The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-18
CHOSEN BY BOSSES FOR JUDGES
THE HEARST-MURPHY TICKET A
DIVISION OF SPOIL.

Suits Against the Hearst Corporation
for Hundreds Of Thousands Might
Come Before His Judges -Murphy's
Nominees Politicians Or Friends.
Charles F. Murphy. the leader Of Tam
many Hall, has not profted by the ex-
perience of his predecessor. Richard Croker.
In the matter Of judiciary nominations.
In 1901, when Shepard was running for
Mayor against Seth Low, Mr.. Croker, who
We looked upon as a very wise leader.
undertook to reward two Of his friends
and to punish n Of his enemies through
the medium Of judicial nominations. Even
he. wise as he was, was not apparently
impressed by the disaster to the party q
decade before. when an attempt was made
to force on the people a Judge whose repu-
tation had been smirched.
So Croker refused to renominate Justice
Joseph F. DAILY, an upright and just judge.
because this jurist had refused while on the
bench to make a place for Michael I. DAILY,
whohad been a devoted henchman Of Croker.
He also insisted on nominating Robert A.
Var Wyck, with the scandal OF 1.-THE ice
trust fresh upon him, and Charles W Day
ton, a political hack, who always was OPP
posed to Tammany before this favor was
granted. The result was that these two
candidates we're beaten and two straight
Republicans with excellent records, JUS
tees Blanchard and Clarke. were elected.
Justice Morgan O'Brien, whose record on
the bench was unassailable and who prac-
tically had the Enforcement Of the Republic
cans and independents, was reelected.
Mr.. Murphy went much further IN his
recent judiciary convention in making
nominations for the bench a matter OF per-
sonal favoritism and partisan politics
Apparently not the slightest attention was
paid to the qualifications OF the candi-
dates. except in a single ~case-that OF JUS
parcelled out in strict conformity TO the
bargain that had been made between Hearst
and Murphy. by which Tammany Hall
got six places and the Independence League
four. On the Hearst side but one man named
Is considered by lawyers 10 be fit TO sit on
the Supreme Court bench, and a is JUS
tice Samuel Seabury. Even he ia a bitter
partisan Of Hearst, against whose cor
porations and holding company suits FOR
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars damages
are pending in the courts. Justice Seabury
has been severely criticized for his politl-
cal activity. Recently he has devoted much
Of his time to the affairs Of the lndepen-
dence League.
OF the other Hearst candidates none, in
the view of lawyers, has either the ability
or the learning or the balance Of character
. necessary for so high and important an
Office. Recorder COT came in on the reform
wave that was started by the LeNow inves-
tigation. He had never given any evidence
of the judicial temperament. and he has had
more decisions reversed by the Court OF
Appeals than any Judge that ever sat on
the General Sessions bench. The first Moll-
| neuX trial was a notable example. He was
nominated by Murphy at the express de-
mand Of Hearst because Hearst thinks
that Gof has a large Irish following.
John Ford, who used to he a Republican,
rests his fame entirely on the Ford Fran
chise law, which was originally so badly
bungled that Gov. Roosevelt had to call
anextra session of the Legislature TO make
il workable. Several years ago he got
into a row one night in the Tivoli, a notori-
Gus dive that has since been closed up by
the police. The story Of the aftray was
printed in all the newspapers at the time.
Dayton used to be a county Democrat,
and upon the recommendation Of the late
Col, Daniel Lamont he was appointed
in 1893 postmaster Of New York, His
work at the bar has not been conSpic uous,
and he was once defeated by the people
of New York when he attempted to get on
the Supreme Court bench.
Of the Murphy nominees John j. Brady
is merely a politician and Office holder. he
is on Of the right hand men Of Louis +.
Haffen, the boss Of The Bronx, and it wasin
recognition, not Of his judicial qualities,
but Of the work he did in The Bronx before
the primaries in the interest Of Haffen that
got him the nomination. Haffen's interests
and Murphy's we're identical in this fight
and H6ifen, with the aid of Brady, carried
three Assembly districts. The delegates
from these three districts supported Murphy
at Buffalo in the State committee and in
the committee On contested seats. Mr..
Brady in a director in several corporations
which deal in real estate, one OF them the
Geizler-H Haas Realty Company, which is
looked upon as the Official company in
The Bronx.
NJ. Marley Platzek has hung around
Tammany Hall and the Democratic Club
for years but this is the first time he has
been substantially rewarded for his SER
vices to the organization. He has done
law work for corporations and he is presi-
dent and a director in the Fidelity Coal
and Iron Company Of Tennessee.
Peter Hendrick has been called Murphy's
personal counsel, put he denies that they
have such relations. At any rate he APP
peared before the gas investigating com-
mittee as counsel for the New York Con-
tracing and Trucking COMPANY when
Charles +. Murphy swore that he had no
financial interest in the concern. Hendrick
has always been close to Murphy, and his
nomination is said to be a reward for his
long services to the boss. He is reputed to
be a lawyer Of very ordinary ability.
Mitchell L. Erianger is n brother Of the
| theatrical manager. He is one of Big Tim
Sullivan's allies in politics and his nominal
ton was said 70 be the price Of Sullivan's
switching to Murphy at Buffalo after Sulli-
van had fooled Sulzer by pretending 70 be
for him for Governor.
Ex-senator Guy has represented the city
at Albany for the last two winters. de has
never done anything in a legal way to stir
the community, but he has been faithful to
Murphy politically.