New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
FINE CONNERS TACTICS.
LITTER THE CANAL BOARD.
'FiHgey'' Working for Ssperi"-
tendent Who Can't Smell Graft.

Democratic State Chairman William J. Con-
and Charles F. Murphy trying to bring
about the appointment of Colonel Thomas W
Symonds of the United States army engineer
corps as State Superintendent OF Public Works
under Governor Hughes. Colonel Symonds is a
member Of the Canal Advisory Board. and an
engineer and officer OF excellent reputation
Colonel SymOnds whose work IS in Washing
ton nearly all of the time. apparently is entirely
ignorant of the fact that the inspiration for hts
appointment came from sFIngey'' Conners.
Conners's Vaccinations IN the case reveal
diplomat OF unusual capacity. They also give
an object lesson OF the most striking example of
unadulterated political nerve that the state
has seen in many a day.
William j. Corners is reputed 10 be worth
million. He made his money on the Buffalo
waterfront. He knows canal transportation
business like book" He compelled his own
election as Democratic state chairman. and
spent his money literally with the purpose. sp-
parently. OF having good deal TO say about thu
construction Of the barge canal He was conf
dent that the entire Democrats state ticket
would be elected. Had IL been, he would havs
been almost unobstructed in dominating this
canal administration under Democratic Cow
ernor.
When it became certain that Charles r.
Hughes was elected, ''Fingey'' threw UP his
hands in disgust. Instead of having absolute
control OF the Canal Board the Democrats would
have to suffer the chagrfn OF having ap-
pointee Of Governor Hughes sit at every meeting
of the board. on the watch for questionable po-
litical tricks. If the victory OF the Democrats
had been complete. Corners and Murphy would
have been able TO work through any number OF
I schemes for supplies and extras not included in
the regular contracts.
CONNERSS FINE ITALIAN HAND.
Here is where Corners disclosed what is sorns-
Italian hand" No one supposed that hts
anatomy included anything of the sort The
mental vision of ''Fingey'' usually takes in a
picture Of a man handy with his fists. strike
breaker, a contracting grain shoveller and
liquor saloon proprietor. with brass checks
for drinks as Of the "side lines But Mr.
Conners is to be considered, after all. He GER
tainy will bear watching.
Not being able TO get the whole loaf. he and
Mr.. Murphy tried to get half loaf for their
various business connections Even with a
Republican State Superintendent Of Public
Works. Conners was not without hope. provided
the official was some who unfamiliar
with politics and politicians. and would pos
sibly not look too closely into various contract
propositions they before the Canal
Board Corners and Murphy hit the idea
/ OF bringing about the appointment Of
! gineer who. they hoped. would be enamoured
/ of his engineering plans to be ObliviOus OF
/ graft. unless the graft went about bsllowiu<
4 and wearing horns.
| 1t should be remembered that the new Canal
Board is to be made UP follows:
/ State Engineer and Surveyor-Frederick ".
/ skene. of Long Island City. a deputy superin-
/ tendent Of highways. known at Tanmany Han
/ as "Cassldy's man."
/ Lieutenant Governor Chanler
/ Secretary Of State John s. Whalen. formerly
/ a commercial traveller and prominent as a labor
/ organizer
/ liticaI associate Of "sPacky'' McCabe.
( State Treasurer julius Hauser. of Sayville.
I formerly a baker in Sayville-
/ Attorney General William 5. Jackson, or Buf-
falo the choice Of "Fingy" Conners for Attor-
/ The state =uperintendent Of Public WORKS an
appointee of Governor Hughes.
/ The foregoing constitute the Canal Board.
/ 1t will be seen at a glance that the only Re-
publican on the board will be the appointee Of
! the Governor All the others Democrats.
under obligations to Murphy. Conners and
Hearst.
Mr. Conners and Mr.. Murphy. after sizing up
the situation. sent for AR Skene and had .
/ talk with him. They found that he was the kind
| OF Democrat who would stand without hitch
ing"
/ SKENE ALL RIGHT"
'Skere is all right" was their verdict.
/ Skene showed at once that he was "au right
/ in a most unexpected way. and right here IA
where the Conners plan of campaign becomes
/ like a great white way" in politics. Mr.. Skene
/ began to mix with business men. Prominent
/ Democrats in the financial district introduced
/ him around He was introduced to Henry b
Hebert former president of the Produce Ex-
change. one of the pioneers in the barge canal
project. Whenever he talked canal with men
Of the stamp and sincerity OF purpose Of Mr..
Hebert he waxed eloquent on the need OF keep
ing the construction work of the canal out OF
politics.
I'VE ought TO have army engineer for State
Superintendent Of Public Works.. said Mr..
Skene-
\ Mr. Skene's suggestion came to the ears oe
other men deeply interested in canal work. IN
some way that did not provoke suspicion il came
from the start been much Interested in the
canal: Gustav II. Schwab, Frank Braiuerd and
others. Every one seemed TO think we'll Of il.
: Mr.. Skene then somewhat shriukingly suggest
ed that Colonel Thomas w SymOnds. Of the
canal Advisory Board and eminent army
engineer was the sort of for the place.
That suggestion also. seemed 60 meet with in
staut favor.
Nessrs Hebert. Witherbee. Frank Brsinerd
Gustav H. Schwab of the North ticruan Lloyd
company. and 1Ir, CIeary, of the Lake Cham-
plain Transportation Comyany. it is understood.
called personally ON CSOvernor-eIec HCShs in
the interests Of Colonel Symouds NJ, hughes
thanked them and said he would take their sug-
gcstion under advisement,
Meanwhile the Cioyernev-clect's frIruds have
besn finding ont things. They traced the sug-