New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
HAFFEN TO SHIFT?
Mcclellan Men Uncertain as to
Bronr BOSS" Attitude.

Mayor Mcclellan and his friends considerably
mysttfed by apparent fOp on the part Of Bor-
ough President Hanen Of The Bronx from Charles
r. Murphy TO the Mcclellan side Mr.. Haffen IS
sachem OF Tanmany Hall. Being sachem
means that he is OF the cOgs in the inner ma
chine which runs the discredted but still powerful
Old organization. Charles +. Murphy dominates
the board OF sachems As a sachem OF Tammany
Hall Mr.. Hahen assuredIy is with the Murphy
wing OF the party but member OF the Board OF
Estimate and Apportonment Mr.. Hafen seems TO
be flirting with the Mayor and his friends.
Whether It is the familiar act OF working both
ends la Sullivan. whether Hafen is getting
ready TO break away from Murphy is question
that is interesting the Tamamny men Just
The proof that he stIn stands with Murphy lies in
the fact that at the election OF Tammany sachems
a week ago he put in for another year. The
evidence To bolster the other contention is that
the newspaper which he controls. THE North Side
News" has swung away from Murphy The pa
per hitherto has been loyal to Murphy. Its lead
ing editorial yesterday follows:
II is we'll for Assembly district leaders to care
fully calculate the cost OF loyalty to Charles +.
Murphy and distinctly realize the inevitable COnse
quences that must follow such course.
Mayor McClean's successor viii be elected in
1909 and serve for another term Of four years end
nearly seven years off and this period Of seven
'rammany Hall must endure a patronage famine II
the present leader has his way.
sdod snadaf 10 Pg he ba bas foTf.ed m
claims to confidence and support.
This prolonged experiences Il Sahara drouth,
coupled with famine which cannot be avoided. will
strength and make It joke in the mouth of its
Does it show "loyalty,, to pursue a course which
several generations has been dominant in the city
OF New York?
Sooner later. in the language Of the prize ring
Charles F. Murphy viii be obliged to throw up the
the loss he Will infct his friends
While George B. Mcclellan is Mayor and during
the term of his successor Tammany Hall will be
as much outside the pale Of patronage recognition
as the little band OF Democrats in Vermont who
year after year. election day. lead fororn
hope against the overwhelming Republican major
ity in the Green Mountain state.
This campaign of the Mayor and Maurice Feath-
erson begins and ends with Murphy, and the
district leaders have only 70 foTsake the sinking
ship and enter the administration fold In order
10 put Il final end to the existing troubles.
Could any solution OF political complications be
simpler than this? Could the enemies of Charles
+. Murphy ask less than this from those who
hesitate to abandon him to his fate?
Charles +. Murphy has made the situation which
has been his undong.
the consequences of his folly permitted to fall
his head alone and II those former friends ne
has driven from himself refuse 10 share with him
the costly honorS Of sham political martyrdom.
If the attitude OF Mr.. Haffens newspaper means
that he has decided 10 go to the Mayor. there
is no denying the fact that tho Mayor and his
friends have useful ally for the primaries next
fall Mr.. Hafen being the boss OF
The Bronx than any other politician. and in the
primaries he could doubtless swing two three
Assembly districts away from Murphy
The Mayor and his friends not buying any
gold bricks these days When they the HaYen
men fighting Murphy at the primaries. then they
will believe they have Haffen. and not until then