New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-07
TIE CHAMPIoN OF BRoeK1yN.

Murphy's account of the cause of his quarrel
with McCarren receives confirmation from Com
missioner McAdOO. If we had merely the word
of the Tammany boss against the word Of
the Brooklyn boss, the average citizen would
have small basis upon which TO found an opn-
ion. But Nh McAdoo is man who commands
public respect, and he has convinced the people
of the sincerity of his efforts to maintain order
and avoid that free rein to the criminal classes
which commonly accompanies Tammany dom
ination. Under his administration police disci-
pllne is somewhat lax. and the three platoon
system has given the STRIKERS of the force what
they wanted. But he has been firm against
the re-establishment of the old matchmaking
system, and has refused to tolerate gambling
and immortality. When, therefore, Mr.. McAdoo
declares that his reason for removing his Brook
lyn deputy, Haggerty, the partner of McCarren,
was HaggertyS attitude toward vice and the
lawless elements. he delivers a serious blow to
McCarrens pretence Of virtue as the protector
of Brooklyn from the evils of Manhattan life
and politics. The Commissioner declares that
the difference with Haggerty not mere
difference of personal opinion but of sentiment
as to the principles of police administration.
Under the McCarren domination Of the police
situation across the East River, according to
Mr.. McAdoo:
Brooklyn was threatened with a marked in
crease in gambling in its various forms; dis
orderly hotels and houses and streetwall1ing be
came alarmingly on the increase. The discipline
OF the force was endangered. I compelled
to take personal direction OF the police affairs
in the borough. The conditions were not good.
and all the circumstances and facts known to
me made ii clear that unless the evil tendencies
were checked and new men put in charge the
situation to become much worse. I
had Brooklyn most carefully investigated by
impartial. reliable agencies. Under my per-
sonal direction evidence was obtained and raids
closed and the lawbreakers Of the borough were
given TO understand that the whole power OF the
police machinery would be used vigilantly and
increasingly TO suppress them.
So this was the attitude toward law and de-
cency of McCarren. the champion Of ''the Dor
ough of homes"l This is one OF the reasons for
his belated war to keep the Tiger from cross
ing the bridget Last fall, when nearly every
body, including the rank and file of the Tam
many voters themselves, thought that Tammany
victory really meant the lid off," and sporting
men were planning TO equip lawless resorts in
Brooklyn as soon as the Tiger should cross the
bridge, McCarren was perfectly convinced that
the Tiger was only nice, big. tame cat just the
thing TO have in the vIrtuous Brooklyn home.
He asked the people TO watch him stroke it
and hear it purr. So he took the Tiger across
the bridge, and then, when it is unexpectedly
good and refuses TO play naughty tricks with
him and his partner, he turns and tells the
people OF Brooklyn how anxious he is for their
sake to send such wicked beast back to Man
hattani
We are fully prepared TO believe that there
are other causes for the fight than that men
toned by Murphy Perhaps some OF the fnan-
cial interests long VIGOROUSLY close to McCar-
rem are angry with Murphy. Perhaps McCar-
rem and Murphy are in personal rivalry for po-
litical power. There may be hundred reasons
for their unpleasant relations. But how happy
1t must make the Democrats Of Brooklyn to
feel that TO this sport and lobbyist as the flower
OF Brooklyn knighthood, is intrusted the cham
pionship Of the borough against Tammany tyr
amy, and that one of his chief efforts was 10
prevent the tyrant from closing up the criminal
resorts of Brooklyn! What an inspiring cham
piOn Of pure homes and local self government
Brooklyn Democrats have in the noble, disin-
terested honest McCarren!