New-York tribune., 1902-12-10
LEADERS AND THE FRANCHISE.
! 4 Question as to How Captain Goddard and
Abraham Gruber Stand.

Surprise, disappointment and resentment were
expressed yesterday by many Republicans over
the attitude toward the Pennsylvania tunnel
franchise maintained by Alderman Armitage
Mathews, of the SSfst and Alderman William
Whitaker of the XXth districts. Not they alone,
but the names of their district leaders. Abraham
Gruier and Captain F Norton Goddard, were
linked with the Tammany men who are block
Ing the granting of the tunnel franchise. The
struggle for the passage Of the franchlse reso-
luton has narrowed 10 partisan lines, al
most and there iittla doubt that there is
combine among the Tammeny men that IL
waiting for bribe money or its equivalent be-
fore it relinquishes its opposition. Some OF the
Tammany men are acting in good faith. and
think they are serving the interests of their con
stituents in trying defeat the approval Of the
contract Money alone or its equivalent VIII
secure the support of the combine
Charles F. Murphy. the leader Of Tammany
Hail. whose devious methods in the Dock De
partment were exposed last summer is Keeping
the Tammany men in line for the defeat OF the
ranChise All these facts tend to make the
opposition of Aldermen Mathews and Whitaker
the more inexplicable- 1t is assumed that they
are acting in harmony with the wishes OF their
district leaders Mr.. Gruber took an early stand
against the franchise proposition, alleging that
it violated the spirit Of the Citizens Union pat
form on which Mayor Low conducted his cam
paign Captain Goddard has not taken an ac-
tive interest il the tight for the passage of the
franchise but his friend Whitaker has reso-
lutely opposed it. because OF the perpetual iran
chise clause.
With the party lines drawn almost solidly be
tween the contending forces, and the prospect
that on Tuesday next neither side VIII nave
more than two three votes 10 spare, there is a
great deal of speculation about the course of
Messrs Mathews and Whitaker ana Truper
and Goddard. and whether they VIII continue 10
appear as willing to take the responsibility TOT
defeating the franchise if il should be defeated
Captain Goddard's friends have all along be
leved that the time would come Wnen the cap
,ain'C good qualities would recommend hln 10
the campaign managers as an eligible cann1da'e
for Wavor on the Republican ticket. Many Re
n,Ibiicans predfCted yesterday that his seeming
: temporary alliance with Tammany would hort
t;a &c a Mayoralty candidate When Captain
Goddard was seen at his store yesterday ne
said: So .,dr,,.r Whit
o,+or Generally speaking, | am very much IN
favor Of the construction of the PennsyigHhI4 IA
tunnel but at the same tlfne Wouto "tS -
COO tbe company compelled TO accept a iran.
ST. moi ig moi perpetual The fusion ticket
1oe elected on Il Pla atforn1 that called lot luniIc
-narchin of franchises. Whether or not the
oWneieIin - the terms at the end of twenty
a %aore ousht to be considered as making
tbA franchise less than perpetual IS 10 De cor
iSaS lily when Alderman Whitaker reao a
~ sluea. ,,-aInst the franchise at a committee
ppaartnp in Iuly 1 was in favor or MS gen.
nj n0sttion but did not approve .he Ioflll VI VI
Si remarks ] have had no talk with Aldei Iilaii @
! MS .,a for three months, and do not kno"
that his views are did not S kIl9w ny nov 9 ~,
,ntanded TO vote if the franchlse Iiu coiE IN. ~ ~
~ 81 5ienosftion to-day. My relations toward
1or IiildI ,3 are those of the ordinary citizen
! Iook nj the newspaper heauiilieS iii @ ht
its experiences in the BOARD OF t,Inr IN the
i its talre, no hand one way or the other III 'he
agr1S to Alderman Whitaker does is looked
upon as the result or your
Ieehens some people may take that we" o OF
49,, 1atter" said the captain, but oon ,. sec
| why they should Mr.. "hi''a"'
MAJ aIr Gruber is out of town