New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-28
PHILADELPHIA POLITICS.
Viii Weaver and Durham Haze
Rupture of Relations?

Philadelphia, Nov. p (Speclal-Mayor JONI
Weaver and Israel W. Durham, the Repuphcan
leader here, and the possibilities OF polucaI
rupture between them have been the sweet
morsels for political gossips for weeks. and the
sensation mongers have seized upon the first
disagreement between them TO spread ABROAD
reports of a break which is past healing ana
which would place them in such bitter STRIFE
as to foreshadow the disruption Of the macnlne'
or. as more euphoniously put by nine-tenths OF
the Republican party which belongs to it. the
organiza ton
Disa greement truly there is. but rupture!
Not now. nor-if the mutual friends of the two
most prominent figures in Philadelphia to-day
are to be believed-ever.
Mayor Weaver was renominated and elected
to the Office which he now holds by the organi-
cation of which Israel W. Durham, Insurance
Commissioner of the State Of PENNSYLVANIA, IS
the acknowledged leader. There were many
spots on the machine which needed polishing, II
not the application of acid to eat down into the
real metal. Boss" Durham took trip to
Europe and kept out of the way while the new
Mayor started in on his work of polishing and
administering acid. Smoke came up from many
of the spots, but the cleaning went on just the
same. The boss" was in Europe and just
where he sedulousy kept secret. No
one knew where he until he was about 10
move away to some other unnamed health re-
sort, where the noXious fumes from the combi-
nation of acid and metal could not reach him.
The boss stayed away long enough for Mr..
Weaver to do an appreciable amount Of house
cleaning. The Mayor went about it in style
approved by the reform element and supposing
his orders to have been carried out, the police
and firemen were taken out of politics. and pro-
tected vice could no longer look for shelter
from that source But. while this relieved the
boss of much deadwood, and worse than dead
wood, at the same time the Mayor was deprivng
himself of the only weapon which he would
have power TO WELD in case there came time
when ne should set up in business for himself
and might desire to antagonize the Durham or
ganization politically.
Many other reforms incidental to a municipal
housekeeping has Mayor Weaver effected These
have been. however, entirely outside the line
of politics relating principally to the health and
comfort of the community and have for Mr..
Weaver the unqualified and most richly deserved
encomiums of all who are interested in promot-
ing a healthy moral sentiment by means Of a
sane mind in sane body.
WHERE CONFLICT AROSE.
But John Weaver as Mayor and John
Weaver as politician are not TO be spoken of
in the same breath. The boss has allowed
him, as Mayor, all the latitude he could desire.
I
boss" draws the line at what he regards as
pernicious political activity Mr.. Durham and
his unofficial cabinet have decided that a ward
! leader. Senator William H. Berkelbach. shall
have the nomination for Receiver of Taxes. The
present incumbent of the Office, Captain David
son. has proved his faithfulness to the public,
as we'll as TO the party. but he has been long at
the crib. the younger element is clamorous. and
| Davidson originally the political protege of
awe oTdf -r,.e fNa IA yid Ma
Mayor Weaver had done so much and felt
| the possibilities of his official power that he
aspired to enter the domain of the boss and
| have distinctive Weaver friend chosen for the
office He does not want Davidson, but as an
| entering wedge he suggested that there was
nothing in his record which required his dis
/ placement Durham suggests in turn that If
there is shown anything in the record of Senator
| BerkeIbach which should prevent his nomination
| that moment he will be retired.
| So far Mayor Weaver has intimated nothing
| of such character against Berkelbach, and so
| the matter stands.
Mayor Weaver and Durham have agreed to
| disagree.
Neither has declared war upon the other. but
| IN Tuesday after conference the day before
with Mayor Weaver, Durham announced that
| he had been unusually busy in interviewing
| ward leaders He had seen only thirtysix out
| Of fOrty-two but not one ldQ SdIu MIN nay, ana
Berlzelbachs nomination was assured by the
| votes of the solid delegations from those wards.
| He nrophesied then that before the week
| over he would have the other six, including the
| leader in Mayor Weavers own ward.
| On wednesday Mr. Durham announced that
| the Thirty-eighth Ward-the Mayors-had
| fallen into line, and that night, after long
| conference with Mayor Weaver. the boss"
| walked arm in arm with his honor into the
thanksgiving dinner of the Fellowship Club
| which is composed principally Of politicians in
the Republican organization and their friends.
| Friends of both declare that no machina-
| tions of any element or elements will be able
IN disrupt araicab'e relations.
| CHARACTERISTIC OF MAYOR WEAVER
| rohn Weaver as Mayor of the city OF Phila-
| deIphia has been a success as wen as a sur
| nrise Comparatively unknown outside Of the
| legal profession until he was selected by the
| Durham organization in 1901 as its candidate
| for District Attorney. he has set mark IN the
civic progress Of Philadelphia which VIII strain
| his successors to reach.
| His campaign for District Attorney was one
~ the most spirited which Philadelphia had ever
| witnessed. the reform Republicans. disgruntled
| Republican office seekers and the Democrats
| having fused into what was known for one cam
Continued on twelfth page
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