New-York tribune., 1911-12-05
TO DEPOSE J. H. M'C0OEY
Kings Democrats May Be Ruled
by Committee of Three.
SOME DELAY IS PROBABLE
Effect Will Be, However, to Give!
Ruler of Tammany Final :.
Say in Brooklyn.

John II. McCooey. the Democratic leader
of Kings County. made a last attempt to
settle mis- difficulties with his lieutnnants
yesterdly afternoon. He sent for Thomas
+. Byrnes, Thomas r. Farrell and James
T. Sinnott, and held two hours confer
ence with them, but nothing was agreed
upon. Later, the executive committee met
and discussed changes that must be made
N the constitution and bylaws OF the
county committee TO conform with the new
state laws This morning Mr.. McCooey
and his foes will confer again and try Ia
reach an agreement II none Is reached.
the "antis" will issue a statement with
their names attached. settinf forth their
views. and will fight tho matter out In the
evening, when the county committee meets
10 reorganize.
1t is generally understood that Charles
+. Murphy has no more use for Mr. Nc
Cooey and is not disposed to lend his sup
port TO maintain his leadership. There
has been much talk OF conferences b.
tween Mr.. McCooey and representatives
of Mr.. Murphy, but the rumors arc now
known to have been set anoat with the
idea of covering the tracks OF Mr.. Nc
Cooeys opponents. The plans OF Mr..
Byrnes, Mr. Farrell and Mr.. Sinnott ara
the same as they were when the same
three men were selected by Mr.. Murphy
to head a fight to depose Senator Patrick
II. McCarren from the leadership.
They propose to do away with the oficd
OF county leader altogether and to substi-
tute a committee of three men who ars
not leaders and who have no connection
with politics except in an academic way
The three men now chiefly thought Of are
ex-Justice Augustus Van Wyck, well
known independent; A. Augustus Hesly.
chiefly known as an art connotsseur and a.
patron Of the Brooklyn Institute ot Arts
and Sciences, and ex-Controller Herman
A. Metz, whose large chemical business
can he depended upon TO make him forget
politics part of the time. With such men
! forming a committee at the head OF the
organization. practical political questions
will be decided by Mr. Murphy-ss they
were while the old provisional committee
was in charge after the deposition OF MI.
McCarren.
This would make Mr.. Murphy the virtual
leader of the Kings County organization.
The present effort 10 connect Mr.. McCooey
with Tammany and to give the impression
ousted, is only an attempt TO mIslead the
rank and file of Democratic voters.
At to-nights meeting il Mr.. McCooey
does not resign before night. the "antis'
will introduce a resolution. delaying the
organization a month, and appointing r.
committee OF seven. or eleven. leaders to
confer with all factions. and the prominent
Democrats who are not district leaders.
with the object OF bringing harmony out OF
the chaos which they allege to exist.
This committee will finally decide that No
district leader should be county leader. that
the proper thing to do would be 10 change
the bylaws and place the leadership powers
I'm the hands OF a committee OF three or
five. thus giving control TO Mr. Murphy.
Mr. Byrnes and his friends say they can
depend on l6l Of the 9o1 votes in tho county
committed They also say they are surs
of seventeen of the twenty-three district
leaders standing with them. Register Fred
I.undy. leader OF the 18th District. deserted
them yesterday. but they say his with
drawal will not interfere with their plans.