New-York tribune., 1908-08-21
LANTRY STEPS DOWN
Resigns Leadership to Man Selected
by Murphy.

A. a meeting of the general committee of Tam
many Hail. called at his own request ana heio
last night at the Mohican Club. No I'll EAST toth
street Francis j. Lantry, former Commissioned
Of charities and Corrections and later Fire Com
missioner in remarkable speech formally re-
signed the leadership of the 18th Assembly bis'
trict At the same time he turned the aistrel
over TO his friend John j. Harrington, who hao
been chosen last week by Cnarfss D. MuIpHs "
oppose LantTy
Andrew J. Fleming. a member of the general
committee presided at the meeting. in the ao-
sence of the chairman. e. f. Boyian Commis.
sioner Lantry. who has been leader OF the oislrc'
for nearly fifteen years. invited Harrington ano
the members of his newly organized ChickasaW
Club to the meeting. and when itswas over thes
hurled the hatchet. all agreeing to work Tor the
good of the district
IN his speech Mr. Iantry said the Democrats of
The district were entitled TO certain amount OF
patronage. which they would not receive from MT.
Murphy while he tLantry) was leader, and tna'
IN a Presidential campaign 1t was not wise, III
his opinion to permit district TO be spht INTO
factions that would imperil It,
I'm deciding upon this STEP said Mr. Lantrs
in his speech, 81 am moved by consideration ol
more than local Importance. 1 appreciate the " Iac'
that / have great many friends who would sup
port me- a fight of this kind would certaiis
make its effect known on Election Day. 90 ho'
wish to be a party to any scheme when VIII Iahe
awav from the Democratic column in this distric'
would be cast for the candidates on the Demo
cratic ticket from top 20 bottom
.eThe Democrats in this district have been ou'
in the cold long enough. and If by resignlng the
leadership can help the district workers shall
be better pleased than by retaining the Leadership
at such a cost to my friends / have come tc the
parting of the ways of my political leadership.
1T is a distinct pleasure to turn over the ieader-
ship to Mr.. Harrington. who has been my frieho
for twenty-five years In doing 50 l ask you to
support him with the same loyalty with which you
supported me- and by means of which. through
sixteen years. we have changed the district from
a Republican district TO one of the strongest
Democratic districts in greater New York
In replying TO Lantry's remarks Mr.. Harrington
said that under no consideration would he ever
have permitted his name TO be mentioned as ar
opponent of his old friend Frank Lantry If ne
had not thought ii for the best interests of the
party in the district to do so.
I'm spite of the fact there is a Chckasaw Club
in the district" Mr.. Lantry said, after the meet
ing there is but one Democratic Club We are al
one big family
Isntry was a Tammany Hall district captain
for many years and twelve years ago was made
member of the Tammany Hall general committee
His first public Office that of alderman
Mavor Van Wyck appointed Lantry to be Com
missioner Of Charities and Correction, ano
Nsvor Mcclellan reappointed him. AFTER appoii't'
ing him Fire Commissioner, which office he helo
for a number of months. the Mayor obtained MI
Iantry.s resignation In the campaign two years
ago Mr. I.antry's organization knifed l1ea' 81
and like Patrick H McCarren, In Kings Count'i
he incurred the enmity of Charles + murphy
leader of Tammany Hall