The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-24
WEAVER TURNS ON THE GANG,
REMOVES TWO OFFICIALS AND
ENGAGES ROOT AS COUNSEL,
Org snizAton by Its Hold on Councils
Hopes to Tie His Hands-Ring Pre-
pares 10 Fight. Hires Lawyers and
Declares the Gas Lease VIII Win.

Hopes to Tie His Hands-Ring Pre-.
pares 10 Fight. Hires Lawyers and
Declares tho Gas Lease Will Win.
PHILADELPHIA, May 23 Mayor Weaver
has declared open war on the Philadelphia
| organization and has retained Elihu Root
former Secretary OF War, as his personal
counsel He has used the az in City Hall,
and has already filed the places Of the de-
capitated. Panic in the ranks Of the orgapi-
zation has turned to defiance, and the forces
are lining up for war.
Early this morning the Mayor sent letters
to his Director OF Public Safety David
Smythe and to Peter stello, his Director
Of Public Works. asking for their immediate
designations. Smythe controls the police
and fremen. Costello Is the main stay Of
the contractor Senators, McNiohol and
Ware, and Is the City Hall heart OF the ring.
To this request, which came as COM
plete surprise to the organization, the
directors sent similar letters. They sent
/ their designations, to take effect when
my successor qualities
To these designations the Mayor replied
sharply. The directors were to hand in
their designations within two hours uncon
ditionally or they would DO dismissed
The directors then refused to resign, as
did also Arthur Morrow, assistant director
Of supplies, 80 the Mayor dismissed them.
The Mayor can remove his directors, but
his appointment Of their SUCCESSORS must
be approved by Select Councils. Select
Councils, hostile to him almost to a man,
will not approve his appointments. The
Mayor will appoint again and again. The
law will be invoked to enjoin his sppointees
from taking their seats. The police and fire.
men without head discipline gone and under
orders OF ward bosses, may do their will.
A very serious situation Ia more than .
possibility
The Mayor then appointed I'D interim
Col. Sheldon Potter, lawyer and member
OF Gov. Pennypacker's staff, as Director
OF Public Safety. and A. Lincoln Acker,
merchant and business man, as Director
Of Public Works. Col. Potter knows
lot about tandems and four-in-hands, but
little about police. A. Lincoln Acker
knows all about groceries. but Is blissfully
ignorant on city contSsote.
At tho same tiirHs that he announced
his appointments the Mayor also announced
that he had retained Elihu Root and ex-
Judge James Gay Gordon as counsel. He
needs counsel bscause Councils say that
if they don't approve Of his appointments
NE must name some one TO please them.
The Mayor says he can keep on appointing
and appointing until the COWS come home.
Y am In this fight to the bitter end he
also said Against the gas lease and kin
dred jobs to the DEATH"
After the first shook had passed. away
the organization began to tighten its lines.
A call WAS sent out to the ward leaders.
but it was not necessary. The news OF
the Mayors action had spread like light
ming and already the leaders and the heelers
had begun to troop in. They gathered
about City Hall and the Betz Building. where
Durham has his Office.
Meanwhile. Durham and all his more i'm
portant followers were closeted in the
Office Of P. A. B. Widener. The blow to
the organization had come 70 swiftly that
even they were temporarily stunned. They
knew that the very life OF their gigantic
political machine was at stake. When
they emerged later in the day it was with
the resolve to stick together and fight to
the end. They again announced that the
L. G. l. gas lease would be put through.
At 3 O'Clock this afternoon they began
ator Penrose's Office in the Arcade Build
ing. Besides Penrose there were present
Durham, Seger. Smyth, Costello and every
important ward leader in the city. The
conference was called to map out the fight
that will now be waged against the Mayor
In the meantime, all day, the organiza-
TONS followers fingered outside. waiting
and watching. The organization has re-
tanned an array Of lawyers that will exceed
the Mayors in numbers. There will be
such a network woven around Weaver
that he will be hard pushed to move.
The lines have been sharply drawn. To
the Mayor are focking the malcontents,
Dave Martin, Sandy Grow, Of the Fifteenth,
who was read out Of the organization. and
Thomas Hicks, once postmaster. now eX-
pert statistioian with thousa nd personal
hatreds to satisfy. They are trooping
to the Mayors banner, these political out
casts. and are side by side with the real
refornes.
Elihu Root said last night at his home In
this city that he had been retained by Mayor
Weaver, He would say no moro on the