New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
Wagner and Frisbie to Fore;
Murphy in Background

Nevertheless. as minority leader in the
Assembly last year he advocated pretty
radical programme for "plute." He
wanted an income tax, the direct cleo
tion of United States Senators by the
people and a direct nominations law and
general economy.
II think undoubtedly it was my advo-
cacy of such measures that led to my
being chosen Speaker" he said. Il am
can properly as Speaker to help them
along. The Democratic party has
splendid opportunity now. 1t has
platform which met popular approval and
an administration under Governor Dix
or ability and desire to carry it out We
in the Legislature expect to do our part,
and thus help to show we deserve the
approval the people gave to the Demo-
cratic ticket in November
Senator Wagner, who will have big
hand in shaping the general legislative
doings of his party, has a similar opin-
ion. He thinks the biggest thing he as
leader and his fellow Democrats will
have to tackle this winter is the finan-
cial problem.
We've got to give the state system
Of government which will be efficient at
a cost a little less than the states an
nual income" he said. Maybe it sounds
easy. | suspect it will take us a few
weary hours, though, to work it out.
But as Democrats we'd be pretty poor
individuals if we couldn't do it,"
Senator Wagner is a Tammany man
and proud of it.
Il know it's the fashion to portray any
member of Tammany Hall as wearing
horns" he says cheerfully, "but really
the individuals in that organization size
up pretty much as they do everywhere
else in the world. There are some good
and some who, maybe, are not quite 50
good. But Tammany Hall to-day stands
for decent public officials and efficient
public service Moreover, if this is a
Tammany administration, as some peo-
pie say. therell be an excellent chance
for everybody in the state to have that
fact impressed on them just by watch
ing the way the administration runs af-
fairs"
When Senator Wagner isn't legislat-
ing these days. he is practising law with
n. Taylor Phillips, formerly in the Con
troller's office. and Jerry" Mahoney, the
athlete. They tell him that he does so
well at the law he ought to pass up"
the law making; but it is rather attrac-
tive to become Senate leader at thirty
three. so Wagner is likely to spend few
more years at the Capitol.
He's a persistent young person, is
Wagner He was born in Germany in
1877. and came over here when he was
six years old. 1t was the regulation
story of the poor boy with him for
time He went to Public School So, and
in his spare moments peddled neWspa-
pers, played baseball, fought the other
kids and accumulated a good working
knowledge Of the East Side. In 1893 he
finished the public school course, and
from there went into the City College.
In 1898 he was graduated from that in
stitution.
In spite of the fact that he had to
work his way through by tutoring other
students and doing odd jobs OF one sort
and another ne took high rank in his
studies. On two occasions he was a
prize debater. Once he spoke on the sub
iect Shall the Government own and
Operate the Railroads." After being
graduated from the City College he went
to the New York Law School He was
graduated there. cum laude, in 1900.
Then he went into practice.
Meantime young Wagner had gone
into Democratic politics-that is, Tam
many Hall politics, by the regulation
route-district service. He was popu-
lar: he was bright; he was recognized
as clean. Presently ne was sent 10 the
Assembly in 1905 He dropped out the
following year, but was returned in 1907
and 1908 Then in the fall of the latter
wear there came word of dissatisfaction
about the work of Senator Mccall. who
wanted a denomination from the 10th
Senate District. Wagner was mentioned
as his successor.
Wagner finally got the nomination
after some sharp preliminary fighting;
but he had Murphy. of Tammany, on
his side. He was elected, of course, and
assumed the dignity that goes with
big leather cushioned chair in the gor-
geous red carpeted, onyx walled Senate
chamber. He didn't have any better