Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-06-03
TOPICS In NEW YORK
Open War Between Tammany
And The Republican
Machine.
Two Republican Police Commits
sioners Removed.

New YoRK, May 22.-The war between
Tainmany and the republican machine,
which was foretold In this correspondence
last week, has broken out, and the under
standing in regard to the distribution OF
the oihees has been declared on.
Mayor Van Wyck caused the breach yes
terday by removing the two republican
police commissioners, Thomas L. Hamil'
ton, Of Manhattan, and William b, Philips,
Of Brooklyn, because they refused to con
sent to the retirement OF Chief John Me.
Cullagh and the elevation of Deputy Chief
William $. Deyery.
Jacob Hess, until yesterday a Plat re
publican. consented TO take MIR. Hamll-
TONS place In the police board. A meeting
Of the board was held and the Two demo-
Gratis and Hess. with the mayors approval,
retired McCullagh and made Devery act
ing chief.
Mayor Van Wyck, after the removals
had been announced, made statement,
in which he deted the Platt machine The
republican leaders are extremely indig
nant, and they declare they will light IL
out to the end. They feel that Tamtnuny
has played fnlse and that, after making
Van Wycks election possible, they have
been duped.
There Will be a realignment Of the pc
litical forces In the city, as result OF the
quarrel between the machines. Either the
republican factions will be harmonized OF
the Piatt organization will become In fact
a separate organization.
As the presence of three parties in the
field would tend to Tammany success,
Mayor Van Wyek's action seems to tend
to republican harmony. Only by uniting
the party strength can the Platt men hope
to punish Richard Croker and his follow
ers for what they regard as their breach
Of fuith.
Republicans feel that they have the best
Of the situation In the police quarrel
which precipitated the difficulty. They
say il is Tammany's purpose to cater to
the lawless elements and revive the CON
ditions which were revealed by the Lexow
Investigation. They have refused to be
parties to the Generalization of the police
force, they assert, and they say they are
satisfied that they will be upheld by the
people In their refusal.
II the organization republicans can have
their way Mayor Van Wyck will be re-
moved by Governor Black in retaliation
for his removal of Police Commissioners
Hamilton and Philips. Another sugges-
ton made last night was that an extra
session Of the Legislature be called to
deded the Platt machine.
Senator Plat refused to discuss Mayor
Van Wyek's action, but he shares the IN,
dignatiOn which the machine men feel at
what they term the outrage committed
by the mayor"
Louis Il. Payn, Frederick s. Gibbs and
former Commissioner Hamilton met IN
conference with senator Platt last night
In the Fifth Avenue Hotel. and appealed
to him to do something to conSihce Tam
many that 1t had Nude a mistake 10 at
lacking the representative Of the republi'
can organization.
Acting Chief Devery Is devoted Tam
many man. He was charged by the Park
hurst society with having levied II tax on
vice In return for exemption from police
Interference and was dismissed. He VIII
make no scruple In regard to taking or
ders from Tammany. He began last night
to make the changes in the force which
the organization wants, and IL is expect
ed lie will get rid OF the republicans and
put Tammany men In their places as fast
as possible.
Chief MeCullagh insisted upon strict
enforcement Of the law so far as he was
able to accomplish 1t. He had had the
captains before him several times since
January to give them Instructions In re-
gard to the closing of gambling resorts
Under bin the city had been practically
free from gambling, and he had planned
to begin a campaign soon upon other form.
Of lawbreaklng which have given the po'
lice much trouble.
1t Is generally believed that Richard
Croker selected Devery for chief Of police
before be went to Europe. Mr.. Croker, it
is said, favored him because Of a belief
TINT he had been accused unjustly, and be
cause he knew him to be man Of courage
and good policeman.