New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-27
MURPHY STARTS FIGHT.
HES HALF MILLION GIFT.
Lon g Campaign Thought Necessary
ID ErpL0ir OckBeg'S Contracts.

Charles F. Murphy returned &c town last week
from Mount Clemens with the fixed purpose Oh
opening the Mayoralty campaign at once ms IS
an Unusual step for Taurnany leader TO take ana
II a causing great deal of comment in the organ
Izatidn While no conferences have been arranged
lori the purpose of discussing candidates. ny Mur-
phy Is SO fully alive to the precariousness of Tam
fnaS1y's prospects that he is going to get to work
at Eonoe.
T4a general committee Will be reorganized at the
stased meeting on Thursday night. The following
OTHERS viii be reelected:
dent Sergeant Cram; Tst Tioe-pJe eb6 f.
gsEssstocie~e 4reas,TeT F1iiip f. Ionohue; secre-
tarE.I Thomas +. Smith.
The reelection Of thess officers will mean that
Mr. Murphy Is satisfied with the machine as it ex-
Ista at present It is disappointment 10 the Tam
many leaders that Commissioner Oakley has MADE
his department target for public criticism, but
IS ne conducted his negotiations with the lighting
companies with the full knowledge of the big fell
lows on the inside Of Tammany Hall. there is no
objection 70 him ~ the organization. His re-eeo-
toa as vfce-president VIII emphasize his solid
backing by the organization. and it will be notice
70 she lighting companies that Mr.. Oakley is going
TO stand By the contracts made by himself
Mr. Murphy viii be at Tammany Hall at o'clock
this morning talk district matters with the
leaders, and these conferences viii be more fire.
quaint than formerly. Mr.. Murphy does not expect
20 igo away again for several months. Tamnnany
wis start the preliminary work Of the Mayorslty
caBlpatgn better shape 0LanclaIy LudA Was gen
erally supposed. Last fail a subscription OF large
proportions said to have been SIS 600. offered
10 sTRmnany for use in the campaign. 1t is a.
ses,sd that Charles z. Murphy asked the corpora
don rendering the hold IT and double it for
next faIs campaign If this story Is true, 1t means
thst Tauaany will receive nearly $4,000 in one
iu1Isp, and this is only starter The Tammany
district leaders had abundance Of money to
work with in 1903, and it looks now as If they
would have Just much next fall.
Ihe reelection OF Philip T. Donotue means that
Nj. Murphy has found 1t expedient to have per-
sohat friend act treasurer Of the Tanlnany Or
gaalkation. Richard Croker used to be chairman
Of he finance committee and this gave MIN a pres
GEe that made him an unusually wealthy man IN d
few years. Mr.. Murphy, when he became leader
cfEhe organization, Gid not become chairman OF the
1ISalce committee. He exercises the functions mat
Croker did, but a different method -
- T'hs reelection of Thomas F. Smith will be a
aiding RECOGNITION OF the ability Of OF the com
ing men In the Tammauy organization. Mr.. Smith
his developed astute politician while acting
ard Charles e. Murphy To-day he runs the
Eaeater part Of detail work OF the machine and
Ny. lAurDhy more and more depends on his Judg-
uSut ,
SThe Tanrsny tudgeship nominations are causing
g ygpod deal Of speculation. Justices van Bruht'
Css3dhrsleeve and 1ngraham go out. Justice van
lion of the age limit The friends or Justices
GndersleeVe and 1ngrahan expect that Lley wiz
bs renominated but they are not sure or II IN
THE case of Justice GildersleeVe there Is some
elected. he would have only four years 10 serve
Generally speaking, II Is regarded as GOOD polcy
to nominate young men, so that they VIII De apIe
I'd serve at least one full term or fourteen years
The fact that Justice Gidersleeve could serve only
ScsIr years more may deter the Tammany Leaders
rom giving him denomination