Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
HEARST TURNED THE TRICK
Gaynor Is Elected Mayor, But Loses
the Board of Estimate.
MURPHY'S POWER IN BALANCE
Whether He Can Hold His Grip as
Organization Leader Is Now
the Question.

special From a Stan Correspondent
NEW YORK, November 3.-Tammany
loses its coveted hold on the board of
estimate and the patronage OF the county
Offices. so dear to its heart.
And William r. Hearst turned the trick.
The game which high financial inter-
ests framed up with the consent of
Woodruff. Parsons and the republican
leaders and Mr.. Hearst's gleesome par
ticipation, to have him run for mayor at
the head of the fusion city and county
tickets was a winner.
The votes which Hearst attracted to the
ticket, added to the votes of the republi-
cans and independent democrats, swept
Tammany from control of the board of
estimate and from possession of the mi
nor offices. No one thought the scheme
would elect Barnard mayor. The pro-
moters of the plan expected to get moth
ing more than the board OF estimate, but
they grabbed off in addition the county
Offices
The financial interests back of this cam
paign have every reason to feel as joyful
as the Tammany hackers have to be sad,
since the possession of the board OF esti-
mate is complete. Tammany will hold
only three votes out of sixteen, those of
the mayor Judge Gaynor.
Two questions Immediately come to the
front for consideration, namely:
Will Gaynor make good his ante-elec-
ton threat TO resign if he did not get a
friendly board of estimate?
Bad Blow to Murphy.
Will Murphy be ousted from his place
crushing defeat? Z.
first uueSt ion cap opIy he answered
by Judge Gaynor himself. AS to the Sec
ond, the opinion widely prevails in Tam
many circles that Murphy will have to
20. He has been under fire for two
years more i'm his own organization,
and has been freely criticised for many
alleged bIunders.
Richard Croker, now in this country,
regards Murphy with disfavor He thinks
hn has been ''fathead" to use Tam
many phrase. Croker will. according to
information at hard. advise a change in
The chieftainship of Tammany. The ad-
vice of this old he-tiger of Tammany Is
still valued by the rank and file. and if
he sets to work in earnest to oust MUIR
ply, why, it is likely to be a case of
ausgespiel with the young leader
Murphy's course will probably depend
largely upon the extent to which he can
his clutch on the police department, as
sure the wide-open town he has promised
and Gaynor has apparently sauinted at
if he can have full swing with the pat
ronage at the mayors disposal, he may
hold his grip.
But he will have to be given a free
hand. The loss of the county Offices and
the borough presidencies with their pat
small fry of Tammany. They were not
so much interested in the larger ques-
tions of finance connected with control
of the board OF estimate. but they were
intensely concerned in the thousands Of
small jobs dispensable by the heads Of
departments. They will blame Murphy,
and unless he gets something to throw
to the wolves he is in bad way.
Gaynor's Opportunity.
III Judge Gaynor were a politician he
would find himself In a position to as
sumo the head of the democratic party in
Greater New York and make Tammany
subsidiary. Brooklyn influence in the
board of estimate now outweighs Mar
hattan's. Brooklyn will have its innings.
Brooklyn democracy is without a leader.
since McCarren's death. GaynOr. i'm COM
bination with his colleagues on the board
OF estimate. could seize the Brooklyn
organization. smash Murphy in Manhat-
tan and reorganize the party. But no
democratic politician Of prominence here
abouts thinks he will rise to the oc-
casion.
From exultant JOY to deepest despair,
in few hours, was the experience of the
group OF leaders gathered in Tammany
Hall last night. Early in the evening.
the first returns showing Gaynor rolling
up such a smashing plurality. and the
Tammany districts showing good returns
led the chieftains To believe that Gaynor
might pull their county ticket through.
This was more than they had expected up
to that time, AS for days they had re-
allied the chances were In favor Of the
fusion victory on the county ticket and
they went into transports of joy.
Joy Turned to Despair.
BY o'clock the returns began To
change. and from that hour there was
a steady slump. Boss Murphy. with a
lump In his throat and a scowl on his
face, watched the reports piling up their
tale OF Tammany disaster, and it was
not until IL 30 that he finally gave up.
IL is probable however. that the woes
of Tammany will soon cease to attrac;
attention, and public notice Will be turned
to the board OF estimate and the WORK
cut out for II. The moves of the success
full traction and financial interests Will De
watched with growing concern. and the
talk will be about subway extensions and
contracts
The board OF estimate constitutes the
most important power I'm the city gov
ernment under the present charter. II
has control over the awarding of fran
chises and even power to determine the
term of franchises. Its jurisdiction ovel
the expenditure OF city moneys Is com
plete. Appropriations for new bridges
parks. sewers. street extensions and al
public works are under Its control II
levies all assessments and votes the issu,
OF corporate stock for permanent i'm
povements.
Mixed Board Of Estimate.
The political complexion Of the board, a.
now elected, Is checkered. The mayor 4,
democraf-whether a Tammany demo
crat or not remains to be tested Tn
controller, Prendergast. is a republican
The president Of the board OF aldermen
Mitchell. is a democrat of most pro
nounced Independence. Borough Presiden
McAneny IL an independent democrat
Borough President Steers and Borough
President Gresser are democrats, an,
Borough President Cromwell is a repub
0entinued on Eleventh Page.)