The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-29
MI ERMOTT'S SCALP
MAY BE TAKEN BY
LEGISLATURE
Demand for Retention Of As
sistant Corporation At
torney Is Made but Mr..
Michael Will Wait-If Re-
publicans Act McDermott
Will Probably Go.

Thomas McDermott's position as
first assistant to Corporation Attorney
Michael is in danger. Not even the
combined influence of the Democratic
members of the two council bodies can
save his scalp if the bill now before
the legislature making Mrs. Michael's
office elective, instead of appointiVe,
becomes a law.
mot until 1 see what becomes Of
this BILL" said Mr.. Michael yesterday
afternoon to a delegation of seven
members Of the Democratic majority
Of the two council bodies who had
called upon him to request that he
clinch matters by officially announc-
ing Mr.. McDermotts appointment as
first assistant.
you said you would, if we backed
you up with our Endorsement" angriv,
ly spoke Assemblyman DOran, his
voice breaking the silence that per-
vaded the room. The others took
courage from him, but Mr.. Michael
would grant nothing. Il shall take it
under consideration" he answered.
The members filed slowly out of Mr..
MichaePs office, with Assemblyman
Doran in the lead. Disgust was plain
ly in evidence on the faces of some, I'M
concealed chagrin was displayed by the
leaders, while others only laughed and
seemed to regard the whole thing as
JOh6 COule INSTANCE away, leaIl1S
against the stair railing, stood Edward
L. Murphy, of the board of public
works, watching the delegation as it
came out of the office. He was smiling
The members who visited Corpora
ton Attorney Michael yesterday and
requested that he retain and officially
announce Thomas McDermott as his
first assistant. were Assemblymen Do
ran, Haas and Aid. Hinkens, Rohland,
BuSc1mann. BantZ and Huber
Fight Was Long One.
The fight for McDermotts retention
as first assistant corporation attorney,
despite the fact that he is a Repub-
ican, dates back prior and to the time
that former Corporation Attorney
Markham was retired, but it attained
the dignity Of a request when Assem-
blyman Doran called on Mr.. Michael
Thursday and asked that the mattel
be settled for good by Mr.. Michael an
nouncing McDermott's appointment Of
fclally. Mr.. McDermOtt then was SIM
ply occupying the office by sufferance.
Mr.. Michael, so the story goes, de-
INJURED, then asked for further time,
but Assemblyman DOran was insistent
and finally secured from Mr.. Michael
promise that if the request for Mr..
McDermOtts appointment was indors-
ed by the other Democratic members
"All 1 want" he is reported to have
said, lis to be relieved of any respon-
sibility in this matter
well, we will fix all that, the mem
bers will be here tomorrow" Mr.. Doran
answered.
by twos and threes the members
of the Democratic council majority
struggled into the city hall yesterday
afternoon, and it was with a face red
from eXertion that Mr.. Doran finally
hove in sight, Aid. Huber trailing in
his wake, and headed the delegation as
it marched into Mr.. Michaers private
office. When Mr.. Doran finally came
out of the Office his face was not so
red. Anger and chagrin had paled it.
Will Wait for Developments.
ooh, he wants more time" was his
answer to the questions put to him as
to what had happened. Someone got
to him before we did 1 guess"
The someone" is reported to have
been Ed Murphy, of the board of pub
lie works, who, as soon as he heard