New-York tribune., 1906-06-23
MAYOR TO SAIL TO-DAY
LE4VES MURPHY RULING.
Ahedrm's Decision to Support Tam
many Leader DisappOints Mcclellan

Mayor Mcclellan will sail for Europe this
morning on the New York with Tammany Hall
supremacy still in the hands of Charles F. Muir
ply and his Eeutenants. Mr. Murphy has a
narrow margin in the executive committee. as
made clear in yesterdays Tribune Borough
PRESIDENT John +. Ahearn was expected to rally
to the Mayors support. bringing with him two
or three votes and TIPPING the scales in the
Mayors favor. Mr.. Ahearn used to organiza-
ton discipline and grateful for past favors at
the hands of Murphy, has decided TO continue
to support Murphy.as leader
Mayor Mcclellan yesterday appointed Alex
ander Finelite. well known East Side lawyer
and personal friend ot the Borough President, as
city magistrate to succeed Magistrate Pool,
who resigned a few weeks ago This appoint
ment has placed Borough President Ahearn under
certain moral obligations to the Mayor, but it
has made no difference with Ahearn's support
OF Murphy as the leader Of Tammany Hall
Mr.. Ahearns friends last night said that
Mayor Mcclellan had not asked the Borough
PRESIDENT for a return of favors. one of Mr..
Ahearn's lieutenauts said:
Ihere was no string TO the Finclite appoint
ineht Mr.. Ahearn made il perfectly clear to
the Mayor that while he would like to see
fIheHte appointed he would not desert Murphy
as leader of Tammany Hall. The Mayor did
not demand anything from the Borough Presi-
-''"N AiiOAitS appointment mas Hldus
the Borough President feel cordial toward the
mayor Is fact. That is only natural But dis
loyalty to leader in an organization like Tam
many nan IS a very grave matter Ahearn is
strict believer in organization discipline If he
should desert Murphy after receiving favors
from him, how could he expect to enforce dis
clpline in his district organization?
The Mayor and Mr.. Ahearn were temporarily
estranged some time ago. when they had tilt
III the Board of Estimate over armory appro-
priatiOn. Mr.. Ahearn thought he had been
sighted and told the Mayor Lately the old
friendly relations have been re-established and
they have been getting along first rate. Prob
ably the Mayor would like to have Mr.. Ahearn
with him in any fight that he may make against
Mr.. Murphy as leader of the organization. That
is only natural in contest of that sort But
Ahearn could not desert Murphy. The Sullivans
retired Ahearn from the Senate in 1902 and he
to every one that they had use for Ahearn.
When Murphy had the chance he made Ahearn
President of the Borough of Manhattan. How
couid Ahearn, IN the race or that iact turn
against Murphy and go to the Sulivans and
the Mayor? He won't do it.
Patrick F. MCGOWAN, president Of the Board
of Aldermen. will be Acting Mayor from to-day
till September s. 1t is safe TO assume that he
will not mix much politics with the business of
the Mayors office in the Mayors absence. He
and the Mayor warm personal friends. and
Mr.. MCGOWAN will do nothing antagonistic to
the Mayors political interests between now and
September next. He might by stretching his
partment, but if he did il from unworthy mo-
tives the Mayor his return would undo the
work Mr.. MCGOWAN is a peaceloving man,
and he has made it perfectly plain that he is
going to do anything sensational in the
Mayors absence.
Undoubtedly the strife in the Tammany
ganzati0n between the Murphy and the Nc
Clean will go Fire Commissioner
O'Brien is still in control of the patronage dis
pensation for the Mayor, and his bell is rung al
most day and night by the Tammany bone hunt
ers. Some of the patronage hunters go to see
O'Brien with the knowledge and consent Of
Charles F. Murphy. and some Of them go there
surreptitiOusly driven by the need of taking
care of their constituents. Mr. OBrien is be-
coming a sBfuI operator. If he had enough
patronage ne would have Murphy beaten
Like Murphy, however. he finds the Civil Service
a barrier to patronage deals, and he is not able
to satisfy all demands
AS a result Of the disposition Of the Mcclellan
men TO fight TO the last ditch. there is some
question whether Murphy will take the risk Of
naming five new district leaders authorized at
the last meeting of the executive committee
The Mcclellan men declare they will fight any
such move. If Murphy names them he will
have strengthened his hold the executive
committee enormously. II would give him at
least twenty-three out Of forty-one leaders, and
very likely half a dozen who would like 10
switch away from Murphy would remain with
~, ra,crfr,c he