The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-18

cording to the story in this towns most
confidential political circles. and Tenn
many was approac hed.
Just who opened up the matter with
Tammany, cannot now be told. It is
ore of the mysteries that investigation
will solve, provided eminent gentlemen
don't become afflicted with la1se Of
memory. At any rate, somebody ap-
pears to have opened an approach TO the
great Murphy, by the way of Dan Coha-
Ian, Tammany sachem and intimate ad-
wiser Of Murphy.
Cohalan LAS Interests.
Cohalan has some business interests
and affiliations, too, which at times are
interested in legislation. He saw pos
sibilities Of advantage In such trade;
but the story avouches that when he
laid the proposal before Murphy, that
luminary SHE'D violently. Regularity-at
least, the vigorously maintained pre-
tense Ge party loyalty on the surface of
things; the kind OF loyalty that can be
sworn 10 with confidence that nobody
viii indict you for per1ury-that has al
ways been the cornerstone OF Tammany
strength. Murphy fOresaw that for
Tammany, never too strong in the conf
dence of the national Democracy, to de-
sert. openly and in the view of all men.
at such a crisis, might be ruinOus.
Il looked like a failure, with Murph.'
stanl-ug by the old traditions o. reg
uldrity.
Get Murphy to understand that you
can make 1t decidedly easier for him
in the mayoralty fight" urged McCar-
rem. He wants regularity; but first of
ali he wants TO continue his rule"
and so as the next step. IL is Charg-
ed, assurances were conveyed to Tam
many that If he would help save Can
non and the rules-either or both, as
might be neCesSaTy-the friends of Can
non organization would aid Murphy by
a Ia
Of any fusion project in New York city,
ana 10 get man nominated who should
be weak enough to be an easy mark
Tor Iammany's nominee.
But Murphy stiH hesitated, and the
very hours were getting precious. Those
were hours Of terrific suspense and
gnct rtainty, an day Saturday and
Saturday night Murphy meditated ana
refused to consent. Sunday the Wash
ington crowd became beseeching, in
( their agitation. Cohalan. IL is said was
pleaded with 70 use his utmost perS va
sion with the dictator Of Tammany. But
/ Sunday passed, and Sunday night, and
still no word from the man who from
! MS desk at Tammauy could decide the
future of the National House. Mon
| day morning came. The House was TO
| be organized at noon, and still Murphy
| held of
Leaves Conference to Aides.
Noon came. and the Speaker. haggard,
worn and agttated. left the last con-
ference Of his aides IN his private room.
marched across the corridor to the
! House chamber, and appeared on the
! floor. His supporters aTplauded wildly
at his appearance. Most OF them, in
sOoth, did not know the desperation Of
their plight. There was even the omin-
I GUS shadow Of uncertainty whether The
| Speaker could be reelected on the Fl. IT
ballot The rules were defeated ur
[ less the re-eHforcements should come
: from New York; the reinforcement
/ that must decide whether that day
/ Waterloo would make "Uucle Joe" a
/ Napoleon or a wellington.
But the sturdy old Speaker never put
( on better front, never was more
completely ia command Of his every
/ faculty. than In that moment Of su-
preme trial. The House was almost q
mob. II was the climatic moment of
the long and bitter fight. Feeling ran
( higher than the House had known il
in many years The Speaker would
probably win by a close margin, and
/ the rules stood TO lose by a still closer
one. A dynasty was at stake.
( Clerk Mcdowell mounted the platform
/ and raped the House 20 order. The
I business was the election Of a Speaker,
and in the midst Of the most intense
/ excitement the House proceeded to that
/ business. Still no word had come from
New York
( The Speaker was elected; the first
| bridge had been passed. The Democrats
/ had not been delivered, and had not