New-York tribune., 1906-10-14
MAJOR WOODBURY. OUT.
Cs0tinued from nhst page

and Il Is not my intention to stand for n from
Senator McCarren or any one else
When asked IL there was room for doubt about
the intention Of the Mayor to allow the Brook
lyn department to be used for political purposes.
Dr.. Woodbury. said last night:
There is absolutely no room for doubt about
It, I am not disposed TO relate all the con-
versaton that took place while was with tne
Mayor and Mr.. McCarren. ! will go as Tar as 70
say, however, that pleaded with the Mayor 70
keep politics out Of the department went
away feeling that had made no impression on
him I came home and wrote the letter OF res
ignation. Every word In that letter is true.
.Did Mayor Mcclellan ever before try TO have
you use the department to further political In
terests of any kind?"
"IIe did, but dissuaded him from It OF the
previous effort I am not disposed to speak"
The Mayors friends last night rallied to his
defence although no one attempted to disparage
Commissioner Woodbury. for what he had done
One of the Mayors friends said:
Last fall nearly all the sweepers in Commits
sioner Woodbury's department worked and voted
for Hearst. They We're easily led astray by
Hearst agents, who told them that II Hearst
could be elected the hours OF labor would be
shortened, while the wages would be increased
from 50 to SO a day. There was no warrant for
any such promises, but they were believed just
the same Mayor Mcclellan called Cornmis-
sioner Woodburys attention TO the aggressive
work carried by the Hearst men inside the
Street Cleaning Department. The COMMISSIONS
replied that he had made it a practice year by
year 10 read the Civil Service law concerning po-
liticaI assessments to the shortly before
election and assure them that they were at lib
erty to vote their conscience dictated
Mayor Mcclellan after his second election
had made up his mind to appoint a Street
Cleaning Commissioner. Powerful friends OF
the Mayor and the commissioner interceded for
the retention of Mr.. Woodbury.. and the Mayor
finally asked him to stay.
There were many guesses last night with refer
ence to DR.. Woodbury's successor. Some Of the
Mayors friends said that ex-Commssioner
Percival E. Nagle: who beat Nturphys friend
Cowan, in the Both District primaries would
get the place Nj Nagles record as Commits
sioner was not satisfactory. If the Mayor should
appoint him 1t would absolutely confirm the
charge made by Commissioner Woodbury. con-
cernlng politics in the department.
An interesting incident took place in tho de-
partment yesterday afternoon when Commits
sioner Woodbury. made the rounds to say good
by. He is very much esteemed by tho men, The
staff crowded around him and wrung his hand
One or two Of the were in tears. In the
bookkeeping division Mr. McCann the head
bOokkeeper. When Commission woodbury.
reached him, McCann held In his hand a single
sheet containing figures.
What is it, McCann?" asked DR.. Woodbury..
Your balance sheet Mr.. Commissioner" said
Mccain, with q broken voice 'It balances to
a cent. held the boys here late this afternoon
so as to get out for you. thought you would
like TO take 1t away with you"
W. s. Clarke, superintendent OF the Street
Cleaning Department IN Brooklyn. when seen
last night said:
When was appointed by Major Woodbury. I
was requested to keep politics out of the de-
partment, which I have done. / have never had
any trouble with Mr.. McCarren. but II any one
thinks that was placed here to be political
boss he is much mistaken. I have never be-
,longed TO political club. but have been DEM
oorat all my life.