New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
COLER LOOKS TO TAMMANY
EVIDENTLY WANTS THE wIGWAM NOM
NATION FOR MAYOR.
CHANGED TONE OF HIS SPEECHES SEEMS
TO INDICATE THAT HE HAS GIVEN UP
HOPE OF ANTI-TAMMANY SUPPORT.

TO INDICATE THAT HE HAS GIVEN UP
HOPE OF ANTI-TAMMANY SUPPORT.
Controller Coler has. as a matter of fact, be-
gun his canvass in quiet though earnest way
for the Tammany nomination for Mayor next
fall. His political assets include the following
First-"Reguar" Democracy. he having voted
ard worked for the regular Democratic ticket
last fall.
Second-His anti Ramapo record: his scheme
which facilitated the financing of the rapid
transit system his stand against commercial
ism in politics" and his alleged strength with
the labor organizations
Third-His views on franchise ownership
wherever possible. and the lowering of taxation
by the simplifcation of municipal government
Certain Tammany district leaders. who above
anything else want to retain their lucrative Of
fees, working energeticaIIy to make Coler
the only available candidate for Mayor by mid
summer. and one Of two schemes will be used
To force Croker to take up COer. one of these
is for the Tammany district leaders to pledge
the support of the Organiza tiOn TO Controller
Coler I'm his efforts 10 have the city acquire its
own water supply. The Republican Legislature
is practically doing this now but Tammany.
needing something for an issue. will claim credit
for pushing it to fnaty. When Croker gets
home Late in the spring he will be apprised of
Il
objection to Coer. Then. according to Mr..
Coer's friends the Tammany district leaders
will line up for and against CoIer. Mr.. Croker
will ask that Coler be eliminated from con-
sideration. and will he supported by such lead
ers as Michael G. Murphy. Patrick Diver. Coro-
ner Edward T. Fitzpatrick. Tim" Sullivan.
William Dalton, Daniel =. Mcmahon. Pat"
Keenan,. Charles +. Murphy. Thomas + Nc
Avoy. Maurice F. Holahan. Maurice Feather
son. Harry c. Hart and Commissioner Nage.
The other leaders will show such reluctance in
supporting Croker 10 warrant him in saying
10 go ahead and nominate whatever man seems
to be the strongest with the people. Then the
Coler men VIII have their inning
The other plan discussed is 10 let the Brooklyn
Democrats lay claim To the first place on the
ticket, inasmuch as New-York named the Mayor
the last time. This viii give Coler's friends a
chance 10 bring him TO the front and his stand
Ing with the Tammany district leaders will win
instant Endorsement by the City Convention
With between 10000 and 1900 Democrats on
the payroll. II IS a serious thing FOR Tanmany 20
consider a campaign with a possible defeat.
Coler is believed 10y the Tammany district lead
ers 20 represent the winning margin in the COM
ing fight. and there Is a feeling that. while
Coler may make all sorts Of trouble for hundreds
% men holding sinecures, II is wise 20 take half
a loaf rather than lose all
Controller Coler had conference with James
Shcvlin and Bridge Commissioner John L. Shea
az the Wllloughby-st- auction rooms yesterday
morning Shevlin IS the acting head OF the
Brooklyn machine organization while Hugh Nc
IArrNl'a {, -at1It" esh and eating oranges on
the Indian River in FLORIDA Shevlin held the
Brooklyn delegates intact az the Saratoga con-
vention when many Of them really wanted 70
vote for Coler for Governor. The only that
got away was OTTO Ke-7unar who nominated
Mr IN uff NafFr her as
at the close Of the conference II he and the Con
troller Were good friends again He said they
always had been good friends. but had simply
held different Views on certain matters.
The Tammany leaders have made note OF the
fact that of late when Controller Coler has said
anything about local conditions he has practt-
cally defended Tammany. and charged the high
taxes 10 man latoTy legislation passed by the
State LEGISLATURE Last fan Mr.. Coler said a
number of things that made Mr.. Croker angry.
He referred 20 Crcker's testimony before the
Mazet Committee 10 show that the leader OF the
Tanmauy organization believed in CONNER
cialism In politics" and Croker In reply said
that the Controller mixed up in number
of Jobs himself He threatened 20 squech
Coler at the State Convention, and he carried
out his programme almost 10 the letter The
change I'm the tone of the Controllers recent
speeches has made II clear TO Republican poll
tcians that Mr.. Coer expects nothing from the
anti-Tammany forces. and that he is going 10
cast his lot with Tammany.
As late as In December last there
strong sentiment among men prominent I'm the
Citizens Union organization In favor OF support
ing Coler for the ant-Tammany nomination
Senator Platt's outspOken condemnation OF Coler
on account Of his support Of Bryan checked this
feeling I'm the Citizens Union, and for the last
eight weeks nothing has been heard about can
didates at the Citizens Union headquarters At
the time that Mr. C0ler was speaking and writ
INK about Commcrcialism in pohtlcs many Clti-
Zens Union people believed that he wanted the
-Tammauy nomination for Mayor Repuh
Hcan politicians and members of the Citizens
Union now assert that the Controllers speeches.
Indicate that he is Out-and-out Tammany
man. They cannot find anything I'm his recent
remarks which indicates that he would run on
an anti-Tammany ticket
Experienced politicians smile and predict
that a boom started at this time of year IN
yariabiv comes to grief hut Tammany officials
friendly to Coler say that n is not too early Tor
them To be planning to make their places sure
after next November