The Irish standard., 1903-05-16

come in at once and greeted me with
pleasant smile. When told him of
the curiosity the readers Of The Record
Herald felt concerning the new leader
of Tammany, he answered quietly: II
try to keep out of the newspapers"
And when 1 asked him for his photo
graph he remarked that he did not be-
lieve people would think as we'll Of him
when they saw how he looked; but Mr..
Murphy is really fine-looking man.
He has sharply cut Celtic features,
blue eye, full of humor, and strong
mouth showing boldness and deter
mination. Although he is only 44
years old, he looks still younger. A
stranger would take him for man of
30, and when he smiles and shows
fine set of teeth you would call him
"a handsome young Irishman"
With the understanding that he was
not to be quoted, because he makes 1t
a rule not to be interviewed in the
newspapers, Mr.. Murphy talked freely
and frankly concerning his position,
power and policy. He is unpretentious
| and makes no boasts, but ut the same
time showed no false modesty con-
cerning the Importance Of the position
he occupies and the responsibility he
has assumed. He is getting ready for
''the biggest fight in the political his
tory of New York." and at the election
in November expects to recover for
Tammany the control Of the city gov
ernment In order to do so and to
strengthen the Democratic party in the
state, he has adopted a policy Of con-
ciliation and is trying to bring into the
organization every Democrat in the
city, regardless of his past affiliations
OF record. His plan is to invite every
body, whether they have been friends
or foes, to assist Tammany in the COM
ing municipal campaign, and he has
been thus far very successful.
Mr.. Murphy introduced this policy
while he was member of the trium-
virate last year. 1t was he who per-
suaded Bourke Cochran to make "the
long TALK at the Fourth of July cele-
bration, and it was the first time that
eloquent orator had attended a Tam
many meeting since Croker drove him
out Of the organization. When he made
up the list of delegates to the Saratoga
convention last year Mr. Murphy
selected the foremost Democrats Of the
city without regard to their relation
ship to Tammany. Half Of the men
on the delegation would have been shut
out by Croker, and even by Hill if he
had had the power.
1t was Murphy who induced former
Senator Hill to speak in Tammany
Hall during the campaign for the first
time in fifteen years. and he was
equally successful in persuading former
President Cleveland to write letter in
dorsing the Democratic ticket. which
you will remember was read Mt a big
Tammany meeting. When the ticket
was made up last November. Mr.. Muir
ply did not limit the candidates to
Tammany Hall but nominated men Of
high character representing other Dem
ocratic organizations, which were
formed by men whom Croker had driv-
en- out Of the Tammany society. AL
most every Democratic organization in
the city was represented ON the Tam
many ticket, which not only resulted in
bringing out the largest Democratic
vote that was ever polled in New York,
but produced the friendliest sort Of
feeling among the different organiza-
tions and the greatest consideration for
Mr.. Murphy personally.
This sort Of work. he told me. had
been continued all winter, and the re-
suit is that the Democrats Of New
York are getting together" Such
men as J. Edward Simmons, John G.
Carlisle John D. Crimmins, Ashbel p.
Fitch. Daniel s. Lamont, Charles s.
Fairchild and others who have been
the leaders Of the anti-Tammany Dem.