The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-24
democrats WORRIED
: BY MURPHY'S CHOICE
Tammany Leader Selects
Norman Mack to Head
Destinies of Party

WASHINGTON, Oct 24.-The shad-
ow of the Tammany organization In
New York. ever present. is worrying
influential Democrats in other parts
OF the country. The action of Charles
+. Murphy. the Tammany leader. in
making Norman K. Mack chairman OF
the New York Democratic state COM
mittee is wholly unsatisfactory to the
Democrats OF the country at large,
say Democratic members of the cong
ress who have arrived during the last
few days. Mack Is the present chair
man OF the Democratic national COM
mittee. The only explanation OF his
election as chairman OF the New York
state committee. by direction OF the
Tammany leader. is that Tammany
is reaching out for stronger grip on
national politics.
Tammany is now in control OF the
government OF the state Of New York.
Charles F.. Murphy is the influential
man at Albany. Governor Dix has,
within recent months, shown dis
position to break away from theTam-
many influence, but it is asserted that
every act of importance done by him
since he entered the office of Gov
ernor was dictated by the Tammany
leader. Tammany and big business
are synonymous. Democrats who
coming presidential campaign at heart
see In the effort of the Tammany or
ganization to get grip on the Demo-
cratic national committee and on
Democratic politics generally a move
ment on the part of next years Demo
cratic national convention.
1t is now settled, so 1t would seem,
that Charles F. Murphy will name the
delegates from New York state to the
national convention. This delegation,
the most powerful that will sit in the
convention, may be counted on to favor
the nomination of a man that will be
acceptable to big business. So far
leader Murphy has given no indica-
ton as to his choice for President 1t
he does not want to see nominated is
Governor Woodrow Wilson, of New
Jersey. In opposing the nomination
OF Wilson, he is rejecting the attitude
OF big business, not only in New York,
but throughout the country.
Tmmany's activity at this time
would not worry the leading Demo
Gratis Of the country so much il they
could feel certain that the effect Of
this activity would not be seen beyond
the national convention of the party.
The effect on the election in New
York next year is the thing that is
worrying the Democrats of the coun-
try at large. Just now the spirit of
revolt against Tammany is pronounc-
ed In the state, but this does not deter
Murphy and his lieutenants from push
Ing forward with their plans to control
not only the Democratic party in the
Empire State, but to be an important
factor in the management of the party
at large. The Independent Democrats
In New York are very generally
threatening to vote the Republican
ticket next year. unless Tammany shall
take a back seat. The loss of New
York stately the Democratic nominee
for President would, say those Dem
Ocrats who are protesting against the
activity Of Tammany, probably mean
the loss Of the presidency.
Independent Democratic newspa-
pers in New York, like the World, are
vigorously protesting against Norman
e. Mack holding the office of chair
man of the state committee as we'll as
the craftsmanship of the national CON-
mittee. or course, this particular
situation may be righted before the
presidential campaign comes on
The Democratic national committee,
chosen at the national convention
next year, will select its own chair
man. The assumption is that the
nominee for President will name the |
chairman. Mack could hardly expect
to retain the craftsmanship even If he |
had not tied himself up with the Tam
many organization. Charles F. Muir
ply will no doubt be an influential
factor in the doings of the national
convention, but he will not be power.