic victory.
This case is recalled by the analogous one of q
Republican politician who has had during the
last'siI months more than his share of political
disappointments. Mayor Strong appointed to tho
Board of Excise In February last two Democrats
and one Republican. The Republican member
was Joseph Murray. who had been the unsuc-
cessful Republican candidate for Alderman in
his district some years before. and had held
Murray was a Brookheld Republican from the
Ioriher iwehtS-mrst. DIAMOND bNcK. district,
from which hail Mayor, Strong. Chamberlain
McCook. Mr.. Brookfeld. and other Union
League Club leaders. Murray was expected to
revolutioniZe so far as q Republican could do 1t,
the business Of the Excise Board: but whatever
may have been the expectations of Republican
partisans In this regard. they were dashed to
the ground when the Albany Legislature passed
York Com missioners of Excise. Preside emit Joseph
Murray among them.
Congressional district. in which the Brookfeld
Republicans and the Plat Republicans are
pretty evenly divided. The Plat Republicans,
under the leadership Of Mr.. Lauterbach, induced
Murray to forsake the Brookfeld column to join
tation. some said. that either the Raines bill
would not be passed by the Assembly. or. IL
passed. he would become Deputy Commissioned
for New York county. He went over to Platt:
but. notwithstanding this. the Brook1eld men
went ahead with their arrangements and chose
Works Commissioner Coils as their delegates to
St. Louis. the Piatt men choosing Mr.. Murray
and Mr.. Friedsam. subsequently the Raines
legislation went through, and II any promise
was made by the Plat Republicans to Mr.. Muir
ray 1t was not kept, for Mr.. Hilliard was ap-
pointed Deputy Commissioner for New York,
Murray is no longer in office as Excise Commits
persona grata with the Platt Republicans. The
Brookfeld Republicans turn him a cold shout
der. and to add to the isolation of his political
there is n plan on foot to settle the con-
test between the two Republican factions In the
Fifteenth New York district at st. Louis by the
of Gen. Coils from ono side and Mr..
from, the other. The effect Of this
ton entirely. and to leave him without the SUD-
port Of either faction.