New-York tribune., 1904-05-30
MURPHY'S LAST HOPE.
STRONG FOR MCCLELLAN.
Sees in Mayors Candidacy Only
Hope of SaUing Himself.

mating Grover Cleveland for President would be
an absurdity, facing a revolt within his own or
ganizaton and confronted with overwhelming
odds in his opposition to Chief Judge Parker in
the State. has taken the open in urging the NOM
ination of Mayor Mcclellan for President. This
is the only avenue of escape left open for him.
he believes. and while his most intimate
political and personal advisers admit that there
Is little hope Of securing the nomination for the
Mayor, it was the only step, they say, he could
take to avoid being accused of dog in the
manger" tactics and sullen and unreasonable
opposition to the will of the majority in his own
State.
The opposition OF Murphy to the nomination
OF Judge Parker when he had candidate of
his own has placed him. in the opinion OF many.
In an untenable position His friends have told
him that he could not sustain that stand. and
his enemies have made much capita! OF it.
Many of those whom Murphy had hoped to bring
10 his support have failed him. One of the most
powerful Democrats in the country within the
last few days has made his views known TO
Murphy in no uncertain terms. This man, who
holds no political position and is absolutely in
dependent in any attitude he may take, has be-
come deeply incensed at Murphy's opposition to
Judge Parker, and after warm controversy
over the attitude Of Mr.. Murphy said:
This Is not question of ex-senator Hill
question Of the candidacy of Judge Parker.
Judge Parker occupies the highest judicial posi-
tion in the country except that OF the Chief JUS
tice OF the Supreme Court OF the United States.
He Is dlgnifed intelligent. able and clean. He
IS the choice of the majority Of the Democrats Of
New-York State. The State convention has in
structed its delegates to vote for him at the
National Democratic Convention I'm st. Louis.
You have no candidate. and YOU are allowing
petty factional fights and ward politics to in
fiuence you. Your position is untenable. 1t is
an insult to the great mass of Democratic voters
Nnrl Sfntn T4,s1ry lu lid
by no person He stands head and shoulders
above any other candidate named. and If you
persist in this guerilla warfare we will drive you
back to tending bar.
MURPHY ANGERED BY IT.
This statement delivered directly to Mr. Muir
ply has deeply angered well alarmed the
Tammany leader. He has looked in every drec-
ton for support of his attitude. but has found
little 10 encourage him. Mr. Murphy believes
that James NJ. Guffey. the State Democratic
leader OF Pennsylvania VIII be with him. 1t
was learned here to-day that Colonel Guffney is
not at all in sympathy with Mr. Murphy's at
titude.
A personal friend OF Colonel Gufrey said II
did not approve instructing the New-York dele
gates for Parker. think that should have been
left open Murphy's great mistake is that he
attacks a favorite son. against whom not sin
gle word can be said. Had he a candidate of his
own who was avowedly IN the Geld Z. would
nave been a different proposition. 1 think ne
was justified in his fight against instructions OF
delegates, but do not believe that he will make
any headway IN opposing Judge Parker on per-
sonaI grounds
II was said here tonight that Colonel Guney
Is far from unfriendy to the candidacy OF
Judge Parker and. while he opposed instruc-
tions Of the delegates from Pennsylvania he
believes II best 10 wait and see how matters de-
velop without openly antagonizing any one. II
is understood that recently Colonel GufTey and
the representatives OF Judge Parker have talked
over the situation. and that if Judge Parker
makes any considerable showing at St louis
the first or second ballot Colonel Guffey and
the Pennsylvania delegation are willing to swing
into line and support him II is understood that
for this support Colonel Guffey will have a re-
sponsible position in the management of Judge
Parker's campaign. and will be a potent factor
in the administration should Parker be elected
Another serious setback for Murphy in his
warfare against Parker is the attitude OF Sena-
tor Gormar The Senator has been regarded
as a candidate for the nomination. and Murphy
hoped that enough support would crystalline
around German to make him dangerous factor
and enough votes would be attracted from
Parker to German TO make Parkers nomination
impossible. II is said here that within the last
few days friends OF Judge Parker and of Sena-
tor German have been in close consultation, and
1t is announced tonight that It is far from an
impossblity that the German forces will swing
for Parker in the national convention and in re-
turn Senator German will be chairman Of the
national committee and direct his campaign.
This would make him powerful factor in ad-
minIstration circles IL Parker should be sue
cessful
This is the situation which confronts Mr.
Murphy as he watches the waves tumbling in on
the beach. He reticent and uncom-
municative as ever when seen to-day at the
Brighton Hotel.
He had gathered about him his most trusted
leutenants, and through them it became known |
that Murphy would openly make the fight for
the nomination of Mayor Mcclellan. Those who
talked with Murphy ]. Sergeant Cram. ex-
Sheriff Dunn, John T. Oakley. Jefferson NJ |
Lew Lewis Nixon and Charles V. Fornes 1t is |
understood that Murphy's talk with Fornes re- |
lated TO city affairs.
THE SITUATION IN TAMMANY.
If Mcclellan should be nominated for Presi- |
dent the situation in Tammany Hall would be
interesting Grout has recently joined hands
with AcCarren and is again fighting Tammany |
Hall Fornes on the other hand has broken
with Grout and is very close to Murphy He |
had a long talk with Murphy to-day. and it is |
understood that he has agreed to be a straight
organization man." and do exactly as Tammany |
wishes il he should, through the nomination of
Mcclellan for President, become Mayor.
Murphy and his associates realize that their |
very political existence depends on this fight |
He believes that If defeated in the contest. Hill
and McCarren are determined to reorganize |
Tammany Hall and drive Murphy from the |