New-York tribune., 1911-02-27
'UITlETON ATTACKS
MURPAYS POLICY
Declares Sheehan Never Was
Even Third Choice of Tam
many Hall.
HITS COMPULSORY CAUCUS
In Letter to Boss" He Says the
Latter Is Substituting Individual
Judgment for Constitutional
Obligations of Legislators.

Judgment for Constitutional
Obligations of Legislators.
Martin w. Littleton, who announced
his candidacy for the United States Sen
ate a week ago. put catechism 10
Charles f. Murphy, boss" Of Tammany
Hall. Yesterday. which embraced by in
ference the most searching arraignment
OF Murphys moves in the battle tor
Sheehan that has yet been put up to the
boss"
Practically, Mr.. Littleton said that In
view of the fact that the result or the
election last fall was Republican de-
feat and not a Democratic victory this
was no time for the boss" TO put his
individual judgment ahead of the con-
stitutional obligations Of the legislators
and that such course could mean moth
ing but De .ocratic defeat in 1872.
The form of Mr.. Littleton's second
open statement of his views on the SEN
atorial situation was a letter addressed
10 Murphy himself. and in it Mr.. Little
ton puts the entire situation as it now
stands UP to the boss alone.
Your organization" he wrote, has
always been a strong one in New York
City and. when not weighed down with
some scandal. it has generally succeeded
at the polls. AS you know, 1t has never
been a popular organization outside Of
tn city, and no leader of 1t has ever
Of no
state or a very considerable place in the
leadership Of the nation. AS to just why
this is true we may differ, but we can
not differ on the fact. OF late years.
even in the city, you have had to go
ortside Of your own ranks to get can
didate in order to win. At the last state
convention you were in control, but IT
would not have been so but for llck Of
leadership outside of New York City"
Fails to Reap Benefit Of Success.
After commenting upon the growth Of
independence of party control which
voters are now manifesting. and point
ing out the advantage which the Demo-
cratic party might reap from the results
Of the last election, Mr.. Littleton re-
views the previous statements OF Mr..
Murphy. when the boss starting for
the battle which turned out TO be a siege.
declared that Sheehan was not the Tam
many choice, but was. in his, Murphy's'
Judgment the best man for the place.
'It seems that the Senators and As
semtiymen," he wrote, according TO
the last information on the subject.
voted for Mr.. Sheehan because you
wished them to; and ii appears that
they are continuing TO support him for
the same reason. These Senator'S and
Assemblymen who are proving their
loyalty 10 you by supporting your
choice have constitutional duty
TO discharge. That duty requires them
10 choose Senator. They under
took the performance of that official
duty when they took their oath of office.
You have no such duty 10 discharge.
You are not required to choose a Sena-
tor; and you did not undertake the per
formance Of such duty by taking the
obligation of an oath"
The point he wants to make TO Mr.
Murphy, [ Mr.. Littleton wrote 10 that
gentleman. is whether he thinks it wise
or just 10 push his leadership to the
point where a compulsory caucus is to
take the place Of the constitution
where he will substitute his personal
judgment for the Official judgment of
the legislators sworn to decide the mat
ter
you have. I think. publicly stated
/ that Mr. Sheehan was not your first.
your second or your third choice" he
wrote. You hav. stated that he was
not the choice of Tammany Hall. The
sole reason which has been publicly
given for your support is that you think
| him the best fitted man for the place
/ in New York State. You have thus set
up your individual judgment as to his
fitness against the wishes Of your own
organiza ton; against the opinion Of the
Senators and Assemblymen who are
4 members of your organization.
do you not think that you would
strengthen your organization, improve
the Democratic prospects and act in
obedience TO the purpose and meaning Of
the constitution If you Withdrew the in
fiuence cf your individual judgment and
openly released every Assemblyman and
Senator from any obligation which he
may feel to YOU, from any sense Of party
loyalty, anG left them free to exercise
their own choice"
Danger of Continuing Deadlock.
Taking up then the possibility Of a
continuation OF the present deadlock,
Mr.. Littleton points ont that such a
proceeding might endanger the reci-
procity treaty with Canada, for lack of
the full Senatorial vote of this state. and
adds that Democrats all over the coun-
try are vitally interested i'm seeing the
New York situation cleared up. A
united Democracy in New York is an
essential for Democratic success in 1912,
writes Mr.. Littleton. and all Democrats
know, he adds, that "a united Democracy
in this state cannot be had if you at
tempt TO extend the control of Tammany
Hall TO other sections Of the state"
In conclusion. Mr.. Littleton says
plainly that he is not asking for the sup
port of the Tammany boss" for his own
candidacy. but he does ask that the
Murphy influence in Albany, on the
present Senatorial situation, he with
drawn.
His letter in full follows
The Democratic party I'm the nation and
In, IL % hn a real 0nInriNnifN TO