The sun., 1907-12-19
BIDDING FOR FOUR N. 0. VOTES
BOROUGH PRESIDENCY, DEM. OR
REP, DEPENDS ON THEM.

R OnIces We're 10 ne offered for Votes
GrlEenhagen. Rep, Could Mid Higher
Than Aheauh, Dem, but OF Course
Nothing Like That Is Contemplated.
Whether the next Borough President shall
be a Democrat or a Republican apparently
depends on the votes to-day OF the four
NJ. O. l.. Aldermen from Manhattan. These
four men-Torpey. Levsrstt. Noonan and
Cronin--hOld the balance Of power at the
special meeting called for to-day. and from
all accounts they intend to make the most
Of it. There are seventeen Tammany
Aldermen and sixteen Republicans who are
entitled to vote. and nineteen votes are re-
quired to elect Ahesrn's successor.
It was not until yesterday that the dom
inant four began 10 realize their Importance.
On tuesday the Republican leaders OF the
board satisfied themselves that there was
nothing in the law providing that the new
Borough President should be Of the same
political faith as his predecessor. and il was
decided to put up n Republican candidate.
Alderman Max 8. Grifenhagen. most likely.
Charles +. Murphy got wind OF it and sent
for the four NJ o. l.. members. He told
them that they had really become Tam
many organization men. and that he hoped
that they could be relied upon to vote with
the Tammany side OF the house. From
what could be learned at The time all four
gave assurances to Mr.. Murphy. but they
are said to have seen a great light since.
Alderman Leverett. for instance, said yes
terday that he had not definitely decided
how he would vote and that he would have
to consider the matter further.
Tammany men fear that the Republican
leaders OF the board are angling for the four
NJ. o. l.. votes. Mr.. Grifenhagen made no
secret Of the fact last night that he expected
the four men to vote for him, but he denied
that his anticipation was due to any induce
ments that had been held out 20 them.
What he is after is to prevent such a scandal
as the reelection Of Ahearn. and 10 prevent
it. of course. by the election Of Grifenhagen.
As a matter of cold fact Grifenhagen IL in
position to offer the four far greater in
ducements than the Tammany organizs-
tion could. Should Ahearn be elected he
would find it difficult to throw out Of office
four straightOut Tammany organization
men in his department to find jobs for the
four Hearst men. With Grifenhagen elected
the case would he different He would
have a large number of jobs to give away
Not one Of these four NJ. o. Aldermen was
reelected last November. and unless they
can flatk something else all four will go of
the citys payroll at the end Of the year.
Little Tim Sullivan sent out a call yester-
day to the Tammany Aldermen 90 meet in
caucus at o'clock this afternOon in tho
City Hall. half an hour before the election
meeting. The caucus is expected to settle
on Ahearn as the Tammany candidate
Both Big Tim and Little Tim have been
fighting under cover for the naming OF
ex-CorpOration Counsel William Il. Ellison.
hut MIR. Murphy would not stand for it.
He insisted on what he terms a vindiCation of
Ahearn. and as the Sullivans could not COM
mand the votes Of all the Tammany Alder .
men without the sanction Of Murphy the
SuIliyans will have to give way 10 Murphy
unless Murphy should change his mind again
before this Afternoon Ahearn's friends said
last night that there was no prospect of
anything of that kind happening All that
Little Tim would say yesterday was IF
MIR. Ahearn should be the candidate Of the
caucus ! will vote Cor him and do all l can
to secure his election
Mayor MctIShan VIII presfue over tne
special meeting to-day. The Charter pro-
viles that in the case Of a tie the Mayor
snail cast the deciding vote. How the
Mayor would act II that dilemma should
be forced upon him was subject Of much
curious speculation last night The po-
,Fition he would probably he placed In would
be of having ~ give the casting vote for
either Republican or foe candidate who
was forced on the Tammany Aldermen by
Charles + Murphy