The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-14

The reasons for the bitter Demo-
cratic warfare in New York are found
in the antagonisms of financial inter-
ests, as the Washington Post some
time ago intimated. The New York
World yesterday devoted the major
part Of a page in setting forth the
ramifications of that situation. which
country much concern. Governor
Odell and other Republican leaders
are charged with having business in
tereStS involved in the quarrel.
According to this account Leader
Charles T. Murphy and Daniel f. Nc
Mahon a wealthy Tammany man,
formed some years ago an alliance
in the letting of large contracts for
street railway work and dock con-
struction. Murphy was ambitious,
after being made leader of Tammany
which position Mcmahon did not care
for, TO branch out into the field of
high corporate finance. When Will
liam G. Whitney retired from active
management of his traction properties,
Mr.. Thomas e. Ryan, of New York
and Nelson county, Va, succeeded
him and became the Metropolitan
railroad. During the same period in
which Ryan was growing into power
as a railroad magnate, Mr. Anthony
n. Brady WaXed great as magnate
in the consolidation of gas and cleo
trio lighting interests. He also ac-
quired some street car lines which he
eventually disposed of to the Metro
poltan road. Ryan and Brady pro-
posed to consolidate the railroads and
gas and lighting interests of New
York city under one great corpora
ton. They wanted to include about
everything in New York. except the
air. Ryan, long a close friend of
Leader Murphy, interested him
greatly in the big scheme.
But Mr.. August Belmont and his
banking house had financed the under
ground railroad project successfully
and saw large opportunities for the
| construction of more subways After
selling his Louisville and Nashville
stock, Belmont purchased the elevated
systems. Murphy Ryan, Brady and
others wanted to absorb also the
underground and elevated roads, but
| Mr.. Belmont refused to be swallowed
Governor Odell and his friends were
| interested in the Ramapo Water Com
pany, also involved in the consollda-
| ton. The Remsen gas bill over
which there was a big political fight
| likewise had a hearing on the con-
| solidation, and it is claimed that the
necessary legislation was enacted
after a full understanding with GOV
ernor Odell. The ramificattous eS'
| tended to Albany and to both political
parties. There were severaL bitches
| in the programme, some of minor
| character, but of Importance in de-
| fecting the officials and politicians
| from their original agreement. Ryan
! and Brady did not altogether succeed
| with their legislative programme a
| Albany, and Governor Odell baikeC
| against signing the Remsen gas bll
| because, as claimed, Mayor Mcclellan
vetoed the civil-j justice bill, so-called
But the refusal of August Belmon
| to accuiesce in the consolidation wa:
| what incensed Murphy and Ryan
When Belmont became the financial
hacker of Judge Parker's prelimlnar.
campaign for the presidency Murph.
| began to oppose him, and has con
tinued to do so to the present time
! 1t is not alleged that Judge Parker
was identified in the slightest with th'
big consolidation. but Murphy ant
Tammany Hall have been fighting jus
| to even up scores with Belmont.