New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-27
MURPHY CUTS RECEPTION.
Dull National Committee Feast at
Democratic Club.

The absence of all the big leaders of TAM
many Hall, including Charles F. Murphy Mayor
Mcclellan. w. Bourke Cochran and Victor IL
Bowling, was significant and much remarked
feature of the Democratic Clubs reception 10
the national committeeman last night. Murphy
sent letter of regret that caused nearly as nuch
comment at the Democratic love feast as the
Parker gold telegram at the st. Louis concen-
ton. The letter. which dated at Tammany
Hall. and addressed TO John Fox. the clubs
president, was carried by a special messenger.
1t read as follows:
My Dear Senator: I regret extremely my ina
bility TO attend the reception tonight given by
the club to the members of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee because of an important APP
pointment made few days ago which IL is inn
possible for me TO break. Hoping that the re-
ception will be a gratifying success In every
way, L remain.
Yours very truly.
CHARLES F. MURPHY.
None of Murphy's friends apparently cared to
explain the matter had any idea of the nature
of the important appointment" elsewhere. The
reply Of ex-senator Fox to reporters was: You
have the letter; don't know what was the ap-
pontment anything further than that I
ceived the letter by special messenger" On the
theory, possibly. that If Mahomet will not come
to the mountain the mountain must go to Ma
hornet. Murphy intended yesterday to visi t
Esopus to-day in company with either Justice
Morgan i. O'Brien w. Bourke Cochran or
both In view of the fact that the national
committeeman will visit Eeopus in body to-day
a fact which may have escaped his notice in the
general stress, it is entirely probable that the
visit will be deferred until later in the week.
It Is understood that while invitation has
been extended to Murphy by Judge Parker the
Presidential nominee told Justice O'Brien on the
occasion OF recent visit to Esopus that he
would be happy to see Mr. Murphy at any time
he cares to come" Mayor Mcclellan expects TO
visit Esopus later in the week
The only possible advisers OF Murphy among
the Tammany district leaders seen at the recep-
ton were John T. Oakley and ex-Sherif Dunn.
While the absence of big Tammany Hall men
cut a formidable rift in the Lutte the reception
largely resolved itself into love feast. besides
marking an informa! opening of the campaign
for Parker and Davis.
Virtually all the forty-nine members Of the
Democratic National Committee were present
Ex-senator HILL William F. Sheehan. August
Belmont and Bird S. Coler were also there.
Both Senator Hill and Mr.. Sheehan were the
centres of admiring groups all evening. The
members OF the committee left the Hoffman
House IN body. under the leadership Of Ser
geant-at-Arns John l. Martin. soon after o
o'clock. and arrived at the clubhouse at about
$50 The informal reception lasted until after
10 o'clock. when Mr.. Fox. taking Chairman
Taggart by the arm, led the way to the feast.
There were no set speeches. but Mr.. Fox felici-
tated Mr.. Taggart on his election 10 the chair
manship of the national committee, and the
latter felicitated Mr. Fox the reception
which the club had rendered TO the members.
There was more informal talk OF this charac-
ter in which hope for the success of Parker
and Davis struck the dominant note.
While the reception in progress down
stairs large buttons bearing the portrait OF
the Sphinx OF Esopus, were distributed. The
board of governors OF the Democratic Club
Seld a meeting prior TO the reception. and de-
cided on hosting a Parker and Davis flag in
front of the clubhouse within few days. and
Mr. Fox was empowered 10 appoint a campaign
a