New-York tribune., 1911-12-06
FAIL TO GUST M'COOEY
Murphy Whips Several InSurg-
ents Into Line at Last Moment.
TEST VOTE A CLOSE ONE
Steam Roller Flattens Out Nine
District Leaders-Fred Lun-
dy Desertr.

John H. McCooey won In hot fight with
nine insurgent district leaders who sought
to Dust him from the Democratic leader
ship Of Kings County last night The occa-
sion was the reorganization Of the county
general committee. The test vote. which
was had upon motion OF Mr.. McCooey to
Law on the table Thomas F. Byrnes's reso-
lutiop 10 postpone the reorganization O
month stood 10 to lay on the table and
126 10 pass upon the Byrnes resolution.
Eleven of the delegates either we're not
nreseut or did not vote. Both sides see IN
the fight and its result the hand of Charles
F. Murphy Of Tsmmany Hall.
well YOU must expect the steam roller
TO run over YOU once in white said Mr
Rvrnes. the leader Of the insurgents. after
the vote had been announced.
big crowd gathered at the Jefferson
Building to see the fight The meeting Was
the lvelies; that had been held since Sen
ator Patrick II. McCarren declared that the
Brooklyn organization would not support
William r. Hearst for Governor ive years
ago. McCarren never had more than hve
district leaders opposed 10 him, and Me
Cooeys victory is regarded as a hollow one
The insurgent leaders announced early
Yesterday that they had failed 20 come to
an agreement with McCooey, and would
carry the fight into the county committee
meeting. The meeting opened with cheers
for MeCooey. who offered for adoption the
new rules for the regulation of the party
made necessary under the new laws The
rules we're adopted without opposition.
When the chairman announced that the
rr-aa m elect the
officers of the organization for the coming
year Byrnes jumped to his feet. He was
greeted with cheers, but considerably fewer
than had greeted McCOoey. The difference
was not lost on the crowd
II have been delegated by ten leaders -
said he. "to ask delay for a month in the
organization Of this committee and the
appointment of a committee TO consider
the advisability of opening the doors 10
all Democrats We were beaten at the
last election. There is something wrong.
I accuse no one. We should seek rem
edy before next fall. People have strayed
away from US and we must try to get
them back. There is a Presidential cleo
tion coming. We propose TO delay a
month to confer with those individuals
and organizations who are in sympathy
with our party principles but who are not
represented in this organization"
Byrnes handed his resolution to the
secretary, who read it. The committee
proposed consisted OF the following in
surgent leaders: Thomas +. ByTnes,
Thomas r. Wogan, Henry Hasenfug.
Daniel j. Carroll, Michael +. Butler and
James P. Sinnott. The object stated for
the committee was 10 work for harmony
in the party.
MeCooey then took the floor. The rules
and regulation just adopted, he explained.
compassed everything proposed in the reso-
luton. and he asked 10 have the matter
laid on the table. Mr.. Sinnott tried 10
respond, but Chairman James n. Bel de
cIared that the motion could not be de-
bated and directed him to take his seat.
He persisted in trying to speak, among
cheers and "boos." and for few moments
a fight seemed imminent lie finally
walked back to his place and subsided.
Colonel Bell appointed him and Sheriff
Patrick r. Quinn 10 act as tellers IN the
vote upon NcCooeys motion, but Sinnott
refused and Butler took his place.
The delegates voted one at a time
Trouble was caused by outsiders who an
swered for absent members. but the vote
was finally ended without the actual eN-
change Of blows. Herman A. Metz, who
was delegate from Mr.. Farrelrs district.
stood with the insurgents he, A. Augustus
HeaIv and Augustus Van Wyck had been
suggested by the insurgents as committee
II. take over the powers Of leader.
A surprise 10 the insurgents was the de-
sertion OF Register Fred Lundye leader Of
the 18th District. who carried his delegates
to McCooey's side After the vote was an
ucunced Byrnes stood up.
"One hundred and twenty-siX votes the
rumber polled by the insurgents) are a
good many" he shouted This shows the
party that it must pay attention 10 the
voters
The new officials then elected were.
Chairman. Colonel James u. Bell first
vice chairman. John !. Dorman; second
chairman. Michael j. Grady; recording Sec
retary Frank Y. Kelly; corresponding sec
retary. Colonel Michael j. Cummings;
treasurer. Julian y. Fairchid and ser
geant-at-arms, William Belts.
II am gratifed." said McCooey after ad-