Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-15
HITS At SAEEAAN
. Sergeant Cram Attacks
Senatorial Candidate.
OPPOSED TO HIS ELECTION
Declares New York Lawyer Is Rep
resentative Of Interests.

NEW YORK, January 14.-An attack
from behind the lines on William r.
Sheehan, one of the leading candidates
for a seat in the United States Senate.
threw the whole battle front into con-
tonight that the situation would clear
until Charles F. Murphy, at Albany. saw
fit to speak his mind.
Murphy's friend and adviser, ]. Ser
geant Cram. astounded politicians by q
as it was unexpected The interests, -
he said, ''have one senator already and
should not have two And AZ II to con-
found confusion, he went on to praise
Edward NJ. Shepard of Brooklyn. the
candidate for whom Mr. Murphy reported
Just such an attack was not remeni-
bered by the oldest Tammany Hall re-
tainers. What did 1t mean? Was 1t
revolt? Did Mr.. Cram speak for him.
The answer seemed to lie in the ac-
tivity that followed.
Judge Parker Replies.
Former Judge Alton B. Parker. Mr..
Sheehan's Lon partner. got wind Of 1t
in Esopus, his country place. whittier
he had gone to spend the week end in
Quiet, and Immediately put out a reply
in which he asserted that Mr.. Sheehan,
If elected senator. would be as free "as
Gods free air." Mr.. Sheehan himself
was in touch with Judge Parker fire.
quently over the long-distance tele-
phone from Albany. Mr.. Murphy looked
and thought it highly
probable he might have something to
Ss xne sTammany senator and one Tam
many assemblyman came into the open
against Mr.. -Sheehan. A third man. SEN
ator Burt of Erie, Mr.. Sheehans home
county, sent out word that he might re.
fuse to enter a party caucus II he had
reason to believe its determinations were
cut and dried In advance.
Tonight Mr.. Cram, after watching the
effect of his statement, began to speculate
on just how: many votes the opposition
needed to defeat Mr.. Sheehan. He put
the count at fourteen democratic votes.
Gov. Dix said nothing that could be taken
as altering his expressed determination
not to interfere, although he and Mr..
Cram had a long conference.
In quick response to his declaration, Mr..
Cram said tonight he had, received more
than fifty kilograms and messages from
prominent democrats pledging support In
the fight for what he called a people $
candidate
In explaining the reasons that had led
Sheehan, Mr.. Cram said tonight:
Cram Explains Attack.
For eighteen years the interests have
dominated the legislature through the re.
pubiicans. Now, within three week.
after we go into power, they are trying
to dictate the election Of a senator who
represents them. ! cannot see any rea-
son why the people should be robbed OF
the opportunity they have won to name
their own candidate by these same special
interests. In no European country, ex-
cept possibly Russia, would such despot.
ism be tolerated.
1.-THE real object of these interests /.
apparent. They are figuring on the pos.
sibility Of the election of a democratic
President in 1912. In that event they
on whom they can rely. Then they coulG
play their old game. They would say te
the people, You see your new represen.
tatiye has proved traitor to your In
terests. What is the use Of changing
parties"
Must Keep Interests Out.
who the senator shall be is q minor
question; the great point Is that the in.
terests' shall not name their man. New
York does not need to send a great mar
to the Senate. What we need Is one who
Is honest and who really represents thu
people. &
las chairman of the New York count,
democratic committee ] am entitled Il
hold my own views. regardless Of wha,
any one else thinks. l have taken my
stand and my resignation as chairman 1.
at the disposal Of the organization IL 1t is
opposed to my position
Mr.. Cram added that he believed the
sentiments he expressed represented the
real views of the democratic organization
more faithfully than did Mr.. Murphy Sc
far as, he knew. Mr.. Murphy had never
tried 20 learn the sentiments OF the or
ganization. He believed that Gov. Dix
must he drawn into some expression OF
opinion; that. as the governor had once
said. he might make known his "senti-
ment' as an individual, even If he declfn.
ed to use his great influence as executive
and that such an expression, once con-
veyed, would end the matter.